One thing we need to be able to refill is time. It’s no wonder that people are so keen on ways to cut down on time or complete more tasks in less time if we can achieve more work in our time and use the “saved” time for something more substantial.
Some individuals take their time-saving methods to the extreme, having them wear precisely the same outfit every day, thereby making time more efficient and potentially reducing the effects of decision fatigue. Although you might not like the idea of wearing the same hoodie or suit each day, There are other options to get back your most valuable resource and put it to good use, as well as the brain power that goes with it — to something better. Here are some ideas to begin with.
ASSESS YOUR WORKFLOW (EVEN OUTSIDE OF WORK)
According to productivity expert Maura Nevel Thomas, the first step is to observe how you’re spending your time. She is the author of Personal Productivity Secrets: Do What You’ve Never Thought You Could Do by focusing your attention and time and Taking control of your life. Take note of the activities that consume large amounts of your time and the habits you’ve established to accomplish things or ongoing tasks you’ve committed. Are there activities you’re doing you don’t want to do anymore? And if so, how can you eliminate these? This kind of awareness will help to clarify the areas that must be addressed when you look at making new habits and reducing the time you spend, Thomas says.
CHOOSE A MAIN TRACKING TOOL
“For most people, everything they have to do is scattered,” Thomas states. There are a variety of your memory, flagged email messages, notes, pieces of paper, or maybe even dry-erase markers–and this means that you could be wasting time searching for the things you need to accomplish. Choose a tool or a spot where you’ll keep track of your commitments and tasks. This gives you the information that you’ll need to make adjustments. If you’re comfortable with technology, Thomas suggests that the advantage of digital task managers such as Todoist, Basecamp, Asana, and Microsoft ToDo is that you can automate reminders for crucial tasks or appointment times.
CREATE A “DAY TEMPLATE”
If you’re struggling with habits that hinder your productivity, make use of the ability of routine and automation to reorient these habits, suggests Jessica Abel, founder of Autonomous Creative, a creative business coaching firm. A digital calendar lets users create “templates” for their days–in terms of repetition of patterns of appointments that can help you plan your focus on meetings, work, and other tasks at the most efficient timings for you. “Treat these blocks of time like you finally scored a dinner rez at the hottest ticket in town, and don’t ghost on yourself,” she suggests.
Abel is also recommending that when others can utilize your calendar to arrange meetings and block off dates when you’re not in your primary calendar. “Then, you can use a scheduling app to let others set up meetings, but only on your terms,” she suggests. Thomas states that it’s beneficial to similar group tasks together and aids in getting more accomplished when switching from one job to another entirely different study.
While you’re planning the day, professional in the field of productivity Chris Bailey, author of How to Calm Your Mind Find Presence as well as Productivity in Stressed Times, suggests making routines to allow you to begin and end your day. “I think the best routines that let us ease into or out of our day are ones that allow us to become more deliberate,” Bailey states. “Calm mornings, slow mornings lead to deliberate days.” If you establish a purposeful routine, it’s likely to spend less than 30 minutes using social media without even realizing it, he adds.
STOP MAKING LISTS AND START MAKING PLANS
Lists are a great tool to help you track everything that needs to be accomplished. However, if you go one step further and then turn it into a plan, you’ll save time later on, says productivity-focused trainer Ellen Faye, author of productivity for how you’re wired A Better Workplace. Better Life. Don’t bother with the to-do list. Take some time to plan for your day, including the top three things you have to complete. Instead of creating a grocery list, think about your meals for the week, and then make your list of grocery items from the list. After you’ve finished your list, it will save you time and time spent preparing in the future.
TRY HABIT-STACKING
Suppose you grab an espresso and browse through the internet and email at the beginning of your workday. It can trigger you to go into the mode of reactive, setting off fires for several hours or diverting your attention from what you have to do, Abel says. But by using habit-stacking–adopting new behaviors related to existing habits–you can use that same powerful impulse to improve how you get things done. “Mornings already include a lot of habits that are very set, like making coffee,” she states. Decide in advance what will happen after you finish your last morning cup. Set a goal to close all your tabs on your browser to concentrate on your current task or another important job you’d like to finish the following day, Abel says. You can create significant behavior changes if you make minor changes in line with your established practices.
EMBRACE AUTOMATION
You can include recurring tasks in your plan or template and then automate them or batch the process. For instance, if you have charges due to be paid on the 15th day of the month, create an autopay and a reminder to ensure you’re sure that you’re funds are available, Thomas suggests. Automated reminders can help keep you on track. Make rules that will help you sort messages in email. (And If that doesn’t work, make files for “urgent,” “keep for later,” “newsletters,” and other types of indicators so you can categorize them, after which you can address them according to their priority whenever you’re able to do this.) Software like Calendly will help you avoid the time and effort required to plan meetings and social media, or marketing platforms such as Hootsuite, MailChimp, and others can assist you in automating sending or posting newsletters via email.
Consider tasks with low priority to automate or delegate, Bailey suggests. However, don’t let productivity become the culprit in stealing happiness. If there’s something you like doing–taking a block of time to clear out your inbox or scheduling your appointments–consider whether the trade-off is worth it, he says.
Faye agrees. “My principle is that method/system first followed by tools. Many people are rushing to download the next application or purchase the next planner, only to be dissatisfied. In the absence of a solid procedure, method or process, there is no way to make it right,” she says. “What works for one person may not work for the next.”
