Stop Wasting Time and Get the Most Out of Your Day

Most of us wish there were more hours in the day. But honestly if you had more hours in your day, would you just waste them away?

Successful entrepreneurs say it’s not the number of hours you have, but how you use them. By learning and practicing effective time management techniques, you can get more done and also have more time to relax.

Here are 10 simple things you can do today to work more efficiently:

1
Create Manageable Lists. Narrow down everything you need to do to just three to five priority tasks. Order your tasks from most to least important so you can focus on what’s most important. If you do this, you’ll eliminate nonessential, time-wasting activities.
2
Create Time Blocks. Set a block of time for each task you have to do and decide how long you’ll do it. For example, one hour per day on an ongoing project or 30 minutes a day on social media. This keeps you on track and prevents you from spending too long on any one task. Use a timer to work in blocks of time.
3
Take Regular Breaks. Working too long on something, will cause you to lose focus and burn out. Break up activities with short rest periods to refresh yourself and get your mind off work. Then, you can get back to what you’re doing with renewed energy and use your time better.
4
Eliminate Distractions. Tasks may be taking longer because you’re letting yourself get distracted. If you are easily distracted, turn off all notifications, sign out of social media and exit email program. Let people know that you’re working and not to be disturbed. If there’s something urgent, tell the person you’ll get to it when you’re done.
5
Perform a Time Audit. We often miscalculate the way we spend our time and the way we think we spend our time. Use a time to keep track of how you spend your time each day and write down the results. Over the course of few days, a picture will emerge showing how you actually spend your time. You may be surprised at where you’re wasting it!
6
Choose Optimal Times. There’s an optimal time of day for each type of task. For example, you may be most adept at communications in the late morning or creative in the evening. There may also be a time of day when you’re at your most productive. Identify these times and use them to schedule your daily tasks more effectively.
7
Schedule Fun Time. When making your daily schedule, set aside time for entertainment, mindless distraction, and pure fun. You can indulge in these activities during breaks from tougher things, or use them as a reward for completing tasks.
8
Don’t Multitask. Contrary to what many believe, multitasking doesn’t make you more productive. In fact, it often leads to distraction and prevents you from getting any one task done efficiently. Focus on one thing at a time.
9
Get Organized. Organize your workspace so that everything is where you need it and easily accessible. An organized workspace cuts down on the time you spend searching for things and doing on-the-spot organizing. Set aside a little time each day or week to clean up, organize, and put things away.
10
Keep Your Goals Top of Mind. For each thing you have to do in a day, take a moment to consider whether it’s directly helping you reach a specific goal or not. If it’s not, consider eliminating it from your list, moving it to a later time, or delegating it to somebody else.

Want to learn more about setting effective priorities, managing time, and working more efficiently to achieve your business goals? Click here to get your Productive Environment Score today?

Photo by konejota on Depositphotos