Use these simple tips to begin freeing up your time and accomplishing more during the day.
We all wish there were more hours in the day. Unfortunately, we have no control over time. What we do have control over is our productivity. It’s critical to be mindful of how we spend our time if we want to get more done during the day. Getting up earlier, meditating, and making daily to-do lists are just a few ways to make the most of every minute.
These simple hacks will help you get started if you want to be more productive during the day.
- Set your alarm an hour earlier.
Even if you don’t consider yourself a “morning person,” you can become one.
You can get an extra hour of uninterrupted, peaceful work time by setting your alarm an hour earlier than usual (and don’t hit the snooze button!).
Several studies have linked waking up early to increased productivity and success. Early risers have an advantage because they have more work time and are generally more optimistic.
- Make a to-do list for each day.
Make a daily list of realistic tasks to complete each day. Also, keep it simple. Your tasks do not have to be massive undertakings that will take hours to complete. Add folding laundry to the list if necessary. Do you need to see a doctor? Include it.
These micro-tasks will not only help you get more done on a daily basis, but they will also assist you in reaching your larger goals.
- Start with the most difficult tasks.
It’s best to start with the most dreaded tasks. After you’ve gotten that big chunk of difficulty out of the way, the rest of your day is yours to do whatever you want. You will not only feel better, but you will also be much more productive. - Make a clean sweep of your desk. “Out of sight, out of mind,” as the saying goes. That can also be said for staying focused. Taking 15 minutes each day before work to clear your desk and create a clean workspace will help you focus and avoid distractions. What you don’t need, throw away, and file what you do.
- Create a system. Having an organizational system in place will provide you with a clear and consistent picture of the projects you are working on. This commitment inventory will provide clarity, focus, and control. It will assist you in determining what is most important.
6. Concentrate on one thing at a time.
Concentrate on completing one project before moving on to the next.
People often believe that multitasking allows them to get more done, but switching from task to task isn’t beneficial. In fact, attempting to complete two tasks at the same time can reduce productivity.
While most of us are guilty of talking on the phone while typing an email, it is the larger tasks that hinder productivity. “ The mind and brain were not built to handle heavy multitasking.
- Begin saying no.
That little word can be the most difficult to say at times. But it’s all right to say it. It’s critical to manage people’s expectations, so if you can’t take on something and give it your all, don’t do it at all. - This one should go without saying, but you’d be surprised how few people actually get enough sleep every night. A typical adult requires seven to nine hours of sleep per night. Do you get that much?
- Keep your emails in order. The sight of 200 unread messages in your inbox will only increase your anxiety. But it’s also critical that you don’t miss any important messages. Maintain a clean inbox by responding, filing, drafting, or deleting an email as soon as you open it.
- Disconnect from social media. Avoid going on Facebook, Twitter, Tiktok or Instagram to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the outside world. They’ll only serve to distract you. If you need social media for work, make sure you’re logged out of any personal accounts so you don’t get distracted.
- Read rather than skim. It’s critical to read the documents that come your way rather than just skim through them. Even if it doesn’t always feel like it, skimming can be more time-consuming than reading because you may miss something and have to go back and read it again.
- Plan blocks of uninterrupted time.
Maintain your focus once you’ve established it.
Although it’s easier said than done, setting aside a specific, uninterrupted time frame where you focus solely on the project at hand can help keep your mind on track. Whether it’s as simple as turning off your phone or closing your email, create an environment in which you can focus on one thing – and one thing only.
- Put on your headphones.
It is entirely up to you whether or not to play some music. People, on the other hand, are far less likely to bother you if they see you zoned out with your headphones on. - Get rid of any meetings that aren’t absolutely necessary.
Face-to-face communication is essential in the workplace, but long and drawn-out meetings can be a waste of time. When scheduling meetings, consider whether they are truly necessary and whether the topics you intend to discuss can be handled via email or phone.
If you must hold an in-person meeting, limit it to 30 minutes so that it is brief and to the point. People are more likely to get to the important stuff quickly when they are pressed for time.
16. Make decisions in 60 seconds.
If you want to get more done in a day, you must work quickly. Begin by reducing the amount of time it takes you to make a decision.
Decision-making can be one of the most time-consuming tasks you perform on a daily basis, so reduce it to free up some time. You’ll almost certainly make the same decision you would have made in 20 minutes.
