Trying to tick tasks off on your to-do list but can’t seem to get there? Being more productive while keeping a great work life balance is something that many people want to achieve, but this can be hard. So how do you work smarter and not harder?
Here are 10 tips to help you work smarter and not harder.
Tip 1: Understand your personal energy levels
Take note of the peaks and troughs in your energy and productivity throughout the day. Chose to do your most complex tasks at the times of the day when your energy levels are their highest. For some people their energy might be highest in the morning, but other people may tend to work better in the evening.
Tip 2: Work in segments
By breaking up your day into segments with regular breaks, you can take advantage of your natural ability to focus. An ideal amount of time for each segment has been shown to be 90 to 120 minutes, which is your ultradian rhythm.
Tip 3: Take real breaks
Without taking a proper break, you can get tired, and your mind can wander. Make sure you also take a break between tasks, so you detach yourself from one and give yourself the best chance to focus on the next one. Schedule your breaks and lunchtime into your calendar so people don’t book in a meeting during your break times.
Tip 4: Make healthy choices
Exercise, rest, a healthy diet, and a good work life balance are what our mind and body need to help us perform at our peak. Consider practicing mindfulness exercises at work to help you focus on your tasks.
Tip 5: Spend time to prioritise your to-do list
Use a priority matrix to prioritise your tasks on your to-do list. It is important that you do your urgent and important tasks first and consider removing any task that isn’t as useful to do.
Tip 6: Talk about your challenges
When there is something you are having trouble with, you could let the people you work with know about any challenges or blockers you are facing at team meetings. Others might have ideas of how you can overcome the challenge to help you move on quickly.
Tip 7: Turn your notifications off
If you need to focus, then consider turning your notifications off while you are working on your tasks. The constant disruptions mean that you need to refocus each time, and this can be tiring and distracting. You could also change the settings on how often you are notified by each app and at which time you are notified. If you turn your notifications off for a period of time, don’t forget to turn them back on afterwards so you don’t miss out on anything important .
Tip 8: Use a timer
The Pomodoro technique is where you set a timer for 25 minutes for a task and then have a break for 5 minutes. Some people find this a very effective method to getting things done as it can create a sense of urgency.
Tip 9: Create processes
If you there is something you do on a regular basis, then create a process for this by writing down the steps and storing these in an easily accessible place. This will save you thinking of how to do it each time and asking people when you can’t remember.
Tip 10: Embrace technology
There is software that can help you with almost any task that you can think of. You can find time management tools, project management tools, to-do lists, timers, email mailing lists, and online white boards. You might even be able to find a bot or have one built that can help you with your repetitive tasks.
