Power up your productivity
Here are some ways
to be more productive and manage your time
There are countless ways to be more productive. Making ‘to-do’
lists and working in 30-minute increments are two common approaches. However, some
productivity methods work better than others and can save you time in the
process.
“These days, we feel like we have less time than ever and in
some very real ways, we do,” Erica Keswin, the author of Bring Your
Human to Work, says. “Because of 24/7 technology and the barrage of
‘to-dos’ that come at us via email and text, it’s hard to keep our priorities
straight.”
Keswin said the key is being more careful about what you want to
pay attention to. Otherwise, we’re very likely to get sucked into the wrong —
or most immediate — things. Start by asking yourself this one important
question: ‘Does your calendar reflect your values?’ Here are some tips on how
to be more productive and manage your time better.
Plan the night before
Before going to bed, always take time to prepare for tomorrow.
Look at your schedule and see what appointments you have or deadlines you need
to meet. Prep the coffee maker and sometimes make your ‘todo’ list the night
before. A little planning goes a long way.
Wake up earlier
When you wake up early, you have more time to plan and get
organised for the day ahead. Completing tasks on your ‘to-do’ list early on
frees up time later in your day. By the time you get to the office, you have
already looked at your schedule, grabbed a coffee and attended a fitness class.
Figure out your main goal or objective
Decide what your main goal or objective is — think long-term.
The main reason people lose track of their time and day is because they don’t
have a clear objective or goal. So, if something comes across your desk that
doesn’t match with your goals, it’s a pretty firm and easy to say, “No, not
right now.”
Create a calendar system that works for you
Create a calendar system that works for you — then use it and
check it several times a day. It’s impossible to stay organised and on top of
your game if you’re unsure about the date, time, and place of your deadlines,
meetings, and other work responsibilities. As the old saying goes, “If you fail
to plan, you’re planning to fail.”
Break down your tasks into smaller steps
Break down your goals into smaller, daily action steps. Say one
of your objectives is to increase your sales by a certain amount in a year.
Break that number down — into months, weeks, and then days. Once you do that,
you know exactly how much you need to make on a daily basis and you can plan
your day accordingly.
Set aside time to answer emails
Productivity requires staying focused, so have a set time to
answer emails. If you answer an email every time it pops up, you will never get
anything else done. Answering emails a few set times a day will make a huge
difference in productivity.
Limit distractions
Limit distractions so you can stay focused on the task at hand.
This means not just limiting your use of social media, but also not having
15-minute conversations in the break room as a form of procrastination. Even
close your door if people often just pop in to have a chat.
businessinsider.in
ETP12DEC18
No comments:
Post a Comment