As the saying goes, “There are only so many hours in the day.” You can’t wave a magic wand and make the day longer. But there are things you can do to save time and maximize what you accomplish each day. Hmm, maybe you can add hours to your day after all.
As with trying anything new, managing your time better will require changing your habits. But many of these strategies are self-rewarding, and once you see the benefits, you’ll be motivated to continue.
Here are some quick tips to add hours to your day and accomplish more:
- Put things away when you’re done with them. (I can hear my mother’s voice in my head right now!) Rather than creating clutter that gets in your way and is emotionally distracting, put things away when you’re done using them. Tell yourself that a task isn’t complete until everything is picked up.
- Do easy things during your least productive hours and vice versa. Everyone has a time of day when their physical or mental energy is at its lowest and highest. Schedule easy tasks like filing emails, tidying up, etc., during your low times and more challenging tasks when your focus is most heightened.
- Track your time. The average person has little idea how they spend their time. For one week, every 30 minutes, record how you spent the last half-hour. Divide your activities into different categories and see how much time you spend on each. This will help you identify which activities you can batch together (see #4).
- Batch your activities and schedule your day. Answer all of your emails at once. Pay all of your bills twice a month. Remember that it takes time to switch tasks and regain your focus. Prioritize your important stuff, make a schedule, and stick to it.
- Make use of waiting time. If you’re stuck in traffic, waiting at the doctor’s office, or for your child to get ready, don’t mindlessly scroll through social media. Use that time wisely to make phone calls, deal with email or tidy up.
- Go to bed earlier. Most people don’t accomplish a lot in the evening. Instead of mindlessly watching TV, try going to bed 30 minutes earlier and add time to your morning by getting up earlier. There are very few high-achievers that don’t get up early every day.
- Eliminate distractions. Turn off your phone. Use white noise to drown out distracting sounds. Close all of your computer windows and tabs other than what are needed. You add hours to your day if you can accomplish more each hour.
We all only get the same 24 hours each day. You can’t make the day longer, but you can get more out of each day. The more effectively you use your time, the more success and free time you’ll enjoy. Tick – tock . . .
Ready to take back your time and be more productive? Organization is my superpower! Contact Virtual ME Solutions today to learn how I can help you grow your business.
