Ever feel like there are just not enough hours in the day to get everything done? It’s easy to put off doing things that are difficult and overwhelming. But if you wait until the last minute, you might rush the project and not do it justice. Plus, inevitably, other essential tasks get put off.
When a project has a deadline, it’s important to devote all of your undivided attention to it, or it won’t get completed. Time management is a critical aspect of every job – from planning to executing. Your schedule needs to be structured to support efficiency and productivity to reach your goals.
Here are some times for streamlining your schedule to get more done in a shorter amount of time.
- Check your existing workflows and processes. Ask yourself: Are they efficient? Do certain things take too much time or space to complete? Are there things you can do to eliminate steps or streamline your workflow? Assessing your current workflows is essential in improving and facilitating your productivity.
- Rank your processes. Once you know your existing workflows, you can rank them in terms of the time they take to complete and how they streamline your typical workflow. If it takes less than five minutes, you can probably nix it from your workflow.
- Turn off your notifications. Hard to do but so effective! Notifications in apps can be great when you want to receive a notice for something important, but when you’re working with flowing tasks, they’re distractions. The truth is, most notifications can wait.
- Tackle the hard stuff first. If you’re trying to jam in as many tasks as possible, you’re not getting anything done. It might even be the opposite; you’re spending more of your limited time on busy work that you don’t need to do. Organize your tasks by priority so that the most important projects have the first slot in your schedule.
- Stop multitasking. It’s a proven fact – multitasking does not work! Trying to work on more than one task at a time can cause procrastination, which is a whole new level of anxiety. If you find yourself multitasking, try focusing instead for a single 30-minute period.
- Combat procrastination. Suppose you tend to procrastinate on creative work tasks, such as writing, brainstorming, and generating ideas. In that case, you might find that setting aside 15 minutes a day to write helps you make progress on what you’re already doing. Put it in your calendar and hold yourself accountable for keeping that appointment.
- Do your work near an excellent natural source of light. A good light source helps you see better and enables you to work better. Those who work from home can become dependent on artificial light, leading to eye strain, fatigue, and depression. Work in a well-lit area and take regular breaks away from your desk.
Streamlining your schedule to increase efficiency will help you focus on what’s important throughout the day. Try to limit the number of distractions you have around you. When making important decisions, ensure that you get enough sleep, so your brain can function at its best.
You might not need to make a complete overhaul of your schedule. Sometimes minor tweaks can significantly improve your overall productivity.
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.
