Work smarter, not harder: 21 time management tips to hack productivity
Many people in our society try to be hyper productive.
You know, people who rush from homework to homework, always
check email, organize something, make a call, make a message, etc.
People who do this often subscribe to the idea that
"keeping busy" means that they are working hard and will be more
successful.
While this belief may be true to some extent, it often leads
to meaningless "productivity", a constant need to do something and a
tendency to waste time on minor tasks.Instead of behaving this way, I choose to do things
differently.
Work more intelligently, not harder
The old adage, "to work more intelligently, not
harder" has become a basic element in my way of working of any kind.
Instead of being robotic in the way I approach tasks, I try
to be reflective and I always wonder if something can be done more efficiently
or be eliminated altogether.
Managing my time does not consist in including as many tasks
in my day as possible. It's about simplifying how I work, doing things
faster and relieving stress.
It's about cleaning the space in my life to make time for
people, play and rest.
I promise you there really are enough hours in a day for
everything you would like to do, but it may take a bit of time to rearrange and re imagine them to find them.
21 time management tips
I compiled this list of 21 tips to, hopefully, push them in
the right direction.
Remember: there are countless tricks and tricks to manage
your time effectively. These are some tips that I find useful, but they
are all different.
Let this list be a catalyst for you to think regularly about
refining your own practices.
1. Complete the most important tasks first.
This is the golden rule of time management. Each day,
identify the two or three tasks that are the most important to complete, and do
those first.
Once you have finished, the day has already been a
success. You can move on to other things, or you can let them wait until
tomorrow. You have finished the essentials.
2. Learn to say "no".
Making many time commitments can teach us how to combine
various commitments and manage our time. This can be a great thing
However, you can take it too far easily. At some point,
you need to learn to reject opportunities. Your objective should be to
assume only those commitments for which you know you have time and that really
interest you.
3. Sleep at least 7-8 hours.
Some people think that sacrificing sleep is a good way to
reduce productivity and drain a few extra hours of the day. This is not
the case.
Most people need 7-8 hours of sleep for their bodies and
minds to function optimally. You know if you're getting
enough. Listen to your body and do not underestimate the value of the
dream.
4. Devote your entire focus to the task at hand.
Close all other browser windows. Keep your phone, out of
sight and silent. Find a quiet place to work, or listen to music if that
helps (I enjoy listening to classical or environmental music while I write
sometimes).
Concentrate on this task. Nothing else should
exist. Immerse yourself in it.
5. Get an early start.
Almost all of us are plagued by the urge to postpone
things. It seems so easy, and you always manage to do it eventually, why
not?
Take it from a chronic procrastinator in recovery: it is much
more enjoyable and less stressful to get an early start on something. Nor
is it so difficult, if you just firmly decide to do it.
6. Do not let unimportant details drag you down.
We often allow projects to take much, much longer than they
could by hanging too small details. I'm guilty of this. I have always
been a perfectionist.
However, what I have found is that it is possible to overcome
the desire to constantly examine what I have done so far. I'm much better
pressing forward, completing the volume and reviewing things later.
7. Convert key tasks into habits.
Writing is a regular task for me. I have to write all
the time: for school, work, my student organization, my blog, etc. I
probably write between 5,000 and 7,000 words per week.
The amount of writing I do may seem a lot to most people, but
it is very manageable for me, because it is usual. I have proposed writing
something every day for a long time.
I rarely break this routine. Because of this, my mind
has the habit of doing the work of writing. It has become quite natural
and pleasant. Could you do something similar? (Read "The simple
and powerful guide to forming any new habit")
8. Be aware of the amount of TV / Internet / games time.
The time spent browsing Twitter or playing or watching TV and
movies can be one of the biggest productivity losses.
I suggest you be more aware of how much time you spend in
these activities. Simply by noticing how you are consuming your time, you
will begin to do less.
9. Outline a time limit to complete the task.
Instead of just sitting down to work on a project and
thinking, "I'll be here until this is over," try to think, "I'm
going to work on this for three hours."
The time constraint will push you to focus and be more
efficient, even if you end up having to go back and add a little later.
10. Leave a buffer time between tasks.
When we hurry from task to task, it is difficult to
appreciate what we are doing and stay focused and motivated.
Allowing us a free time between tasks can be a breath of
fresh air for our brains. While taking a break, walk a little, meditate or
do some other exercise to clear your mind.
11. Do not think about the totality of your to-do list.
One of the fastest ways to become overwhelmed is to think
about your huge to-do list. Realize that no amount of thought will make it
shorter.
At this time, all you can do is concentrate on the task
before you. This, only, lonely task. One step at a
time. Breathe.
12. Exercise and eat healthy.
Numerous studies have linked a healthy lifestyle with labor
productivity. Just like getting enough sleep, exercising and eating
healthy, increases energy levels, clears your mind and allows you to focus more
easily.
13. Do less.
This is a tactic recommended by one of my favorite bloggers,
Leo Babauta. Basically, doing less is another way of saying things that
really matter.
Slow down, watch what needs to be done and focus on those
things. Do less things that create more value, rather than more things
that are mostly empty.
14. Take advantage of weekends, just a little bit.
One of my favorite memes represents a gentleman leaving aside
his work, declaring: "It's Friday! F #% $ this shit. "The
next picture says" Monday, "and the man bends down to pick up the
papers he threw on the floor.
This is comical, but I found it amazing how doing a little on
weekends can really decrease the workload during the week. Aim for 2 to 4
hours per day. You will still have plenty of free time for
activities.
15. Create systems of organization.
Being organized saves a lot of time, and you do not have to
be the most ultra-organized person in the world either. The systems are
not complicated to implement.
Create a file system for documents. Make sure all items
have a place to store in your home. Unsubscribe from email lists if you do
not wish to receive your content. Rationalize, streamline, expedite.
16. Do something during the waiting time.
We usually have a lot of downtime in which we do not try to
do much. Waiting rooms, rows in the store, time in the subway, elliptical
in the gym, etc.
Find things to do during this time. I tend to read a lot
for classes, so I take a little of them to almost all the places I go and read
during the waiting time.
17. Close yourself.
No distractions, no excuses. Sometimes, the only way I'm
going to do something is if I'm under lock and key, just in one room. If
you are like me, be aware, and act accordingly.
18. Commit to your plan to do something.
I already mentioned this, but it's worth repeating
it. Do not ignore your own plan to do something!
Be resolved Be committed Be professional about
it and keep going. A firm will to achieve what you decide to achieve will
take you anywhere.
19. Lot of related tasks.
Let's say that during a given weekend, you need to do two
programming tasks, write three essays and make two videos. Instead of
approaching this work in the order in which it sits, group the similar tasks
and do them consecutively.
Different tasks require different types of thinking, so it
makes sense to allow your mind to continue to flow with your current zone
instead of unnecessarily changing to something that will require reorientation.
20. Find time for stillness.
In our world of going, going, going, many people do not find
time to sit still. However, what a practice of stillness can do is
extraordinary. Action and inaction must play a key role in our
lives.
Discovering time in your life for silence and non-movement
reduces anxiety and shows you that there is no need to constantly rush. It
also makes it easier to find your pleasant job.
21. Eliminate the non-essential.
I know that this has already been mentioned in one way or
another, but it is one of the most useful tips you can remove from this
publication.
Our lives are full of excesses. When we can identify
that excess and eliminate it, we get more and more in touch with what is
meaningful and what our time deserves.
One last advice (the best)
There is one last tip that I want to mention. If you
remember anything from this post, remember this:
Enjoyment should always be the goal. The work can be
played.
We are so caught up in the activity that we forget to enjoy
what we are doing. Even when we focus on working smarter, we are often
still too focused on doing things.
This should never be the point. Always ask yourself:
What can I do to spend more time enjoying what I am doing?
The goal should be to organize your commitments so that you
are happy living the details of your daily life, even while working.
This may sound like an impossible dream, but it is more
possible than ever in today's world. Be curious. Be open to the
opportunity. Know yourself. Embrace your passions.
Wonderful things will happen. The best of luck
implementing these tips, and let me know if I can do something else to help
you.
