1. ALLOT TIME FOR DAYDREAMING
Give your mind a break between tasks too. This allows you to make a true mental shift and function more effectively for the next task you tackle.
2. SCHEDULE INCENTIVIZING WEEKLY OUTINGS
To further motivate yourself personally when developing goals, note in the planning your reward when you achieve it.
3. UTILIZE THE 80/20 RULE FOR YOUR WORK
To help mitigate interruptions and keep your focus strong, assign fixed times during the day to deal with emails, phone calls, instant messages, and social media throughout the day.
Another idea is to look at your daily schedule and look at what 20% of your activities and tasks are providing 80% of your results.
4. PREP YOUR DAY INTO SEGMENTS
Starting your week and each day with a plan can greatly improve your productivity. My method: Sunday afternoon is devoted to planning out the week both work and life. Then, each night I review the next day’s to-do list and adjust what I need to.
I utilize the “time blocking” method, where I group similar tasks together for efficiency. Consider scheduling your most challenging tasks for the first two hours of the day, leaving social media and emails for the afternoon.
5. CURTAIL MEETING TANGENTS
- Set an agenda in advance; end with recall of the action items
- If a significant issue arises that does not require the entire group, stop the conversation, create an action item for those involved to meet later to discuss rather than have it derail your meeting.
- If the meeting is about one issue, consider having everyone stand or walk to keep it brief
- Follow-up with an email summary, noting action items and deadlines
6. CARVE OUT TIME FOR YOUR NEEDS
7. ORGANIZE YOUR OFFICE WITH “ZONES”
Reducing your office clutter and disorganization can be a great help in time efficiency. Just like scheduling, organizing your office materials into segments or zones can be very useful. I have four core zones in my office:
- Main – my laptops, monitor, calendar, etc.
- Printer & Supplies
- Research & File – filing cabinet, books pertinent to my work
- Creative – where I can spread out with physical materials to collage, paint, etc.
Don’t forget to look vertically for more space to place items.
8. MAKE WAITING TIME INTO WORK TIME
Sitting in the doctor’s office? Respond to a few emails. Or bring that novel and squeeze in some personal reading.
Stop stressing over having to wait and instead put these minutes to work for you. Use them for small tasks like answering emails, scheduling appointments or de-stressing a little.
One more idea: Squeeze podcast and audiobook listening in while showering, washing dishes, mopping, commuting.
9. TURN AUDACIOUS GOALS INTO ACTION STEPS
By breaking down your big, hairy audacious goals for the year into action items you can schedule into your calendar, you honor your vision and have a greater chance of actually achieving your goal.
I have three large goals for the year so I’ve blocked six hours each week to tackle them directly. Knowing there is two hours a week blocked also helps me plan out the “size” of my action items – 50 available “steps” makes getting to a goal very possible.
10. GROUP ERRANDS TO SAVE TIME AND MONEY
Just like my organizing of other areas, I also batch my errands to both save time and money on gas. Driving can be a big time suck, so this method eases my stress considerably.
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Hello, I'm Jeny. With more than 20 years of experience in marketing strategy, brand positioning, and content development, I collaborate with clients to develop strategies and action plans to streamline their marketing and achieve their goals.
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