Are you ready? Then take the following tips for a more relaxed life in which you do more.
Prioritise
Decide what is really important and start by working on tasks that have the biggest overall impact on your goals. The remaining items on your to-do list will magically disappear.
Write to-do lists
Make a daily list of any tasks you need to get done. Neatly organised this will make sure you don't forget anything. Moreover, it gives an optimistic vibe when you can tick off another finished job.
Add time blocks to your tasks
It is useful to link your tasks to time blocks. That way, you get an instant schedule of your work and can check whether you are meeting your deadlines.
Stick to the LJF principle
Do the Lousy Jobs First (LJF). When you get the lousy jobs out of the way first, then you can better concentrate on the rest of your work.
Don't let yourself get distracted
Every distraction will cause you to spend way more time on the same task. Turn off notifications and close unnecessary tabs to continue being fully concentrated on your work.
Take breaks on a regular basis
Taking breaks in between makes you more productive. Top professionals perform best when they concentrate for 90 minutes and then take a 20-minute break. In addition, it is refreshing to reflect and take the last 20 minutes of your working day to process things. Then jot down the most important tasks for the next day.
Follow the two-minute rule
If a task takes less than two minutes to complete, do it straight away and don't postpone it and do it straight away. This allows others to get on with things faster and prevents you from having to work through a whole list at the end of the day.
Work together
Talking things over with colleagues saves a lot of time. It prevents you from carrying out work twice and other people's views can get you back on track faster. You can also delegate tasks.
Reflect
Every now and again, ask colleagues for feedback on your performance. Their perceptions can help you perform better and more efficiently and improve the relationship you have with your colleagues.
Live healthy
Make sure you get enough sleep, exercise and stick to a healthy diet as this will boost your energy levels and improve your ability to concentrate. For example, take a break now and then to go for a walk around the block.
Don't ever stop learning
Invest time in learning new knowledge and skills. This will make you more employable and allows you to do your job more efficiently and quicker.
Stay away from multitasking
People cannot multitask when it comes to complex tasks. The reason is that the brain has to stop working on one task first in order to start working on something else.
Make use of technology
There is now a lot of technology available to make your work easier. Make use of it. Think of interactive calendars like Simple call or the transcription tool in Teams to record your conversations in writing.