“The more you work, the more money you’ll make.” Ever heard that before?
Long hours absolutely do not equate to quality work. Not saying it can’t, but unless you’re a robot, that kind of grind is not the most sustainable.
There will be seasons of life where you will have to work longer and that’s okay.
But what if I could give you some tips that might help to slash your workday and help you get more stuff done?
I’m going to share 9 tips AND action steps to take to work smarter instead of harder, sound good?
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Now, back to those 9 tips AND action steps to take to work smarter instead of harder:
1- Plan ahead
You have to be disciplined. To make your goals happen, you need to write them down. This way, you can get started right away instead of wasting time trying to plan out what you need to do.
Having a clear schedule will clear your mind and keep you focused on your goals. ⠀
ACTION STEP: The night before, plan out what you will:
- WEAR
- COOK
- CLEAN
- PAY
Fill out your planner so that the next day, you’re ready to start the day without even thinking.
2- Build routines & Habits
Get into the habit of a morning routine & getting tasks done earlier rather than later.
This ensures that we are making consistent progress toward our goals. They hold us accountable to show up to do the work required to make them happen.⠀
ACTION STEP: Write out a consistent morning routine and keep it at the front of your planner. It should be a list of 4-5 things that you do every morning to get your day started.
3- Close open loops
Open loops are tasks that are left unfinished. they create chaos, steal time and make you stress.
FOR EXAMPLE:
- knowing you need to take your car for service
- knowing you need to make a dentist appointment
ACTION STEP: Do not house more tasks in your brain without dumping them out first.
Close the loop & be present and productive.
4- Don’t multitask
Multitasking steals productivity. DO NOT try to do 10 things in one day. Our brain cannot handle a lot of complex tasks all at once.
You think you’re getting stuff done but really, you’re giving half effort to all things instead of all your effort onto only a few things. It becomes sloppy work and things will slip through the cracks.⠀
ACTION STEP: Pick 3 things to do per week & finish one thing before moving onto the next.
5- Trim the Fat
We’re all really busy but we also choose what goes on our schedule. We allow our to-do lists to become out of control. Learn to say no. Instead of 10 unrealistic goals, keep the to-do list lean & mean.
ACTION STEP: THINK OF the 3 most important & most urgent tasks. These are your non negotiables for today and only these 3 will be your top priority.
6- Measure results, not time
The requirement of sitting at your desk until a certain time creates factory like culture.
We want creativity and innovation, not more robots.
ACTION STEP: using a list with check boxes will keep you motivated & focused since you can see what has been accomplished.
When you see progress, you become motivated and motivation breeds success.⠀
7- Learn to Prioritize
We allow things to make their way onto our schedules – they don’t just appear.
When you take ownership of your schedule, you empower yourself to get rid of what no longer needs to be there.
ACTION STEP: Ask yourself:
- CAN IT WAIT?
- CAN I DELEGATE IT TO SOMEONE ELSE?
If yes, it’s not a priority nor should it be on your list of things to get done today.
8- Automate tasks
You save time and energy because you are lessening the amount of time that you have to prep, transition, and get in the headspace to do certain tasks.⠀
Example: put all your bills on autopay.
ACTION STEP: Automate as many tasks as you can so that you spend less time deciding and can focus your energy on more important tasks.
9- Relieve stress
Stress impacts your health, well-being, mental alertness and energy. Do things that decrease your stress ASAP!⠀
ACTION STEP:
Most effective stress relievers:
- sports
- praying
- reading
- listening to music
- friend/family time
- massage
- walks
- hobbies
Least effective stress relievers:
- gambling
- smoking
- shopping
- videogames
- scrolling
- TV & movies for longer than 2 hours
Working smarter saves precious time and energy for the things that really matter — your life goals, your personal growth, your health and your relationships. ⠀
If you liked this post, click here to read the 7 Productivity Habits to Success
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ALSO, over on my Instagram, I post SO much on productivity tips and tricks so find me there by clicking here!