How to work smarter, not harder

Ever heard the phrase “work smarter, not harder” before? Well it’s true! And here are our tips on how to work smarter…

1. Use a diary to plan!

Each week take time to sit down and plan the key tasks you MUST get done! Prioritise them and set aside specific time to work on them. That way you’re not left at the end of the week trying to juggle 3 projects with looming deadlines all at once!

2. Set time limits

Rather than simply writing out a to-do list for the day, set yourself time limits for each task – allocating a specific time slot in the day to get the task done! If you have a deadline looming you’re more likely to work to schedule and be aware of just how much time you taking up. If you merely had a task written on a to-do list, you might not be likely to ever get around to the task that day.

3. Stay off emails in the morning

This will free up a big block of time to really make some progress on any big tasks or projects you have without having the distraction of emails every 5 minutes taking your focus away. We know this won’t be possible for everyone, but try and limit the times you check your emails to 2-3 times a day and see how much more work you actually get done!

4. Take more breaks

The average person can only really stay focused and productive for 90 minutes at a time, after that, we tend to get distracted easily and not produce our best work. So take a small break every 90 minutes. Give your mind a chance to relax and recharge. Even if it’s just a 5 minute break to get up, go for a walk, go to the bathroom, make a coffee etc. You’ll find that you actually produce better quality work in a shorter amount of time because you’re able to focus more.

#productivity #work #diary #howto