Do you ever question your personal efficiency? Have you ever got to the end of the day feeling tired and worn out, whilst, at the same time wondering what you accomplished during that day? Meanwhile, all those around you seem happy and relaxed and still manage to accomplish the things they need to!! Everyone has a different level of efficiency. The truth is they don’t have super powers and it’s entirely possible for you to get more done and feel better at the end of the day than you do right now. You can be more efficient in all areas of your life. You just have to do a few things differently, and soon, everyone will be wondering how you manage to get so much done!
Accomplish more and set a new standard for personal efficiency with these strategies:
1. Take regular breaks. Avoid working for longer than an hour without a break. A short 5-minute break each hour can result in getting a lot more accomplished over the course of a day. You’ll stay fresher and enjoy your day more, too.
2. Many hands make the work go faster. Be willing to delegate when possible and appropriate. You can get a lot more done if you get a little help. Whether you’re at work or at home, get the help you need. Don’t be shy about asking for assistance.
3. Get enough sleep. Study after study has shown that everyone requires at least seven hours of sleep to be at their best. That includes those people that swear they only need five. Your performance improves in every way if you sleep at least seven hours. It’s okay to use a nap to reach that total.
4. Make a list of things to do. You’ll never wonder what to do next if you have a list prepared ahead of time. The best time to make your list is the night before. Make a list before you turn out the light.
5. Assess your progress throughout the day. When you measure yourself, your behavior changes. Just the act of checking your progress will change your focus. See how well you’re doing at regular intervals. If you have tasks that must be done each day, this can be a convenient way to measure yourself.
6. Note the gap between activities. Perhaps you’ve been working hard, but once you complete a task, you might find that you take quite a while to start the next task. The process of stopping and starting can be a big time-waster. You might want to use a timer to keep yourself honest. Give yourself a set amount of time before returning to work.
7. Use small amounts of free time wisely. Maintain a list of filler tasks, those small tasks that you can complete in just a minute or two. When you have small chunks of time, you can pull out your list and knock those items out. Your list might include things like:
• Checking email
• Checking voicemail
• Cleaning your desk
• Making a phone call
8. Do one task at a time. Let go of the idea of multitasking. You’ll get more done and avoid wearing yourself out if you focus on one task at a time. Focus all your resources on a single task.
9. Stay organized. A messy workspace kills personal efficiency. You can’t find what you need quickly. You lose papers. The clutter is mentally fatiguing. It takes a lot of effort for some people to stay organized, but it’s worth the time and energy.
You can improve your standing at work and at home by increasing your personal efficiency. It can be as simple as planning your day, getting enough sleep, and taking regular breaks. You can get more done, in less time, with a few simple adjustments.
Till Next Time
Mike Gardner is The Time Doctor
Mike Gardner aka ‘The Time Doctor’ and is highly regarded as one of the UK’s leading Time Management and productivity specialists. As well as being regularly featured in both online and off-line media outlets around the world, he is the author of the best selling time management book, Business Owners: Your Family Misses You. He regularly speaks on topics that are congruent with his mission of helping small business owners, entrepreneurs and independent professionals to be incredibly productive, whilst still balancing their business and family commitments in a way that enables them to feel fulfilled and guilt-free. He is an avid Aston Villa fan, a Dad to Neil & Emma, a hubby to Wendy and in his role as an Officer with the reserve forces, he has completed operational tours of Iraq and Afghanistan.