Stephen Covey once said in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People “the key is not to prioritise what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.” It can be overwhelming looking at a long list of tasks you wish to accomplish over your day. It can be more overwhelming just getting started. Creating a structured routine can help you tick off those tasks one by one, leaving a blank canvas for the next day.
Plan your day in advance
Instead of starting the day by burying yourself in endless emails and tasks that will suck up your time, take the time to write out a list of what you hope to accomplish for that day. You should also do this at the end of the day to ensure that your tomorrow is being optimised effectively and you’re not heading into a new day with the fear of the unknown.
Everything is better in 3s
Who said three had to be a crowd?!! Some experts cite it as super beneficial to give yourself three big tasks a day. By recognising your bigger goals, you are not distracted by smaller tasks that will slow down moving work.
First, the worst
It has been observed that being busy is often an excuse for avoiding dreaded and critically important tasks. We recommend ‘eating the frog first’, meaning getting the task you’re least looking forward to out of the way before you start anything else. The remainder won’t seem as bad in comparison. You might be surprised what renewed energy can achieve…
Time blocking
If you find yourself jumping from task to task you are most likely not using your time wisely nor getting much done. Schedule chunks of your day to work on bigger tasks and make sure you remain focused the entire time. Productivity is at its peak during uninterrupted intervals. During this time, avoid working on other tasks and limit distractions.
Grouping
Multitasking is not as easy as it looks. In fact, most people think they are successfully juggling a bunch of tasks but in reality, their productivity level has significantly decreased. We recommend grouping similar tasks together and using time blocking to better manage them.
Take breaks
A more light-hearted and easier step is ensuring that you are taking small breaks throughout the day. Even if you think you have no time, the product of your work will be of higher value if you alternate periods of activity and rest. Remember, rest is productive too!
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If you are looking to create some structure in your workday, contact us – we would love to help you find a balanced workplace where your skills are being optimised.
