28 Tips to Give You More Time to Do the Things You Want
Avoid interruptions – Set aside time to focus on a project when you won’t be interrupted. Put yourself in a meeting with yourself.
Be active – If you don’t like to exercise change your mindset and think of it as being more active, even if it’s 20 minutes a day, four or five times a week. You’ll actually have more energy to do things if you do more than sit in front of a computer all day.
Breaks – Take a short break in the morning and afternoon. Even a five-minute break can help you feel refreshed.
Cancel – Cancel unnecessary meetings. If you don’t need to meet or if something can be taken care of in an email – do it.
Clean those vegetables – As soon as you get home from the grocery store clean fruits and vegetables so they’re ready to eat. If I don’t have to prep them daily, I’m more likely to eat them instead of reaching for a snack with little or no nutritional value and unwanted calories.
Delegate – Give others the opportunity to gain experience. This also frees you up to do things that others are not ready to do.
Do the hard things first OR when you’re most productive – If you’re a morning person and that’s when you’re most creative, work on the projects that take the most brain power and effort in the morning. I used to schedule all meetings in the morning. Meetings are easy for me and while I invest a lot of energy in them, I have found afternoons work great for them. I am reserving the mornings for the most challenging projects in which I need to be creative.
Double your recipe – When making a meal double the recipe and either freeze one to eat later in the month or use for lunches or a meal later in the week.
Eliminate or reduce the distractions - Silence your phone and/or emails (if your job allows this) – Resist the temptation to look at everyone notification on your phone especially when working on a project that takes a lot of brain power.
Evaluate and reflect – Take and make time at the end of the day and/or the week to evaluate what went well and what you would like to do more or less of.
Finish what you start – Focus on the task at hand and resist the urge to jump from project to project.
Have fun – When you take time to relax and refresh you can actually be more productive.
Meal Prep – Make multiple meals in one day and freeze them for the future.
Meal prep for the week – On Sunday make your meals for the week.
Meet face-to-face – In person if possible or virtually with cameras on if it’s the only way to meet. Work on relationships. In the end the time you invest in fostering a relationship can save you time.
Multi-task or NOT? – Determine if multitasking will actually save you time. If you’re working remotely and can do the laundry on breaks awesome. If you’re trying to talk to someone, be part of a meeting but have your camera off and doing something else – are you being fair to the others and yourself because you’re not 100% focused on the task at hand.
Organize your space – Clean your office, house, garage etc. If your physical environment isn’t organized many times your brain may not be either. I find that my workspace is in chaos, so are my thoughts.
Partner – ask someone to partner with you if appropriate on a task. For example, I didn’t use to be particularly good at asking for help. I thought I had to do it all. I found if I ask people, they are happy to help. This could be at work or at home. When everyone works together it’s a lot more fun and efficient.
Pick up the phone – Texting and emails are great. AND sometimes a phone call is more efficient. Get answers in real-time and strengthen those relationships.
Plan – Determine your goals for the week and each day. Write them in your calendar (digital or paper) and Commit to doing them!
Set a timer – Give yourself a certain amount of time to work on a project, especially if it’s something you don’t want to do. You may find it didn’t take you near as long as you thought it would because you didn’t sit there stewing about it.
Sit down for the night when you’re ready to relax – If I sit down too early at night, I find myself getting hooked on scrolling through my phone or watching a show that I’m not really that into.
Sleep and Stop the snooze – Go to bed at a decent time. You know how much sleep you need. Get up when the alarm goes off. Use those extra 10 – 20 minutes you might spend snoozing for something else.
Take action with email – Read it, file it, take action (or put it on your will-do list) or delete it.
Time Block – Set aside time to do the same or similar activities in one black of time. For example: Check email. Return or make calls. Write reports. Research. Repeat if needed.
TIVO – if you have a favorite show and you only have so much time, TIVO it, and fast forward through the commercials.
Write it down - Make notes on your phone or calendar when you think of something that needs to be done.
Celebrate – Last but not least, make time to celebrate your wins! This will increase your confidence and energy to continue pursuing your goals.
