How to make time without a Delorean…
I just got distracted for five minutes thinking about what I’d do if I had a time machine or indeed a car as cool as a Delorean. Bet you are now as well.
What I’m actually here for though is to go through some of my favourite tips for making more time in your day…or at least feeling like you have a bit more time free.
Before meetings, determine your desired results. Always have a clear purpose in mind before starting meetings, I write notes if it is a 121 meeting, listing out the things I need answers to. If it is a wider team meeting, I make sure there’s an agenda in place and I’m strict at sticking to it. It makes sure that your meeting doesn’t waste time, gets the results you need and that you can get back to work straight away.
Take another look at your list and identify tasks that take longer than you expect. We can all work for hours without focus at time but by setting time constraints for these items, you will focus more and work more efficiently.
Multitask in the only effective way by using time when you find it: we wait in lines, waiting rooms, airport terminals, train stations and so on which give you a chance to answer emails on your phone, catch up on missed phone calls, stretch/exercise, relax or meditate. Carry a book/Kindle with you and read. Listen to podcasts on your phone.
Leave a buffer-time between tasks and meetings so that you aren’t rushing from one thing to the next, it will give you a chance to note down new actions, take comfort breaks or just reset your mind ready for the next task.
Stop being perfect because there’s no such thing! When you’re a perfectionist, nothing will ever be good enough. That means you’ll keep going back to same task over and over again. How productive do you think your day will be as a result? So, stop being perfect. It doesn’t exist. Do the best you can and move on.
Learn to say no to things, because no one wants to upset anyone but you can only handle so much. If you already have a full plate then decline that dinner invitation or helping your colleagues on a project until you have the spare time.
Batch your time together so you can get in the groove, when you have related work, batch them together. If you’re in the groove on a certain type of task it’s easy to keep going with it and get lots more done. Different tasks demand different types of thinking. By batching related tasks together, your brain isn’t switching gears – which means you cut out that time reorienting.
Most of us find our first hour of the work the most productive – make sure to use yours wisely! Oddly enough, you can focus more easily when your brain isn’t fully awake. Booting-up brains have less excess energy for daydreaming and worrying about other tasks. So take advantage of this and get going straight away!