Ever wondered how you could do more with the hours you have? After all, we all have the same number of hours to work with; and how well we use our time determines our productivity, which in turn determines our level of success. Consider these four things that could help:
1. Make a To-Do List
Plan your day ahead by creating a checklist of tasks as this will help you plan ahead, stay organised, and pinpoint your daily activities. During sleep, your brain processes and prioritizes some of these tasks even though you don’t realise you are thinking about them.
Every morning, review and edit your list before carrying any of the tasks. This prevents you from allowing others use your time to accomplish their own tasks. Further, this helps you lay out your goals and objectives, keeps you on track, minimises distractions and leads to higher productivity.
2. Don’t Multitask
Multitasking divides your attention. If you stretch yourself too thin, you’ll feel ineffective and frustrated because you’ve focused on the product over the process. Think instead of one task and the process you need to accomplish that goal, and you will see yourself flying through to completion.
You can start by using a conditioning method known as the Pomodoro Technique, developed by Francesco Cirillo. The technique teaches people to focus in short intervals and work with time, not against it.
- Devote your thoughts to one activity for a 25-minute interval.
- Set a timer so you can glance at it periodically for motivation.
- Take a five-minute break before you start another 25-minute cycle.
These short, simple sessions help individuals concentrate on tasks and enforce a process-oriented approach.
3. Focus. Focus. Focus
Tools such as the Pomodoro Technique become useless if you fail to block out distractions. To fully avoid temptation, silence your phone, turn off notifications and apps that help you manage your incoming messages.
It’s important to reserve some time to focus, free of interruption. Whether you prefer early in the morning or late at night, find time and commit to it. Immersing yourself in your own goals empowers you to start the day with a more positive state of mind and end it with a sense of accomplishment, regardless of how events turn out in-between.
4. ….and Break It!
It’s unrealistic to demand daylong, dedicated focus of yourself. That’s why the Pomodoro Technique incorporate frequent breaks.
This allows your mind rest, and they reward you for concentrating. When it’s time to break focus, do all the things that otherwise would have being distractions. Go for a walk, watch TV or a video online, meet up with friends, check your social media or read articles you have stored in the Pocket app. Such breaks will build your willpower and help you recover.
Recognise you don’t need to do everything at once in order to make the most of your day. In fact, you can’t. So, just follow these steps above, and with a little practice, you will be surprised by how much you can accomplish.
