Feel like you don’t have enough hours in the day? Sometimes the issue is we aren’t working smart which in the long run ends up making us work longer hours.
Here are 10 tips to follow in order to allow you to work smarter and faster.
1.To do list
I like to write my thoughts down in order to know the duties and tasks I need to finish. This not only allows me to have a clear picture of what I need to do, it allows me to prioritise and get things done in an efficient and effective way.
2.Goals
Set yourself goals in order to motivate yourself to achieve them in the best possible way. This will allow you to set up your own deadlines which will then help you focus and hone in on your skills. Remember to focus on quality rather than perfection.
3.Delegate
Don’t put everything on your shoulders, sometimes delegate! Ask for assistance and utilise the skills of others to achieve the task to the best possible way. This will also allow you to nurture relationships with others and develop team working skills.
4.Plan ahead
Anticipate problems and issues you are likely to face and then sort them out in advance. I always wanted to move to London and one of the problems I knew could crop up if getting accepted was the short time span between being accepted and attending the course. In order to ease the tension and stress, I arranged for accommodation in advance and prepared for being accepted at the course. This meant everything was in order for me to embark on my new chapter.
5.Take regular breaks
Do not over work your brain. Take a small 15 minute nap to settle your mind. Also, use these breaks to have some water to keep you hydrated. Having nuts and fresh fruit also have a lot of nutritional value which will keep you motivated and engaged.
6.Change your work space location
Work in different parts of the house or library. Staying in the same place can sometimes put you into a bit of a funk. Move around and this will inspire you to come up with different ideas and also it’s a great way to learn. Your mind will associate different locations with different information which is great for memorising!
7.Keep on top
Check your emails in the morning so they don’t pile up. As I work in PR, I need to ensure I am on top of current affairs and so need to be aware of what is in the media. In the morning I look through newspapers and my social media feed in order to be prepared.
8.Set up alerts on your phone
Modern smart phones have everything for us: calendars, social media feeds, notes and contacts etc. Use it as your personal assistant to guide you throughout the day.
9.Don’t stress
The worst thing is to let your emotions get the better of you. Be flexible. Create a plan, but use it as an outline. Throughout the day, things may change and things may get added. Don’t let this put you off. Start as you mean to go on. Keep your cool…
10.Add colour
Brighten up your page with highlighters and gel pens. There is nothing worse than looking at a screen or a page full of black and white reels of writing. The colour will make it easier for you to digest the content and motivate you to carry on.
Do you have any tips on working smarter and faster?
