You likely find yourself working really hard day in and day out to get things done, only to feel like you are running on a treadmill, with no forward movement. You may find yourself thinking, “How could I possibly do more than what I’m already doing?” The thought can be overwhelming. The good news: You don’t have to. Working hard is not always the best option. Sure, working hard is important, but worker smarter is always better. Here are seven tips for working smarter not harder.
- Narrow Your Focus
It can be really easy to get caught up in all of the things that you have on your to-do list. While you may believe that having such a list leaves you feeling more organized and in control, they also may overwhelm you. When you are overwhelmed you have a more difficult time with being productive. Instead, focus on your more important (usually most-time sensitive) tasks to get done.
- Stop Multitasking
Just as you should narrow your focus, you should also cut out the multitasking. I know you’re probably saying “What? But multitasking is a good thing, right?” Wrong. While multitasking is often viewed as a positive, with many people putting that on their resumes and the like, the truth is that people do not multitask very well. When you multitask, at best you do an okay job at everything. But when you focus on one thing at a time, you can give it 100 percent.
- Look at the Results
So much time is spent touting a 40+ hour work week as the gold standard. And while that may be admirable, time does not equal success. You can spend hours sitting and staring at your computer. But that doesn’t mean that those hours were actually productive. Instead of focusing on how much time you put into something, instead focus on the results that you are getting. When you see what you have accomplished, it will afford you an opportunity to feel good about what you have done and encourage you to continue doing so.
- Stick to a Routine
Human beings are creatures of habit. When we create and maintain set routines, we are more easily able to get tasks done sooner since we don’t have to waste time thinking about or preparing for what is supposed to come next. You may want to try a planner or online calendar management tool to assist you.
- Automate What You Can
This may seem shocking, but the less decisions that you have to make in a day, the more you will find yourself getting stuff done. It may seem counterintuitive, but the more automatic you can make something, the less energy it requires.
- Meditate
Okay, so no, you don’t actually have to meditate, but you do have to relieve stress. Stress is one of the most serious contributors to physical, emotional, and behavioral issues. Therefore it’s not all that surprising that stress can hinder your work performance. According to the American Psychological Association, stress-relieving strategies include things like exercising or playing sports, reading, listening to music, spending time with friends or family, meditating, or doing yoga. Planning ahead can also help to reduce stress.
- Do What You Love
Whenever possible, focus on engaging in the work that you enjoy the most. No matter what you do, you will always have tasks to deal with that are less than enjoyable. But if you can still find the time to do the things that you love, you will end up feeling more fulfilled, inspired, and ultimately, productive.
Calculating Destiny, LLC Can Help
At Calculating Destiny, LLC, we are a team of knowledgeable and experienced professionals that is dedicated to helping improve your business process. We work both on location and remotely, integrating into your existing team. Our ability to accurately and compliantly run your business allows you and your team to have a clear understanding of the challenges that may present themselves, how to overcome them, and how to set and achieve tangible goals. Through internal audits, process manuals, operations, and training & education, our number one goal is to help your company grow – even if that means outgrowing our services. To learn more about how we can help to put your business back on track for financial success, schedule a free consultation by visiting us online or calling us at 215-674-3430 today!
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