Recently I’ve been working on increasing my efficiency and productivity. Sounds kind of nerdy, I know. I’ve got a long list of goals I’m working on accomplishing, so need to be organised enough to make those goals a reality. Motivation is one thing, that alone can be a struggle. Finding the time in the day to work on your goals is another real challenge. There are a several habits that work well for me, so I thought I’d share a look at how to improve your efficiency and productivity…
Batch Working
Batch working has changed my life. Big statement. Batch working is when you dedicate a specific time to work on one batch of work. So say you are writing a blog, you need to take pictures, write the posts and upload your posts. You would batch your photography into one day or an hour, take all your photos in one go. Then dedicate a day to writing the copy, then a day to getting all your content uploaded and scheduled to go live. Batch working has the power to free up so much time, it also helps you to see the bigger picture and plan ahead.
Lists, lists, lists!
Before you go to bed make a list of the tasks you need to complete for the following day. This will not only help with your productivity but with your mental clarity too. If you jot down all the things you need to do, then your mind will be free to relax and be calm. Making lists of short term goals, mid and long term goals is a great way to stay on top of your various projects and improve your efficiency and productivity.
Delegate
You should never be afraid to ask for help when you have a very busy schedule. Hire somebody to help with your workload. Give them the chance to show their strengths and also let them utilise their talent as this will go a long way when it comes to your overall productivity level. An extra pair of hands can be a game-changer and open up so many more opportunities to you. Sharing the workload will not only double your efforts but also bring another set of skills to the table.
Sometimes a new team member can offer a completely different level of perspective and it can also help to mix things up too. If you do want to hire a new team member then lookup trends in recruitment so you can make the best decision while also helping your business to stay efficient.
Communicate
If you work in an office setting then there’s a high chance that you’ll communicate via email. There’s nothing wrong with this, but there are so many other applications that you can use to communicate and collaborate much more efficiently. Consider investing in new software or even take the time to look out for any other forms of communication that could be beneficial to your business. There are some great applications like Slack, which I’ve used recently and it’s a great way to communicate with a group of people efficiently.
Know your Strengths and Weaknesses
Everyone has their own set of strengths and weaknesses. It’s ok to admit that you’re not the best at everything. For example, if you suck at maths, it’s ok to hire an accountant to help manage your businesses finances. If one of your strengths is writing, then do more of that and delegate the other jobs that need doing. If you’re not in a position financially to hire anyone to help, then consider going on a course to improve your weak areas, like a one day accounting course or a creative writing class. It always feels good to learn a new skill or improve a little. Progress not perfection.
Give Yourself an Incentive
People work way better when they have a little extra incentive. Try to reward yourself now and again. Say you’ve hit a milestone in your business or finished all the tasks on your to-do list, then treat yourself to a good lunch or spa day. This will help to increase your productivity and it will also help you to shoot for bigger and better results.
Set Goals that are Realistic
When looking at how to improve your efficiency and productivity you have to make sure that your goals are both realistic and attainable. That is not to say don’t dream big and set big goals. Just that you need to break your goals down into realistic chunks. If you’re always thinking that you’re never going to achieve your goals, then you may feel demotivated and like it’s not worth working hard. This is the last thing that you want, so always break bigger projects down into more manageable chunks. This way your goals don’t seem so unattainable!
Stay fabulous
Christine
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