I am always looking for ways to streamline ‘life admin’, automate tasks and reduce non-essentials.
Here’s some of the tricks that I am actively using nowadays that work well for me.
Use your ‘prime time’ for the most important and difficult tasks
For example, need to write something? Do it when you’re at your most inspired and energised. For me, I think most clearly and am most focused in the mornings. Not only can this time-saving technique reduce the amount of hours you’re spending on difficult tasks by two thirds, but it also saves pain and energy as ticking off actions when you’re at your most productive enables you to be far more streamlined and less challenged, opening up space for other things that you want to do!
Use waiting time as short focus periods
Take a 30-minute train ride to and from work every day? Use the time to focus on one task. My bus trip into work is about 20 minutes each way. I can flick through endless emails or I can use the time to create an outline of a plan for something I’m writing. Using otherwise what could be wasted time to focus 100 per cent on a difficult task saves so much headspace and creates motivation to return to the task that you’ve started. (I wrote this post on my 20-minute bus ride this morning, if you’re wondering!).
Set aside time for specific tasks, like social media and email
These are the two things that take up most of my time. I could spend all day on social media, and reading or responding to emails. Both are endless tasks and can be huge time wasters. The best way I’ve found to tackle both is to set aside specific time for them, and stick to it.
To tackle a problem, get into a different physical space
I find if I have a problem that my mind is working through, the best way to tackle it is to change my environment. Don’t waste your time running it through your mind over and over if you’re not getting a result. The fastest way that I’ve found to solve problems is to get myself into a different physical space – preferably with a deadline. (Forms of transportation are great for thinking and problem solving, as they are moving vehicles taking you forward and have an end time). Get a fresh perspective by heading outdoors or on a short journey in your car, or on the bus, train or ferry. This, combined with giving yourself a deadline to crack the problem, can be a huge time saver.
Prioritise
I’ve written about this before here and here. You’re never going to be able to do everything – so don’t even try. Prioritising is the best way to get focused on what you need to do to get the results that you are looking for. Figure out what the most important tasks are, and start with those. Once the most significant actions are complete you can stress less and stop when you need to.
How do you get the most out of your time?