Work smarter not harder

Life can be hectic and overwhelming. There is always a list of things-to-do as long as your arm which never seems to get shorter but there are a few basic tips to help limit the collateral damage of procrastination and bad time management.

Every man and his dog has advice to give on this topic ranging from the latest apps you can use to dictate your emails why you drive, to standing on your head for a minute to increase the blood flow to your brain. When it comes down to it though, the key ideas contained in the majority of lists come down to 10 basic things.

1. Learn to say “no”: seriously, you don’t have to take on the weight of the world. If you are overloaded, push back and say no.
2. Get enough sleep: if you’re tired, things are going to take you three times as long as usual and chances are that you will have to go back later to fix all the mistakes you made because your game was off.
3. Set a time limit in which to complete task: it’s all well and good to say a task will take as long as it takes but you will find that you will most likely be more productive and focused if you set yourself and end point (for example three hours) as it gives you a goal to strive for.
4. Leave a buffer-time between tasks: Allow yourself some down-time between tasks so you can breathe and refresh your brain.
5. Limit your focus to one item on your to-do list at a time: one of the fastest ways to overwhelm yourself is to think about your massive to-do list. Just take it one step at a time.
6. Exercise and eat healthily: Numerous studies have linked a healthy lifestyle with work productivity. Exercise also helps to release endorphins which make you feel good.
7. Do less: Slow down and prioritise your work load.
8. Do something during waiting time: The amount of time people spend waiting around at bus stops, waiting rooms, before meetings is quite substantial. Use this time to knock some work on the head.
9. Group tasks together: This way, you’ll be in the right frame of mind to efficiently cover related information and tasks. You may also find that many tasks overlap therefore partially eliminating each other.
10. Make Lists: I like lists. They help break down massive tasks into bite-sized manageable tasks. It is also very satisfying crossing out each task as it is completed.