Do you ever feel like you are always so busy but not getting a lot accomplished? Chances are you just need to make a few changes to the way you work to boost your daily productivity. Here are 5 ways you can do just that, and reclaim some lost time:
Use a Calendar App to Schedule Appointments. Have you ever considered how much time you spend scheduling meetings? The back-and-forth emails, text messages, and even phone calls just to synchronize your calendars can waste precious time that could be used on more profitable tasks. Instead, use a calendar-scheduling app to allow your clients and colleagues to choose a time that works for both of you. There are many apps to choose from – all with different features. Calendly and Appointlet allow you to send a link to your calendar with your available time, schedule the meeting and even add it to everyone’s digital calendar, and Doodle allows you to create polls to determine the best time for group meetings. All three offer a free version – saving you both time and money.
Keep a Short To-Do List. You may have a huge list of things to accomplish, but, according to Leadership IQ, only 14% of people with long lists felt they had enough time to accomplish everything on their list. On the other hand, 44% with short lists were confident they could complete all tasks successfully. If you do need a running list of all tasks, then prioritize 1-3 for the day to finish.
Build A “Distraction-Free Zone” Into Your Day. We all do it: read an email or listen to a voicemail that leads us to immediately start working on another project, which leads to yet another task, and so on, all of which successfully sidetrack us from our daily goals. While we still need to be proactive with emails and phone calls, take the time to block an hour or two from your schedule to turn off the phone and not check emails (or text messages) and concentrate specifically on an important project. Your project will get done a lot quicker, and you’ll be better able to take care of your clients as well.
Clean Up Your Email. While email is essential to conducting business, it can also be a pain in the neck. Cleaning up your inbox and making some “rules” for your email program to categorize your emails can improve your efficiency dramatically. Unsubscribe from those email lists that no longer are necessary, create categories for important messages so that you can find them quickly and easily, and delete those emails that you no longer need. In fact, if there are specific messages that you send to clients asking specific questions, you can create canned answers that just take a keystroke or two to incorporate into your messages!
Take A Break. It may seem counterintuitive, but studies have shown that taking periodic breaks throughout the day actually increases productivity. Whether it’s a lunch break or a quick walk around the block, your brain and your body get an opportunity to relax and rejuvenate. As business owners, it’s even more important to take time away from the office to decompress and avoid burnout. Whether it’s a vacation or a long weekend, you’ll find that you have more energy to tackle the tasks ahead.
Putting a strategic plan in place to move your business forward takes time and effort. Making sure each day is productive will go a long way towards ensuring your success.
________________________________________________
Learn How the Game of Golf Can Change Your Life… Even if You’ve Never Picked up a Club! To get a copy, click here!