Time flies when you are busy. Before you know it is 5 p.m. and you are wondering where the day went. What happened? Whether it’s a nasty case of procrastination, the inability to say no, or a very busy lifestyle, whatever the reason, it may sometimes feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day to get things done.
Unfortunately, there’s no magical wand to wave away that growing mountain of work but don’t worry, we have compiled 7 helpful tips to get your work done faster and go home with a bounce in your step.
1. Make a list, check twice
You may have too much on your table, but no amount of wishing or pleading will make it all go away. One of the biggest obstacles people face is realizing how much they have to deal with. So draw a list of what needs to be done.
2. Set realistic deadlines
Making a list doesn’t mean you can kick back and relax. You need to prioritize. What needs to get done first? Categorizing from high to low priority helps you see what projects and tasks you can push off until later, and what needs to get done right now.
3. Do small, similar tasks at once
Once you have created a list and prioritized it, you may notice a bunch of small, simple tasks that are easy to do or don’t take very long. Do these quick and mundane tasks when you’re having some downtime (like waiting for a meeting) or need a quick distraction from your current task.
4. Mind over matter
The biggest obstacle in managing your time has to do with the procrastination. Stop waiting for it to be the right time or for you to be in the right mood. Just do it! Sometimes, the only thing stopping you from finishing your work, is, you.
5. Make a decision
Are you one of those people that can never seem to make a decision? See a recurring problem? Ponder less and get more done! Don’t be afraid of making the wrong choice, it happens to us all at some point. Being a better decision maker isn’t just great for the workplace, it’s a good personal skill too.
6. Delegate
You might be efficient, organized or on top of everything; yet there still aren’t enough hours in the day. There is a need to delegate. Work as a team. Nobody can do everything all by themselves. And sometimes, asking for a little help can go a long way.
7. Take a break
When you’re at work, do your office work, so that when you’re not at work, you’re not doing office work. When you take lunch or a small break, really take a break. Don’t bring notes or files with you, don’t take the office home. After all, you’ll come back the next day to start working.
