You’ve heard this before: work smarter, not harder. By finding ways to quickly improve your productivity, you can avoid burning the midnight oil and get better results for your growing business.
1. Identify Your Peak Productivity Time
Chances are, you’ve been told to do all your high-level creative tasks in the morning and to save the boring drudge work (like answering emails) until later in the day.
While this is good advice in theory, the reality is that there’s no one-size-fits-all answer for when you’re most productive. Some of us are indeed super productive in the morning. Others are night owls. The thing is, the ideal time for one person could be the absolute worst time for someone else.
This doesn’t mean that only morning people will achieve true productivity. The key is to figure out which time you’re most mentally alert and ready to focus on work. Whether that’s in the morning or evening, make that the time for doing your most complex, high-level tasks. Reserve the rest of the day for more mundane busywork.
2. Cut Out Distractions
Whether you can’t stop checking your Facebook and Twitter feeds or you fall down a black hole of reading article after article on solopreneurship, it’s all too easy to lose track of time when you let yourself get distracted.
Cut out the distractions by turning off notifications on your phone, or setting up a timer on your computer to make it easier to stay on track. You can even block problematic websites entirely. Improving your ability to stay focused on the task at hand will ensure you actually wrap up work at a decent hour.
3. Learn To Delegate
Sometimes, the best way to become more productive is to do less work! As an entrepreneur, delegation should be your best friend — and you don’t need to hire a full-time staff to do this, either.
Freelancers and automation tools make it easier than ever to outsource the tasks you either don’t have time for or simply aren’t that good at. For example, if social media isn’t your thing, hire a contractor who can manage your accounts on a part-time basis.
When you delegate the busywork, you can focus on high-level tasks that do the most to improve your bottom line.
4. Take Time To De-Stress
Taking breaks may not seem like a way to become more productive, but if you push yourself too hard, stress and burnout are sure to follow. When this happens, it’ll take you longer to complete tasks, and you’ll likely do a worse job at it, too. Even a short break can do wonders for your productivity.
Just a five-minute break away from the desk each hour will help you come back recharged. If you’re starting to feel yourself mentally shutting down, step away for a longer exercise break.
5. Make A To-Do List At Night
The way you end your day can go a long way in setting the tone for the next morning. Before you go to bed, write up a quick to-do list of the things you need to do at work the next day.
Writing out a to-do list helps narrow your focus. The next morning, you’ll already know what needs to be done, so you won’t waste any time — and you’ll get a nice little rush of endorphins when you can check something off your list.
Of course, a list of 100 tasks is going to leave you feeling overwhelmed and overworked. When making your nightly to-do list, take a few minutes to evaluate which tasks are the most important and which ones you can realistically complete the next day. Carefully curated lists will keep you on track without adding to your stress levels.
Start Getting More Done!
None of these productivity hacks requires a major investment of your time and energy…
In reality, all it takes is a slight adjustment to your current work habits and schedule. By using these tips to work smarter, you’ll be less stressed and be able to get more done during the workday. Your entrepreneurial career (and your mental health) will thank you.
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