Do you ever feel like you’re constantly working but never getting anything done? That whether it’s early in the morning, late at night or all weekend long, you’re always chained to your desk? If so, a few small changes to the way you work could help pay big dividends.
1 Block off your time
Rather than giving yourself three hours to complete a task, for example, give yourself three 45-minute blocks with three 15-minute breaks in between each one. You’ll be more focused during your shorter working periods, and you can use your breaks to check emails, return phone calls and move away from your screen.
2 Say no to meetings
While it’s true that meetings can be an important part of your working day, not all meetings are created equal. If you’re spending more time sitting in a boardroom than at your desk, go through your schedule and decline any meetings that aren’t completely essential.
3 Don’t multitask
Although working on three things at once might seem more efficient, concentrating on one task at a time can help you accomplish more in the long run. Resist the temptation to multitask and keep your focus on the job at hand.
4 Plan in advance
Make a list the night before of all the tasks you need to take care of for the next day – in order of importance. Having a plan will reduce your stress and anxiety levels, and leave you clear-headed and ready to take on the day with gusto.
5 Reduce distractions
Switch off your email, put your phone on silent and close your office door if you have one. The more you can focus on your work without any distractions, the quicker you’ll get through your to-do list – and the more time you’ll have for yourself at the end of the day!
Finding the perfect work-life balance is a lot harder than you’d think. Find out what it actually takes, here.
