Happy November!! Happy, happy, happy! My favorite season just continues to roll right along and be amazing. You go on with your bad self, fall! The Starbucks red cups are in full swing, brightly colored leaves fall and provide a wonderful scene out my front window, and of course that cooler air…well, this red-head can’t say enough about cooler temps. It’s also during this time where I get my second wind of productivity. While those bears are thinking about hibernation, I’m kicking it into high gear!
This renewed focus is a relatively new concept for me. Ever since we had our little lady delivered to us, our goal is to make each moment count. {I know, I just heard Leo in my head too…} So of course with that comes a strategy to maximize my time and efforts.
Efficiency is the name of the game. Here are my top players for me to win.
Limit the lists.
Nobody loves a to-do list more than me, but if I keep tabs on a to-list for everything in my personal or professional life, I would be listing myself to death, not really accomplishing everything. Therefore the ROI of all those damn lists would be at 0% – womp, womp, womp. Instead, I encourage/challenge myself (and you) to write down those big projects or long-term goals. Trying to capture each minute of every day will leave you empty. You won’t have any minutes left to accomplish a task. Prioritize is the key. Designate days for certain tasks.
Get a head start. Avoid the rush.
I’ve read article after article about rising and shining just a little bit earlier each and every day. The benefits of emerging before the sun (because that is basically what happens this time of year if you try to get up early) allow you to start on an energetic foot without feeling the need to rush and get those morning things out of the way. As a result, more time can be added to something new, finising a task from the prior evening, or using those extra few minutes to make sure you are NOT forgetting anything for the upcoming day.
Know when to say no.
I get it. You want to do everything. But what good are you going to be if you say Yes to everything and only give 10% to each of those projects?
I’m assuming you still want to have a personal life, like family, friends and maybe even some personal time after all of these extraneous projects are all said and done, which is why I say 10%. If you think that’s too low, throw another 10% at it and make it 20%, you little over-achiever. However, that still leaves you at 20%…not that great.
Don’t you want to try to give everything your best, 100% effort? I’m a proponent for saying Yes, but within reason. Although there are 24 hours in a day, there are still only 24 hours in a day. Saying No to a few things every now and then will give you the time and dedication to ensure your skills and overall abilities to produce desired results are up to par. Don’t give that up. By doing this, you will still be afforded the option to say No, because another project will be rolling around shortly after that.
Time it.
Start recording how long it takes you to accomplish certain tasks. Once you know those minutes, stick to that time. We all know that this can fluctuate, but by timing yourself, or at least being aware of the time it takes, this will encourage you to stay on course and not wander to those time-wasters. You know what I’m talking about…
Don’t be afraid to ask.
It’s okay if you hit a road block, those unavoidable, stubborn road blocks. It happens. And when it does, call for some help. Are you a failure because you are asking for help? Absolutely not! You value your time, the project’s time and the overall outcome. By getting some much needed assistance, it’s possible that something even better could result than if you went it alone…and continued to bang your head on that desk for a few more minutes. Save yourself the headache and go to a team member/family member/friend. That’s why they are there.
What are some of your ways to save time {and energy} on those daily projects in life!
