Remember those goals you set at the new year? How are you doing with them?
There’s a special kind of productivity that comes through at the beginning of the year, when so much seems possible. We make commitments to a fresh start, new beginnings, and major goals. But as the weeks go on, life gets really full. How do we make traction on our goals when there seems to be an endless amount of tasks to complete and only 24 hours in a day?
I’ve found that there are some bold moves that we can make to reclaim your time. Here are a few of my favorite strategies for increasing productivity so that you can save time and give more energy to the things that matter most. .
6 Bold Moves to Increase Productivity and Reclaim Your Time
Keep Meetings Short
Create a super clear agenda with a time limit and stick to it. Keep small talk to a minimum. When having an informal discussion, keep a goal in mind and focus on achieving that goal. Once achieved, elegantly wrap up the conversation with a smile. It’s ok to end a meeting early.
Limit Email Time
Daily emails can seem endless. Set a time limit for how long you’ll spend on email during certain times of the day. For example, 40 minutes for morning emails, 30 minutes after lunch, and so on. Instead of reading the first message first, start with the most important and respond in order of priority.
Go Off the Grid
Are distractions causing you to work longer than you should? Go off the grid! Seal yourself up in your home office (or in your closet just like I do) and keep away from the outside world. Communicate to your team that you’re engaged in highly- focused work and that you’re not to be bothered. This is also a good idea when you’re doing strategic planning or anything else that requires serious concentration.
Add Time Limits To Your To-Do List
For each item on your daily to-do list, set a maximum time limit. This is the most time you can spare for the task. Set a timer as you begin each task. This prevents one item from taking too long and pushing other tasks off your list.
Run a Time Audit
A great way to start managing your time more efficiently is to conduct a time audit. This involves keeping a log of everything you do (including watching TV, surfing the net, shopping on line) and how long it takes. You can do this for a few days or even one day to see exactly how you’re spending your time. It’ll then become clear to you what you need to cut out.
Take Breaks
It may seem counter-intuitive, but taking small breaks throughout the day helps to keep your focus. During these breaks, you may want to engage in some activity that’s just fun and relaxing. Even a quick 10 minute Yoga routine or tending your garden will do wonders for your creativity.
These bold moves may take some courage, but just imagine what you’d accomplish if your productivity was at its best! The more you put these strategies into practice, the more those precious minutes (or hours!) will return to your day.
What are your favorite bold moves? We’d love to hear them.
With love,
Mari Carmen
