Looking for ways to reclaim your day? Here are five quick ways to make more time in your work day.
Many of these tips are simple changes that will save you a few minutes.
All of those minutes add up.
Once you master the minutes so you can reclaim the hours.
1.
Turn off your email notification pop-up.
Every time you are distracted it takes an average of 4 minutes to refocus on what you were working on.
Doesn't sound like much, but all of that distracted time adds up.
If you are distracted by your email pop-up every 15 minutes that equates to 2 HOURS of time wasted! Turn off your email's pop-up reminder and eliminate any unnecessary distraction.
2.
Work on important tasks during peak times.
If you are best in the morning and sluggish in the afternoon plan to work on important tasks in the morning.
It takes us twice as long to finish tasks during off-peak times.
3.
Take time to plan.
For every hour spent planning you save four hours of doing.
Take the time to plan important projects before you begin.
Implement some type of task list.
It can be a paper planner or electronic software.
The key is to keep only one list and refer to it often.
4.
Set a time limit for Facebook, Twitter, web surfing and blogs.
Hours tend to disappear when doing these activities.
Set a limit and stick to it.
5.
Pick up the phone.
Instead of initiating an endless email exchange pick up the phone and call colleges or clients.
Speaking on the phone is still the best way to quickly exchange a lot of information and gain understanding.