Whether you’re a resolution-maker or
not, I bet at the top of your list is to be more efficient. Being efficient is
something I try to be aware of often. Why? Because using your time wisely leads
you conquering your goals, making more money, and finding overall happiness. Doesn’t
that sound awesome?! With that said, here are a few tips to help you be truly
efficient everyday.
- Make a To-Do Schedule:
My idea of a schedule is a mix
between a to-do list and an itinerary. First, start by making your daily to-do
list. Ideally, you’ll want to make your list the day before. Next, you’ll want
assign each task to a time slot in your daily schedule. And remember, you
always want to do the most annoying/difficult task first, so you get it out of
the way and instantly feel accomplished! So for example, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
you’ll have answer emails, make that phone call, and begin writing that
proposal.
- Be Mindful:
How many times do you start one
task and then five minutes later you find yourself on a completely different
task without finishing the first task? I hate that, and sometimes it’s
inevitable. But try to be mindful in what you’re doing. Really focusing on
every task. Be aware of every word you are writing in that email. When you’re
aware of the task, you’re less likely to jump to another. Plus, being mindful
will help you produce better work.
- Are You Reaching Your Goal? Are You Making Money?:
We have tons of tasks on our daily
lists, but not all of them are helping us reach our goals or make money. When
writing down a task, ask yourself “Will this help me reach my goal?” “Will this
help me make money?” if not, add that task to the bottom of the list. You must
prioritize your tasks. Of course, there will be those items like grocery
shopping or completing that favor for a friend. Those are important, too, but
make sure you do it a time that works for you and your schedule. And if there
is anything with low priority that you can delegate to someone else, do it!
- Stop Wasting Time!:
Never stray from the to-do schedule
unless it’s absolutely imperative. Most of the time we waste time by checking
Facebook 20 times a day. If using Facebook is not making you money, then you
shouldn’t be checking it 20 times a day. If you want to schedule in some “break
time” in your schedule, go ahead and do so. If that makes the distractions
lessen, then I recommend it. But overall, be mindful of the amount of time you
waste in a day and then cut it in half. Once you’ve made that agreement with
yourself to be more efficient, you’ll begin to see that those things that use
to waste your time begin to disappear. Have the courage to let them go.
- Log Your Time:
During the first few weeks of
adapting your new efficient plan, you’ll want to log your time. Like an attorney,
take note of how many hours you spent on a certain task. The reason for this is
first, you want to see where you’re spending too much time. And secondly,
knowing how much time you spend on certain tasks will help you make a better
to-do schedule. And sticking to the list is key.
Enjoy your progress from good to great! Send me a tweet
@LorenRidinger if you have any questions.
xoxo,
Loren
