5 Effective Time Hacks to Get More Done (In Less Time)
5 Effective Time Hacks to Get More Done (In Less Time)
In a world full of busy people and endless to-do lists, we're all looking for ways to cram more into our already full lives.
We all want to get more done, right? Ask just about anybody how they're doing, and they'll tell you they're busy.
These time-saving hacks aren't meant to open doors to even longer to-do lists for us, but to give us more time to invest in what really matters, like time with our people.
TIME TRACKING
The first and most important step to getting more done in less time is to start paying attention to how you're spending your time currently.
You can't make changes if you're not aware of where you're already at.
Write down how you spend each part of your day for a whole day, not skipping anything (ahem, like social media use, or waiting in line at the store, or dawdling on your way out the door in the morning).
Once you know how you're already spending your time, you can start observing patterns. It will be clearer how much time you're spending on each activity every day and every week.
From there, you can decide how you want to reallocate your time. Do you want to spend more time reading and less time watching Netflix? Now you know how much time you were watching Netflix, which can equate to how much time you could have to read.
TIME BLOCKING
You can designate certain "chunks" of time and even certain days to specific tasks.
For instance, you could decide that Mondays are for cleaning the bathrooms and grocery shopping, allocating specific hours to those tasks every Monday.
You could determine that you do your best work in the morning, so from 8 to 12, you're going to buckle down to write emails, construct blog posts, design graphics, batch create social media posts, and record your videos.
The key is setting aside specific time to do the things that you need to get done.
We often have a long list of things to do, but because we're so easily distracted, we lose focus and don't accomplish as much as we could.
By dedicating time to one task, you're sidelining other things that come up. Instead of halting your blog writing when you remember you forgot to start the dishwasher, you can write yourself a note to start it when your writing time is up. That way, you don't have to get up from your computer and lose your place, and instead, you get to stay in your writing zone and complete your blog post faster.
Blocking out your time also ensures that you make time for what matters most to you, because you decide where your time's going.
By carving out time specifically for each task, you can set aside time for the most important things, like Friday night movie nights with your family or a coffee date with a friend on Wednesday. And when other things come up and threaten to invade that time, you can politely decline saying, "I'm sorry, but I have reserved that time for a movie night with my family."
USE TIMERS & ALERTS
If you want to block out an hour for a task, set a timer. Stay focused on that one task until the timer goes off. It saves you the worry about how long you've been doing it, and you don't even have to look at the clock! It allows you to focus simply on the task at hand.
And if you have time blocked off later for a specific task you don't want to forget, or if you need to leave the house by a certain time to get to your next activity, set an alert or a reminder for yourself so you don't miss it!
TURN OFF NOTIFICATIONS
When you're focusing on a task, limit your distractions.
The easiest way to do this is to turn off your notifications. You can turn them off entirely by putting your phone on "do not disturb" mode, or you can simply limit the notifications that show up on your lock screen.
Did you know you can also put your computer on "do not disturb" mode and change your notification settings?! That way, you can limit not only your phone's disruptions, but those of your computer, as well, helping you stay even more focused.
MORNING & EVENING ROUTINES
Utilizing daily routines is another fantastic way to get more done in less time.
So much of what you do takes longer than necessary because you have to make up our minds to do it.
When you establish regular routines, you take the decision-making out of the equation, saving mental energy and saving precious time.
By grouping tasks together into morning and evening routines, you can get into a rhythm where you accomplish your most ordinary routines faster and more efficiently because you don't have to think about doing them-- you just do them.
Morning routines are designed to help you wake up, take care of yourself and your needs (spiritually, mentally, and physically), and prepare for the day. You can read all about the secrets to creating a productive morning routine here.
Evening routines can help you both rest and productively prepare for the next day. You can read all about the secrets to creating a restful and productive evening routine here.
Which time hack do you find most interesting or helpful? Have you tried any of them before? I'd love to hear from you in the comments!
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