Everyone is given the same amount of time. The question is, how do you spend that time? If you find yourself with a pile of unfinished work never getting smaller, the following may be of use to helping you find a solution to your never-ending problem.
1. Keep Track of How You Spend Your Time
Have you ever finished working on something then wondered where all that time went? The perception of time is relative, like the saying goes, "time flies when you're having fun." Estimating how much time each task is going to take before you begin may give you some guidance on managing your time efficiently, and even prevent distraction. If you did get distracted, perhaps limiting your time slightly shorter may give you the incentive to focus on the task better next time. With practice, you'll be able to strengthen your ability to ignore those petty distractions and become more productive.
2. Single-Tasking Rather than Multitasking
It may seem like when you work on multiple things at once, you'll be able to get more things done in the day. The reality is that you're dividing your focus, leading to none of them being done to the best of your ability. You're more prone to make errors that way, taking more time to do them than if you complete each one separately.
3. Forget About Perfection
Rather than wasting your time perfecting something over and over, do your best the first time and move on. It's better to have finished it and get on with the rest of the things on your to-do list. This also gives you some time away from it to think of new ideas and input later.
4. Procrastination is Never the Solution
You hear this all the time; you're tired of hearing it or believe that you perform better when you procrastinate. While it seems that some people do think that they get things done faster on a time crunch, it may not necessarily be quality work. When you have a deadline and you get it done early, you'll have the time to rest your mind and come back to it later. You never know what you may find, such as better ideas or mistakes that can be altered beforehand.
5. Make Your Own Deadlines
If the feeling of procrastination is something that drives you to work at a faster pace, how about creating some of your own due dates? This may help you train yourself to be more mindful of your time.
6. Fine Meaning
Only a few get to transform their passion into a successful career, but what about the rest of us? Not everyone gets to do what they love, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy it. Learning to love the job even if it's not what you've envisioned is the surest way of increasing your productivity. Try to find meaning in what you do; it could become a stepping stone for what you want or maybe a newly found passion for you.
7. More Doesn't Mean Better
The natural feeling of increasing your working hours or packing more things into your already-full calendar may not be helpful for your productivity. If a colleague stops by and asks for a favor, take a moment to assess if you actually have the spare time to help.
8. Get Sleep.
Have you ever worked on something when you're exhausted? You come back to it the next day, only to have you thinking, 'how did I ever believe this was good last night?' We all have these moments from time to time – which is all the more reasons as to why sleep is the most important ingredient in making yourself productive. Sleep is something people often push aside when there are pressing matters to be dealt with. The truth is, without rest, your brain is unable to function well and will hinder your ability to concentrate. When you've done all you can for the day, give your mind a break to recover from the long day.
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