9 Strategies for Getting More Work Done in Less Time

Getting more work done in less time is something all people aspire to do. If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or a small business owner, getting things done in less time is an absolute necessity! Although we know that being productive is key to our successes, I still see a lot of people struggle in that department with feeling like there’s simply not enough hours in the day.

Typically, new entrepreneurs are facing the daily struggle of running and growing their business while still working a 9-5. Add into the mix family, friends and everyday priorities and you’ll quickly find yourself burnt out attempting to balance it all! I too face this “obstacle” with time being either my enemy or best friend. After much strategic trial and error, I have to say that I’ve gotten this time thing down to a science! So if you’re still facing an everyday challenge with your time, this post is for you. Here’s my 9 strategies for getting more work done in less time!

Simplify Your Everyday Life

Simplifying your everyday life will get rid of those extra distractions that are eating away at your precious time. What are some things that you own or interact with that aren’t pure necessities? If it’s not helping you get closer to your dreams and goals, why do you have it? For example, I got rid of many subscriptions that I was paying for. In return, I gained time not interacting with them, more money and additional time since I didn’t have to budget for when the payment would come out of my account.

Anything that requires our attention, is precious time and energy that we’re devoting to it. This can be as small or large as you want it to be! Some people go big and get rid of their house so they don’t have to worry about all the things that comes with owning one. Others like me get rid of subscriptions like Hulu, things laying around that I don’t use but requires my energy and social media apps. It’s all up to you on the things that you can get rid of in order to simplify your life!

Figure Out Where You’re Wasting Time

It’s so easy to waste your time without even knowing it! One day, I decided to record everything I did from beginning to end for a week. My results were absolutely astonishing! I saw that I was wasting loads of time scrolling through Instagram and Facebook even if it was only 10 minutes per session. Additionally, I was wasting a lot of time watching YouTube videos and Netflix shows during my lunch which could’ve been used for something more important. Once I knew where I was wasting time, I quickly implemented rules to limit those activities and in return, my productivity skyrocketed!

Get Adequate Amount of Sleep

Getting adequate amounts of sleep is crucial to my productivity each and every day! You should be prioritizing sleep as a top focus so you have more hours in the day and are alert. That myth of staying up until 3AM to work on your business and sleep only 4 hours a night is ridiculous! Your body needs to be recharged and it can only do that with 7 – 8 hours of sleep. Pick a schedule that works for best you! I like to go to sleep at 9:30PM so I can wake up at 5AM and go to the gym. Waking up earlier gives me an additional 2 hours to be productive and I’m not sacrificing any hours of my sleep!

RELATED: 5 Time Management Tips for First Time Entrepreneurs

Finish What You Start

A lot of people start a task, get distracted and attempt to finish it later. This is nothing but a huge chunk of time wasted! To prevent situations like these occurring, I always finish tasks I’ve started by time blocking. When you block off a certain amount of time to get something done, it helps that “stop and go” behavior. It takes our mind several minutes to get back into the groove of something therefore, when you stop working on a task and try to tackle it later, you waste time.

The “stop and go” behavior applies to everything in life! When you check your inbox and see a message that requires a response, reply at that exact moment. You waste time reading a message, closing it, reopening later, and having to reread the message before you finally respond to it. Become more aware of your actions and make sure that you aren’t wasting time with the “stop and go” behavior.

Break Down Your Large Tasks

Breaking down large tasks and goals is something I talk about a lot because it really works! Adding a large time consuming task to your to do list without breaking it down first will cause nothing but overwhelm. Instead, break that task down into mini ones that are easier to achieve in less time! It’ll help you physically and mentally to tackle that beast of a task by segmenting it. Physically you’ll be able to take breaks in between your working intervals. Mentally you’ll see those small tasks being crossed off your list. That’ll boost your confidence and make you feel good about getting things done.

Utilize Every Minute

I utilize every minute of the day by taking advantage of those moments that most people don’t. Instead of watching Netflix or chatting with my coworkers, I’m replying to emails or having a business call. When I’m at the gym working out, I’m heightening my personal development with valuable podcasts. On a flight or the train? Replying to emails, engaging with my community or reading a book. Even in the shower I’m thinking of things that I can implement for my life and business. Getting things done in those pockets of time, helps me to get more done and be productive. Yes, it sometimes feels like you’re always working. Hence, when I feel like doing nothing (after my work is done of course), that’s exactly what I do and I don’t feel bad about it!

Outsource, Outsource, Outsource

Outsourcing my tasks has helped me tremendously in two ways; to get my time back and get things done expertly that I’m mediocre or a novice at doing. As an up and coming or new entrepreneur, you’ll find yourself doing literally everything. I understand that completely in the beginning however, find the funds to outsource some things! More likely than not, you do tasks that you hate, aren’t good at and in result, produce low results. No point in subjecting your business to that risk when you can simply hire an expert that would love to take on the task. Nonetheless, you’ll produce large returns on your time and money investments… it’s a no brainer! I advise that you only focus on high level tasks that you’re an expert at.

Prioritize Important Tasks

I prioritize my tasks distinctly so I can get things done effectively and efficiently. The top of my to do list will consist of tasks that have a deadline or tasks that I don’t feel like doing. Once those two groups are out of the way then I take care of everything else! It’s important to get those “hard to do” tasks done first so you can cross it off of your list and not risk procrastination. Oftentimes when we know we have to do something but don’t feel like doing it, we’ll unconsciously procrastinate to push it back. To avoid this, it’s best to get it done first thing in the morning so it’s out of sight and mind!

Increase Your Self Development

You should be dedicating at least 30 minutes everyday to increasing your self development. With technology today, this is very simple and easy to do! You can listen to podcasts while cleaning up the house or driving, watch a YouTube video or keep it classic by reading a book. Regardless, your success will go only as high as your personal development. Therefore, you need to be challenging yourself to learn new things daily and keep your mind sharp!

Getting things done in less time isn’t hard at all; it just requires planning and discipline. Truth is, we control our decisions and the choices we make. Everyday we have the ability to become better and dictate how we want our days to go. So make sure to utilize your time wisely, plan out your days and stick with it!

Until next time ASSASSINS. . . Stay Disciplined!

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