The productivity level in each person is different. While some have a habit of accomplishing more tasks within the given timeframe, others need more time to complete a single job.
There isn’t a magical way to boost your productivity all of a sudden. Whether you need to complete school homework or the office presentation, you will have to plan your time to achieve your goals on time.
Managing time has been the most challenging job for both students and employees. No matter how hard you try, you often end up taking hours for a basic job. The major problem here is the focus. Maybe, you are working in an environment where you can’t stay focused on your task.
Regardless of how inefficient you are, this post will boost your productivity levels and help you complete more work in a short time. Let’s have a look:
Plan Your Tasks
Businesses cannot operate without proper planning. Being the first major function of management, planning plays a vital role in helping people determine their final objectives. The first tips for managing time and getting more work done quickly is planning.
Note down all the tasks you are supposed to complete in a week. Let’s say you got many college assignments. Each teacher has set different deadlines for you to complete the project and submit it within the given timeframe. Before you start working on the projects, prepare a plan and decide which project is urgent.
On a fresh page, write down all the assignments you need to complete in a week. Create a column next to the project names and mention the date you need to submit them. This will help you plan your strategies efficiently.
Time Your Work
It is easier to say I’ll study the whole night or I’ll work 24/7 to complete my assignments. But, when you actually start working, your energy starts to drain. You cannot work round the clock without breaks. It is best to be practical when timing your tasks.
Follow the above tip to figure out the work that’s urgent and needs to be completed first. Before you get started with working, get a rough estimate of the time the project will take to be completed. Note that working continuously for hours will exhaust you. Moreover, there is a chance it will affect the quality of work. Here is how you should time the individual tasks.
Set a 30-minute timer. Work for the first half-hour and take a 5-minute break. Follow this procedure for 3-4 times. The major benefit of these short breaks is that they keep you productive all throughout the day.
Keep All Your Distractions Aside
Nowadays, there is no major distraction tool than smartphones and other technical gadgets. The last thing you will want is to focus on work when your smartphone placed right next to you is ringing all the time. Even when you take a break from work, you end up wasting the time checking email or using social networking sites.
We all know how difficult it is to keep mobiles aside and focus on work. But, if you want to get more work done in a short time, you will need to free yourself from distractions. Not only mobile, but television, laptop, games, and many gadgets act as distractions. Even studies suggest that smartphones increase your stress levels and demotivate you to work.
To make the most of your time and cognitive abilities, put aside all the distractions. During the break time, take a walk instead. You can also meditate to increase your energy levels and boost your cognitive skills.
Research More
Today, every task needs research. Most people get started with work without devoting some time to research. This leads to two drawbacks:
- It affects the quality of your work
- It takes more time for students to complete their task
When you start your work with research, you collect plenty of information about the particular assignment. Experts believe that you will not have to spend hours completing a task if you conduct thorough research on the topic. Moreover, it will be easier for you to get done with the task since you have already got familiar with the topic.
Effective Efficiency
Just because you have a strict deadline doesn’t mean you can compromise on the quality of work. Follow the ‘Effective Efficiency’ concept i.e. complete the work on time without ruining the quality. The question is how can you be efficient and effective simultaneously?
Figure out how much time you have to complete the task. Determine how faster you can complete the same task without affecting the quality. Sometimes, it is possible to shrink time and get the same work done in a short period.
Re-use and Re-cycle Work
Well, not everyone can apply these techniques to their regular work. Depending on the nature of the task you got, you may not be able to reuse the available materials for smoother operation. But, there are many tasks where you can save time by copying, editing, and pasting.
If you are working on the task where you can re-use the previous materials, then it is a great way to save time. This tactic often works for people who have presentations, e-mail work, and other communication-based jobs.
Know the Task-giver’s Expectations
Before accepting a project, talk to the teacher, employee, or task-giver. Ask what they expect from you. How they want the work to be done. Sometimes, it is the quantity that matters over quality. Maybe, the teachers want students to complete their language projects without focusing more on decoration and designing work.
Perhaps, your employee wants you to take more time but prepare an accurate presentation. Communication will help you know the expectation of the person.
Note that not all tasks need comprehensive writing or detailed presentations. Sometimes, the task-giver only expects the person to do the basic research and get the work done in the shortest time possible.
