Ten Tips for Boosting Your Productivity
by Jane McLain
If you find yourself working harder but accomplishing less, or working longer and longer hours to get everything done, try these ten tips for boosting your productivity.
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As an entrepreneur, you may feel like there's never enough time to accomplish everything that needs doing. Time is a finite resource, so it makes sense to get the most out of the time you put in. If you feel like you're working harder but accomplishing less, or working longer and longer hours to keep from falling behind, then maybe you need a productivity boost. Being productive means leveraging your time and effort to get the most you can out of the time you put in. Here are ten tips to get you started:
1) Get organized. Being organized will help you work smarter. Granted you'll have to spend some time now organizing your workspace, creating a filing system, etc., but each hour you put in will save you many down the road. It takes time to save time, but it's time well spent.
2) Harness technology.
Are you getting all you can from your computer and other office technology? Automate wherever you can. Invest some time now in operating more efficiently in the future.
3) Zone your time. Sticking to a strict schedule is not really feasible when you're a solo entrepreneur, but "zoning" your time is a more flexible alternative. Divide your day into blocks of time dedicated to certain kinds of tasks. (For instance, answer emails first thing in the morning, then make phone calls, write articles until lunchtime, etc.) You'll be more effective than you would if you jumped from one task to another all day long.
4) Get in the rhythm.
Your natural rhythm, that is. If you're a morning person, tackle your most challenging assignments then and save less demanding tasks for later. Or maybe you're a night owl and do your best work after sundown. Many people say they experience a "mid-afternoon slump" and feel sluggish after lunchtime. Whatever your body's natural rhythm, try to accommodate it whenever you can.
5) Let go of perfection. Perfectionism can be very counterproductive. Ask yourself how flawless the work needs to be to be good enough. Then don't spin your wheels trying to make it better than that. Know when to call it "done" and move on to something else.
6) Outsource what you can. If there are some tasks you find especially difficult, boring, or time-consuming, look into outsourcing them. If someone else could do the work better, faster, or cheaper than you can, let them do it. You'll have more time to devote to the activities you actually like and excel at.
7) Optimize your work environment. Setting up your workspace correctly will help you work more efficiently. Make sure your office is well-lit and well-ventilated, and that your computer desk and chair are ergonomically correct. Arrange your office furniture so you can work comfortably and don't waste any effort.
8) Cut the clutter.
If a growing accumulation of "stuff" is taking over your work space, deal with it today. Never save anything unless you really need to. If you don't need to use an item on a daily basis, store it out of the way. Run a paperless office as much as possible, and set up a logical and convenient filing system for those papers you do need to keep.
9) Learn to focus. Prioritize your work and focus your attention on the task at hand. When you give a task your full attention, you'll perform it faster and better. Arrange your work day so you switch gears as little as possible so you can concentrate your efforts on the task at hand.
10) Don't waste a minute. Whenever you have five minutes free -or even just one - put the time to good use. Read some mail, file some papers, straighten your desk, jot down a few ideas, draft a letter, or make a quick phone call. Those little blocks of time really do add up.
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