Whether you are Jacinda Ardern, Michelle Obama or Oprah Winfrey, every woman has the same 1,440 minutes in a day. But some people achieve more than others using that precious time. How? By making sure that every one of those minutes count.
You see, when you make the most of your time, you bring in more money for your business, ensuring it becomes more profitable than ever.
So, how can you squeeze the most out of every minute? By using the following strategies, you’ll feel like you’ve gained an extra hour-and-a-half each day out of nowhere!
Take advantage of your most productive times of the day
Are you a morning person? Or does your brain kick into gear after lunch?
We all have varying degrees of productivity at different times of the day. You need to work out when you perform at your best so you can play to your strengths.
For example, if you are a morning person, then schedule your most important tasks before lunch. On the other hand, if you feel more energised in the afternoon, leave the difficult tasks for later in the day.
By taking advantage of your peak performance times, you will better utilise your time and accomplish more every day.
Put “waiting times” to good use
Whether it’s catching the train in the morning or waiting at the doctor’s office, it’s a smart idea to have something to do during those awkward in-between times. This might mean bringing some work papers to read while you wait, paying your bills or answering emails.
On the other hand, you could use these “waiting times” to take a break or do something you enjoy. While some people prefer to use in-between times to tick off simple, mundane tasks they’d otherwise do at the office, others might like to meditate, read a book or listen to a podcast. If that’s what will help you recharge and increase your productivity when you are back at work, then that’s great! The point is to make the most of these waiting times and ensure every minute counts.
Use the Pomodoro technique
Entrepreneur Francesco Cirillo developed a system called the Pomodoro technique (named after the tomato-shaped kitchen timer) to ensure he stayed on track to complete tasks.
The Pomodoro technique uses a timer to break work into intervals. If you have a set task to accomplish, set a timer for 25 minutes. During this 25-minute interval, focus on nothing but the task. This means setting your phone to silent or do not disturb mode, and ignoring your emails.
If a distracting thought pops into your head, simply write it on a piece of paper so you can come back to it later, then refocus your attention on the task in front of you.
Once your 25 minutes are up and the timer goes off, give yourself a five-minute break. Stand, stretch or grab a quick coffee. Then reset the timer for another 25 minutes and return to the task.
At the end of four Pomodoros, take a longer break of 20 to 30 minutes before getting back to work. Using this process to complete tasks will help you maximise every minute. You won’t believe how much more you will accomplish every day!
Reduce your distractions
Distractions are the biggest productivity killers, and they almost always eat up more time than you realise.
In the workplace, distractions typically come from other people: employees, meetings, or issues with external parties. By having a system in place to prevent these distractions from interrupting you, you’ll reclaim valuable minutes.
Francesco Cirillo suggests this quick four-step method to postpone the distraction until you’ve completed your task:
1. Inform the distracting party that you’re working on an important task.
2. Negotiate a suitable time to discuss their issue.
3. Schedule that follow-up immediately, so the distracting person understands their issue is important to you, but you simply don’t have the time to focus on it right now.
4. Call back the other party when you’ve finished working on your task and are ready to tackle their issue.
Dealing with distractions this way means you’ll be able to focus more on the task at hand and spend less time on things that aren’t as urgent or important.
So, think about these simple yet effective time-saving hacks. What difference could they make to your business and life each day? Not only will you waste less time, but you’ll also get more of it back, feel less stressed, focus on the work that matters, and open yourself up to more opportunities.
I’d love to hear how you go. Feel free to email me at emma@emmamcqueen.com.au.