We all know there are 24 hours in a day, or 1,440 minutes ... or even 86,400 seconds. We have all experienced the day flying by, or one hour dragging so slowly that you think it will never pass.
Time is relevant depending on our circumstances, thoughts and mood.
There is a lot of scientific evidence and theories out there as to why time seems to slow down and speed up, but regardless of that, we all get 24 hours in a day and generally eight of those will be dedicated to working – on average five days out of every seven (unless you a farmer!).
Therefore, on average we spend 90,000 hours at work over our lifetime. What can we do to make sure we make these hours as productive as possible?
Here’s something I don’t like to admit, but I can be the Queen of Procrastination. I’m like a magpie the way I can be so easily distracted. But, I realised that if I were to succeed in achieving the goals I have set for myself, I needed to change. So here is what I changed:
Plan your day
Preferably the evening before, plan how you are going to spend your day. What tasks do you need to do? This planning can include your whole day, or just your working day, but either way it gives you focus.
Part of this planning should include the top three tasks you absolutely have to do that day. These should be tasks that will take you one step closer to your ultimate goal. And do the one you least like doing first – eat the frog, as they say. This will give you a sense of achievement (or relief) that it is done rather than hanging over your head all day.
Be realistic about what you can achieve in a day and don’t forget to factor in breaks and time for eating. You may not always get to follow the plan to the minute, but you will be proactive in finishing what needs to be done rather than reacting to whatever comes your way.
Get the right work environment
This is essential.
When I first started working from home, I worked in our attic. Don’t worry, it’s better than how it sounds. But it was messy, full of stuff and had a sloped ceiling. This led me to feeling cramped, restricted, and not very productive. Fast forward to today and I now have my own office space dedicated to my business where I can move freely, have space to think creatively and close the door behind me when my work time is done.
It is said that an organised workplace can lead to better productivity and better focus. However, those who are messier are said to be more creative. Personally, I think it depends on which works best for you. My desk goes between both messy and clean but it helps me achieve my best.
Lastly, delegate
There are only 24 hours in the day, you are human and you do need to eat, sleep and have recreational time.
So, where you can, delegate tasks. These might be tasks you are not particularly good at or like very much, such as your social media or invoicing, or it could be getting a cleaner or pooling with other parents for kids’ activities. In order to be as productive as possible, you need to play to your strengths and do the work that only you can do to achieve that ultimate business or career goal.
Remember, how we spend our days is how we spend our lives, so make each day count and plan your days, be in the right environment and delegate where you can so you can shine brightly in your work.
Read more
We all get imposter syndrome - here’s how to deal with it
Steps to Success: carry out a review of 2022
We all know there are 24 hours in a day, or 1,440 minutes ... or even 86,400 seconds. We have all experienced the day flying by, or one hour dragging so slowly that you think it will never pass.
Time is relevant depending on our circumstances, thoughts and mood.
There is a lot of scientific evidence and theories out there as to why time seems to slow down and speed up, but regardless of that, we all get 24 hours in a day and generally eight of those will be dedicated to working – on average five days out of every seven (unless you a farmer!).
Therefore, on average we spend 90,000 hours at work over our lifetime. What can we do to make sure we make these hours as productive as possible?
Here’s something I don’t like to admit, but I can be the Queen of Procrastination. I’m like a magpie the way I can be so easily distracted. But, I realised that if I were to succeed in achieving the goals I have set for myself, I needed to change. So here is what I changed:
Plan your day
Preferably the evening before, plan how you are going to spend your day. What tasks do you need to do? This planning can include your whole day, or just your working day, but either way it gives you focus.
Part of this planning should include the top three tasks you absolutely have to do that day. These should be tasks that will take you one step closer to your ultimate goal. And do the one you least like doing first – eat the frog, as they say. This will give you a sense of achievement (or relief) that it is done rather than hanging over your head all day.
Be realistic about what you can achieve in a day and don’t forget to factor in breaks and time for eating. You may not always get to follow the plan to the minute, but you will be proactive in finishing what needs to be done rather than reacting to whatever comes your way.
Get the right work environment
This is essential.
When I first started working from home, I worked in our attic. Don’t worry, it’s better than how it sounds. But it was messy, full of stuff and had a sloped ceiling. This led me to feeling cramped, restricted, and not very productive. Fast forward to today and I now have my own office space dedicated to my business where I can move freely, have space to think creatively and close the door behind me when my work time is done.
It is said that an organised workplace can lead to better productivity and better focus. However, those who are messier are said to be more creative. Personally, I think it depends on which works best for you. My desk goes between both messy and clean but it helps me achieve my best.
Lastly, delegate
There are only 24 hours in the day, you are human and you do need to eat, sleep and have recreational time.
So, where you can, delegate tasks. These might be tasks you are not particularly good at or like very much, such as your social media or invoicing, or it could be getting a cleaner or pooling with other parents for kids’ activities. In order to be as productive as possible, you need to play to your strengths and do the work that only you can do to achieve that ultimate business or career goal.
Remember, how we spend our days is how we spend our lives, so make each day count and plan your days, be in the right environment and delegate where you can so you can shine brightly in your work.
Read more
We all get imposter syndrome - here’s how to deal with it
Steps to Success: carry out a review of 2022
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