Quite often, you are in a position where you have lots of work to do but not enough time. At times this could become such a headache that you simply panic and don’t know where to start. Perhaps you are giving your best shot but you are simply not quick enough to ensure that the work at hand is completed within time. Getting work done faster doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to work harder or that you weren’t working hard enough before. It simply means that to get work done quicker you have to iron out your time utilization and pace yourself better. As the saying goes you don’t always have to work harder, what more important is working smarter. Here we have covered some of the most essential tips that will increase your output and save you a lot of time. Getting work done faster also gives you the added benefit of having more free time for leisure activities or simply just to lay back and relax.
1. Get Up Early
One of the simplest ways to get work done faster is to start getting up early. Try shaving off a few minutes from the usual time you get up. An additional couple of minutes every day will total up to a handsome amount of time after a couple of weeks alone. Also starting your day early by working on your daily tasks will give you free time towards the latter half of the day. Moreover, aside from adding more productive hours to your day, waking up early will ensure that you feel both mentally and physically fresh. With a fresh mind, you are bound to start finishing your tasks quickly.
2. Make A List
Having a list of things to do ensures two things, one that you are constantly aware of what you have already done and what still needs to be done at any given point in a day. Having the list in your mind invariably keeps you alert and on your toes as you know that you still have other tasks to tend to. Without a list, a task could easily evade your mind and you only realize it much later when you are simply out of time. While making a list make sure that it is practical and you are not overburdening yourself. If you add too much to the list you could end up panicking and missing some important tasks.
3. Harder Tasks First
Always begin your day with the hard tasks. This approach takes a lot of burden off you as the day progresses. If you start with the simpler tasks as the day proceeds you will be more and more worried just at the thought of still having the most difficult task. Going after the harder tasks will give you a sense of achievement and accomplishment at the start and will motivate you to get the rest of the work done quicker. It also eases you mentally and you can focus on smaller less difficult tasks and get them done even quicker.
4. Take Away All Distracting Items
Although easier said than done, you must take away all the distractions when about to get some task done. Having your mobile always available will invariably cost you time. You’re going to subconsciously pick up your phone and go through your social media feeds, reply to a friend, view some stories and just end up losing your hours because social media could be so addictive. Ideally, when you are about to start work you should put your phone at a distance so you don’t end up distracting yourself.
5. One Task At A Time
If you keep switching from task to task without getting any completed, you will end up doing work at a very slow pace. Contrary to the popular assumption that multitasking can get work done faster, it slows you down. Each time you start a new task your brain will take a few minutes to get its focus. When you go back to the same tasks you’ll again have to spend time getting up to speed. It may appear that you are doing multiple things at the same time but in reality, you’ll just be eating up more time on each task and it can get hugely frustrating once tasks start dragging.
6. Set Time Limits
Never start a task without planning how much time you are going to spend on it. Not setting time limits for every task is what leads to procrastination and a slower pace. When you have set a time limit for the task you will automatically be more focused. While setting time limits be sure to keep them as realistic as possible. Don’t drag timelines and don’t restrict yourself to getting things done too quickly, both mistakes will cost you more time eventually.
Bottom Line:
To get work done faster you don’t have to change much. You merely need to train yourself for a couple of weeks to fix your bad habits that hinder progress on work and within a few weeks, you’ll see that you are getting things done more efficiently and have more time to spare every day. Instead of trying to incorporate all the tips we have listed right away try adopting them one at a time. All of us have the same amount of time every day, people who seem to have more time are simply quicker in getting things done.