5 Tips to Work Smarter, Not Harder in Today’s Fast Paced Life
I found 2 patterns in my work cycle that made me sad: 1, when I’m working long long hours when I should be playing or resting and 2, when I’m playing, but find myself thinking about the work I still have to do.
These 2 patterns were heavily present when I was in college, pulling all-nighters until I heard the birds chirp, and during the first year of my first post-grad job.
Thankfully, I’ve learned a few habits from my peers and mentors that helped me work smarter, not harder that I want to share with you. Just like these tips helped me, they could help you increase the intensity of your productivity, instead of the longevity of your sessions.
1. Plan your day
One of our favorites quotes is:
Plan your day before it gets planned for you.
Many of us are bounded by endless meetings, countless emails, or even just entertaining distractions. This may seem harmless, but ultimately, it creates a day that was dictated for you instead of dictated by you.
Starting your day with a clear schedule ahead of you will significantly steer you in the most focused, most clear direction. This introduces the concept of intentional deep work:
Uninterrupted periods of time dedicated to intense productivity in which you complete specific goals.
You can do this by scheduling structured deep work sessions throughout your day.
Tip: Connect your deep work session with your yearly goal by adding a tag.
2. Identify the most important to-dos
Adding on to the first tip, identify your most important to-dos. At this point, you might think “I have an ever-growing list of to-do’s!” To that, I answer, “Start with 3.”
Many productivity experts suggest identifying 3 goals for your day. 3 goals is manageable, it’s achievable, and it’s substantial enough to feel successful.
So identify the top 3 important to-do’s and work to complete the most difficult, most important task first.
Tip: Batch similar smaller tasks into bigger overarching tasks.
3. Take healthy breaks
Taking healthy breaks is one of the most overlooked habits of productivity. Many people think that if they work longer, they’ll accomplish more. Some people even feel guilty for taking breaks because they could have spent that time working and thus, accomplishing more.
However, this mindset is counterintuitive. This often leads to burnout, decreased motivation, and decreased focus. That’s why incorporating healthy breaks into your workflow is essential.
Taking a healthy break might include doing yoga, maybe even a power nap, making a snack, making coffee, or really doing anything that takes your eyes off the screen or your mind off the task. This gives your brain a quick moment of rest and time to recharge.
Tip: Turn on sound effects in your profile so that you can be notified when your break is almost over. You can even customize this to the sound that’s best for you.
4. Turn off all distractions
We’ll say it again, since this one is difficult! Turn off all distractions.
As a society dominated by technology, it’s difficult to separate our lives from our distractions when we really need to. The best way to minimize temptations is to remove them. Otherwise, based on the principle of least resistance, we’ll eventually give into them.
Before you start working, put away your phone, close out your Facebooks, your messengers, remove your snacks, your friends, really anything and everything that will distract you. And finally, enter your deep work zone.
Tip: Add from our suggested categories to bulk add frequently added websites.
5. Spend time reflecting
After all is done, spend time reflecting about your day, your week, your month, or your year.
How did I do this [insert time period here]?
What worked? What didn’t work?
When was I productive? When wasn’t it?
Did I reach my goals?
Based on your answers, adjust your work habits accordingly. It’s always good to keep moving and keep momentum going. But it’s important to take a beat, take a step back, and make sure what you do everyday is actually making a positive impact on your overall self, productivity and well being.
Note: This feature is yet to be released. But, I was too excited about it and couldn’t keep it to myself.
I hope at least one of these tips resonated with your life. More importantly, I hope you’re able to incorporate it into your workflow and that it makes a positive improvement.
Do you have any other tips for how to work smarter, not harder? We’d love to hear them!
Interested in Sidekick? Visit our website to learn more. Sidekick is currently in Private Beta but we’re always building our community and looking for new people like yourself to try it out — so let us know by requesting an invite.
