In 2022, I want to optimize my time so that I can focus on being intentional rather than reactive. And before you click out, no, this is not another post about boosting productivity (we all know how that’s possible is a trap), this is about efficiency, so I can focus my energy on the things and people that feed my soul, and dare I say, achieving some kind of “balance” or balance. by the interior. Well, this is the year of doing more of what I love and that means finding creative tips to save time so I can do just that.
Instead of spending the weekend playing catching up with work, I’ll let them rest, have fun, and casually “yes” to a weekend or weekend outing with a friend.
However, in order to do this, it is extremely important that my weeks be cyclical and productive. If you’re looking for time-saving tricks to turn the pendulum back to 30% work and 70% play, here are 10 time-saving hacks for me during the week — let me know if they work as well. fruit with you!
Featured image of Riley Blanks Reed
#1: Review Your Calendar Every Friday for Last Week
I appreciate what has been added My Calendar and edit it. Is there a meeting that can be an email? Are my workouts scheduled? Do I give myself space for a lunch break? Is it possible to merge or delete any meeting entirely? It never fails, weekly I can look at my calendar and change things around so I just get time-blocked on purpose. Pro tip: I make a bold request to my teammates that if someone needs to cancel a meeting, they will do so within 24 hours (unless there’s an emergency) so I can organize back to his day.
#2: Turn off all phone notifications
Mine Notification went silent at 8pm so I wasn’t glued to my phone all evening, so I apply this method to my workday as well. Now I have those silences when I have the day and need to focus. I was quickly distracted by a fake text message and 30 minutes later, I had lost my precious work and focus time. I have turned off all social media and Teams/Slack notifications (24/7). Saves me a lot of time and allows me to focus on work and be fully present on calls and engage in side conversations.
#3: Schedule an in-person meeting
It takes a while to get ready and travel to and from any location, and since I’m always focused on efficiency, I like “meetings.” That means, not only do I schedule my in-person meetings on the same day, but also at the same location. I give myself 30 minutes between meetings to capture every email or work message and jump right into the next meeting. Bonus, this saves me one outfit for the week.
#4: Implement a “No Fridays” Policy
This is me advocating for a 3-4 day work week. I’m not saying you don’t work on Fridays, but I’m advocating for your Fridays to be meeting-free and instead giving you the space to complete your week and be ready for the day. next so that Monday is not completely chaotic. . Can we also skip any kind of deadline on Friday or EOW (weekend)? By Thursday at the latest, right? To open on Friday was a game changer to feel prepared for last week.
#5: Place time blocks on purpose
Once I started to find a purposeful time to work specific projects or doing general personal to-dos (e.g., making a doctor’s appointment), I started to feel less rushed or more reactive and accomplished better. Based on any particular project or deadline, I’ll give myself 30 minutes 2-3 times per week to work on that project so I don’t feel overwhelmed and it also gives me space and time to work on it. middle to allow my mind to think about it more than pounding it all out in two hours. For example, every Monday, I spend 20 minutes looking at my bank, credit card, and savings information and taking an inventory. Every Wednesday, I set aside a 30-minute period for my job expense report. There’s nothing sexier than spending two hours on an expense report on Friday because I’ve waited so long to do it. Pro Tip: I really find blocking time for creativity hard and feel forced, so I let my time blocking work and find most of my inspiration in space White.
#6: Consider task pairing
I like to pair work and do it as much as I can. This looks like making a call while walking a trail or meeting a friend for exercise (friends are Not task for me, but this allows me to tick two boxes). This is not the best option if you need to be present for a mission, ie. present in a meeting, but you’ll be amazed at what can happen when you start combining the two tasks seamlessly.
#7: Order groceries online
This is nothing new, but I’m intrigued by the amount of time I save by ordering my groceries, especially during busy weeks. I also recently tried the meal delivery service from Territorial Food to make the first weeks of the New Year a breeze in my packed schedule.
#8: Identify the things you can’t negotiate
Setting a few powerful boundaries has kept me focused and on track to get the important things done first. The hardest habit to break was not using social media until I worked out. I checked my usage one morning and spent 40 minutes replying to DMs and scrolling pages before walking out the door to exercise. Those are 40 precious moments that I could either use to meditate or start earlier. Set a non-negotiable number that will set you up for success. PS: does anyone give up on social media entirely on a weekend or a given day? I’m slowly inching my way there for a weekend getaway knowing how much time it starts to die.
#9: Weekly Reviews
This is a new one for me that I just started thanks to Liz Moody’s Healthier Together Podcast. She interviewed Chris Bailey, author of Productivity Project and Hyperfocus and he suggested doing a review at the end of the week of everything you did at 10k views. This helps to review and define what you are doing. In just one week, I was able to see both great successes at work and opportunities to create more space. I highly recommend this.
#10: Reply to emails at a specific time
I admit I am a quick responder. If I see something pop up whether it’s a text or an email, I usually don’t like sitting on it, which is why it’s helpful to turn off notifications. Instead of reacting to emails, I set aside two times a day to respond (ideal day). The first time before my first meeting of the day (usually 9am) and the second before I finish the day (4pm). This pulls me away from my phone and desktop e-mail apps and into the work and projects that need to be done.
I’m curious to know what methods you use to stay focused and set your time boundaries, readers! Let us know in the comments section below.
