How efficient are you? For me, I really sucked at many years ago mostly in part of the fact that I didn’t have a rhythm. I thought I was extremely efficient because I gave my all. I gave my all always without fail, with no exceptions. That’s apparently not how it works. Pedal to the floor isn’t always the best way to win the race.
So, with that being said, I had this realization that I wasn’t really that good at it. I turned inward to see what I felt I was good at. Next, I looked at some of my peers who had multiple businesses and how they went about their daily lives. Not all were good at it but I made some notes as to the ones that were.
Something to keep in mind though is that some people could do certain things in a certain way and be very efficient with it while others could do it in the same manner and not get the same results. It isn’t necessarily a perfect recipe. We get to edit, edit, edit along the way.
Here are some pretty cool tips to get that going:
Organize Stuff
It is very important to develop some type of system. Put things related to what you need to do near you. For example, if you have an office set up, put the computer, printer, and office supplies all as close to you as possible. Give everything a home.
Avoid Multitasking
As cool as it sounds multitasking isn’t really efficient in the grand scheme of things. You can’t give 100% to everything all at once. Sorry, that’s not how things will get done correctly. You will shortchange something somewhere. Also, you could be forgetting things along the way.
Set Timers
I am telling you it will work. You just need to get the process started. You may not always need the timers but they will be very useful while developing good and healthy habits to become efficient. Timeboxing for 45 min and taking a quick break works very well for many. Try it and see if it has its benefits.
Take Time Off
Stop trying to do the whole 24/7 grind. In the long run, it will fade and cause a lot of stress, anxiety, and burnout. You will lose the love of what you are doing. The whole, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead,” is just fluff.
Delegate When Possible
I am getting pretty good at this actually. Maybe a little too much. I seem to have given my Marketing Director lots of things I may have not wanted to do myself. It’s ok, she is way better at it than I so it’s all good.
Create A Routine
Find some way to have a good and healthy daily routine. It will help you keep on track with your goals and truly help in giving you a good lifestyle.
Reduce Distractions
This one is big for many of us because we are always being pulled in many directions. I started years ago doing a lot of my work stuff as early as possible. That way when the kids got up I already had a good chunk taken care of. It is truly an amazing feeling knowing that you don’t have to wake up each day rushing.
Start With A Plan
Create a mental blueprint of the things you want to get done, then note how you will reach them. Things of course can and do change, but think of it more as a guide.
Get Good Rest
Stop saying, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead,” that’s just dumb. Our bodies truly need to get a good recharge. In the long run, you will only short-change yourself and your goals. I promise. Create a good sleep schedule and stick to it.
Eat Several Small Meals
Eating small meals throughout the day has shown that the body can be more efficient. When we eat too much at one time our body starts slowing down. We get tired. Be smart about your choices and give yourself a fighting chance. I do struggle a bit with this because I naturally like foods that make me sleepy afterward. But I continue to work on it daily.
Write Stuff Down
Writing things out will go a long way in the efforts of reaching your goals. Type them out on your phone or computer if that’s easier for you.
Be Realistic
Like for real! Don’t add on stuff that you know won’t get done in the timeline you want. You will quickly burn out. Take out smaller chunks and then check them off your list. You will want to do more and you’ll start getting better at it.
Start With Yourself Daily
Start each day with yourself in mind. Do exercises, meditate, relax with nature and make sure you leave the distractions alone for at least the first hour. Don’t check your email or social media. And do yourself a favor and stay away from the morning negative news. It will snowball.
Conclusion
To be efficient we must first understand our strengths and weaknesses. Fine-tune things to suit your goals. Get the people you love involved so they can also help minimize distractions for you. It isn’t always easy, but you can do it.
Question
Do you have a system that works for you?
