Posts tagged Insights

This article provides many time saving tips. One of the most persistent obstacles to personal achievement is that old bugaboo, “I never have enough time.” The following insights and methods reveal how to have more time. You can review these methods and adopt the ones that seem most useful.

Insights

If you want to improve your life, you may have to change some of your habits and attitudes. As you use the following time saving tips, you will gradually develop new habits and attitudes. These changes can let you get things done easier and faster. Whether these changes are worth the effort is for you to decide.

Ways to save time

Avoid or minimize interruptions — It’s hard to get things done when you have too many interruptions. Arrange for certain quiet periods during the day when you won’t be interrupted. You can also allow for periods when interruptions are permitted.

Break the habit of perfectionism — There is a law of diminishing returns. This means that after a certain point any further improvements aren’t worth the time, effort, or expense. This habit may just be a way to avoid being criticized. If so, first overcome your fear of being criticized; then break the habit of perfectionism.

Complete all required preparations first — Many tasks require certain preparations before starting on the main work. These preparations allow the work to flow smoothly and meet any required deadlines. For new or difficult tasks, you may not know what preparations are needed. In this case, first determine the needed preparations; then complete them.

Complete those small, nagging tasks — Sometimes you may ignore some task that just seems to be a bother. However, if that task is important it must be done. You might want to schedule a time when you can get all of your small, nagging tasks completed. Then you can put them out of your mind.

Delegate certain tasks — Even though you might be the best person to perform a task, you might not have enough time. Often, it might be better to get the job done on time, even if it was not done to perfection. In that case, you should see if you could delegate all or part of the job to someone else. If you are under the control of an employer or supervisor, then they must agree with your decision to delegate some of your work.

Divide big jobs into smaller pieces — Some jobs are so awesome that you even hate to start. Moreover, if you are interrupted on this job, it can be very difficult to get going on it again. The solution is to divide a big job into smaller pieces. Then the job won’t seem so overwhelming. In addition, you will have a series of stopping points, allowing you to work on something else if needed.

Eliminate unneeded tasks — Some tasks are performed just from habit or an outdated procedure. Every few months or so, you might want to verify that a particular task is really needed. If it isn’t needed, maybe it can be eliminated. However, if you are under the control of an employer or supervisor, then they must agree to eliminate the task.

Emphasize the most important tasks — If you have a choice, usually it’s better to focus on the most important task at hand. This might be a task with an impending deadline. It also might be a task that will provide benefits when completed or will result in harm if not completed. Often an important task is ignored because it may appear difficult to complete. Get the job done and then it won’t be so difficult next time.

Finish one task before starting the next — It’s usually better to finish each task in turn, rather than having a whole series of partially finished tasks facing you. However, if you are working on a big task, it should have been divided into smaller pieces. Then each smaller piece is a task that can be completed as needed.

Know your final objective — Before you start a task, you should know what the result should be. Sometimes you get so involved in small details that you lose sight of the desired result. This result is your final objective. Ask yourself, what purpose does this task fulfill? Then you will know how to proceed. Let’s say your boss tells you, “Get this job done right now!” (Now you know the desired result, so get going.)

Organize your workplace — If your workplace is disorganized or short of the required equipment and supplies, it’s hard to get your work done. Quit wasting time trying to find the things that you use all the time. Gather all the equipment and supplies you use frequently and store them in an organized fashion. The most often used equipment and supplies should be placed in convenient areas, ready to grab and start using.

Prepare a work plan — A work plan can help you complete a difficult or new task without wasting time or missing any necessary steps. It summarizes the task requirements, any advance preparations, activities for the main task, and the final activities. It can list any other considerations, such as lead times due to interrelated tasks.

Use standardized forms and procedures — Once you (or someone else) have uncovered the secrets for a certain kind of task you can set up a “cheat sheet.” This is a form or set of instructions that shows you how to do that same task in the future. It should include all the insights and shortcuts that have been discovered. This would also apply to any company or governmental activities or reports that must be done in a certain way.

Use to-do lists and deadlines — To-do lists remind you of what has to be done. They can also include the deadlines and relative importance of various tasks. For a large or complicated task, they may include certain mileposts that can define your progress. Then if you begin lagging behind schedule, you can take corrective action before it’s too late.

Final thoughts

Time is one of the most precious resources you have in this life. These time saving tips should help you use it to the best advantage. However, like everything else, you have to make them into a habit to get the maximum benefit.