Three tips to steal back time in your work day

Do you feel like you never have enough time in your workday to get everything done?

Even if you set yourself a task list for the day which looks like it should be achievable, you’re still struggling to get through it.?

At the end of the day you feel unproductive, overwhelmed and you’re struggling to see where the hours went.

It’s an extremely common feeling, and I have three tips to help you steal back your precious time that I know will help you achieve more. But first, let's get something straight:

There Is No Extra Time To Be Found

The truth is, there is no more time to be found; it's all about how we utilise the time we have.

Have you ever noticed how time seems to drag on when you're doing something you don’t like, compared to when you're engrossed in an activity you love? The key to making time work for you is to focus on tasks that play to your strengths and bring you joy.

For me as an avid roller skater, when I’m in the roller rink an hour can feel like 10 minutes and I’ve been completely lost in the fun. But when I’m doing something like tackling spreadsheets (okay, I rarely do that, but you get my point), then one hour can feel like five!

I recently worked with a client, Julie, who was feeling overwhelmed by her workload and constantly running out of hours in the day. Through our session, we identified that Julie needed to reassess her routines and prioritise her tasks. We needed to shift some of her most common habits that were stopping her from being productive.?

By conducting a time audit using tools like Toggl , we pinpointed where she was spending her time on less important tasks, and pull her focus to what was necessary to get done.

So with this in mind, I shared with Julie the three tips that I’ve found to help you steal back time in your workday.

1. Batching Your Tasks

One of the strategies I shared with Julie, which I find highly effective for myself as well, is task batching. Grouping similar tasks prevents time lost in task-switching and boosts efficiency. Did you know for example that every time you switch tasks, you lose 25 minutes! If you are batching your similar tasks, you lose less time overall.??

1. Focus on Three Tasks Per Day

Additionally, I find it’s extremely important to focus on just three main tasks per day to keep the momentum going. I find that if you have too many items on my to-do list for the day, I actually get way less done and I feel overwhelmed when I don’t cross them all off.

1. Stop Scrolling Socials and Checking Emails Constantly

Another aspect I address with my clients is the temptation of social media and email distractions. Setting designated times to check social media and limiting email access to a few specific slots a day can prevent unnecessary time drainage. Outsourcing tasks you dislike and prioritizing tasks you enjoy are also key practices in reclaiming your time.

Julie's transformation within a week was fantastic. By implementing these strategies and making small but impactful changes to her habits, she was able to overcome overwhelm and get back on track with her work tasks.

Stealing back time in your workday requires a conscious effort to optimise how you use the hours available to you. By implementing strategies like task batching, time auditing, and prioritisation, you can take control of your time and increase your productivity.?

Remember, it's not about finding more time; it's about making the most of the time you have.

LINKS

Toggl

Website

For a copy of Emma's book, 'Go-getter: Raise your mojo, shift your mindset and thrive' – https://www.emmamcqueen.com.au/book/