Working Smart and Not Hard

You see a work colleague of yours who isn’t putting in as much work as you usually do, yet still, reap the same benefits.

Is it because that particular colleague is gifted? Likely not.

More likely, smart working and smart time management is key to receiving more out of less. Therefore, that’s where you likely are lacking. Let us delve into a few tips which might assist you in working smarter; not harder.

Work in Brief Bursts With Intense Concentration

Famous research performed by professor K. Anders Ericsson uncovers that resting more actually can increase an individual’s performance. The research demonstrates that all of the leading performers work in brief time bursts and take consistent breaks in between.

Also, the Parkinson’s law states that work increases to fill up time - if you have twenty hours to do a task, you’ll take all twenty hours to finish that task, although you could’ve completed it in ten hours.

Working within a structured manner, like 30-minute bursts, will help to avoid this.

The tool to assist you in accomplishing this: Pomotodo is one great tool which will aid in getting into this habit.

The Pomotodo app works on the Pomodoro method where you work for 25 minutes and take five min breaks, and after four such cycles, you’ll get a long break of 20 minutes.

Tools such as those will help transition from standard working style to a new productive working manner.

 Measure Your Efforts - Always

According to the Hawthorne effect, the fact that something is being observed and measured makes individuals conscious and forces them to want to work better and harder - like reactions to actions.

Therefore, how many ever time management steps and measures you take, it does not matter if you don’t measure the results. You’ll be beating around the bush and never have the ability to discover a smart solution that manages your time and work.

The tool that helps you accomplish this: Rescuetime includes a tool which will help here. It’ll help you track how much time you’re spending on each of your not-so-productive and productive tasks; that way you’ll know how much time you’re spending on stuff that doesn’t make any sense.

You’re Too Important for The Mundane Activities - Get A VA

Most times, we’re so focused on not getting even the smallest of details wrong that we usually take everything onto our shoulders.

Here is why this would not work – it is virtually impossible to keep the focus on every minute detail of every project you undertake, and soon you’ll wind up making mistakes such as missing a zero on a check or not including a clause in a deal. Not good!

Do not exert yourself with the itty-bitty work. Leave it to somebody else - most pros are trying out the VA (virtual assistant) idea. It just also may work for you.

The tool to assist you in achieving this: If employing a VA is a stretch for you, it’s possible to consider the use of personal assistant apps like 24me. This app is an excellent option, particularly for those who are forgetful; it sends reminders, arranges appointments, etc. Apple’s Siri does not do a lousy job of helping either.

Image 1 by nd3000, Image 2 by Antonio Gabola on Unsplash