To avoid wasting time during the day, you need to be well organised, manage your priorities effectively and adopt practices that minimise distractions. Here are some practical strategies for maximising your productivity:
1. Plan your day in advance:
Create a to-do list: Write down the things you need to do the next day. This helps you start the day with a clear vision.
Use the Eisenhower method: Sort your tasks according to urgency and importance to help you prioritise.
Urgent and important: Do it immediately.
Important but not urgent: Plan it.
Urgent but not important: Delegate if possible.
Neither urgent nor important: Eliminate or limit these tasks.
2. Set SMART objectives:
Make sure that your objectives are S pecific, M easurable, A ttainable, Realistic and defined in a time-bound manner. For example, instead of saying ‘I’m going to work on this project’, specify: ‘I’m going to write two pages of the report before noon’.
3. Divide your days into blocks of work:
Pomodoro technique: Work for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. After four cycles, give yourself a longer break (15-30 minutes).
Time blocks: Allocate specific time slots for each activity. For example, set aside 9am-11am for a creative task and 2pm-4pm to answer emails.
4. Minimise distractions:
Turn off notifications: Put your phone on aeroplane mode or use applications like Focus@Will or Forest to stay focused.
Create an environment that’s conducive to work: tidy up your workspace, keep distracting objects away and let those around you know that you’ll be unavailable for certain periods.
5. Treat emails and messages with intention:
Limit your email checking sessions to three specific times during the day (for example, morning, afternoon and end of day).
Respond quickly to urgent messages and archive those that do not require immediate action.
6. Learn to say no:
Don’t get involved in tasks or meetings that don’t directly contribute to your priority objectives.
If someone asks for your time, assess whether it’s really necessary and suggest another time if necessary.
7. Automate repetitive tasks:
Use digital tools to automate certain tasks (e.g. scheduling social posts, automatic invoicing, etc.).
Standardise processes to save time on daily routines.
8. Take care of yourself:
Take regular breaks: A short walk or breathing session can recharge your mental energy.
Diet and hydration: Eating a healthy diet and drinking enough water will help you concentrate.
Get enough sleep: Quality sleep improves your ability to stay productive during the day.
9. Reflect on your progress:
At the end of the day, take a few minutes to assess what you’ve achieved.
Identify what worked well and adjust your approach for the next few days.
10. Be flexible but disciplined
Accept that the unexpected can happen, but try to get back to your original schedule quickly.
Stay focused on your main priorities and avoid changing direction too often.
By applying these techniques, you can turn your day into a series of productive actions while reducing unnecessary time wasting. The key is to find a balance between discipline and flexibility so that you can adapt your habits to your personal and professional needs.
