Not everyone can be as productive as Bruce Lee, but even those with the most optimised timetables can squeeze a few more useful hours out of their day. Though working harder isn’t always the best way to get more done — often it can come down to analysing what you’re doing and deciding you’ve gone a step too far.
Photo: Greg Mote / Flickr, licensed under Creative Commons 2.0
Jordan Bates over at Creativity Post has compiled a list of 21 tips for — in the article’s words — working smarter, rather than harder. The list contains some solid advice, combined with a bit of common sense, though there are a couple of tips that stood out to me:
5. Get an early start.
Nearly all of us are plagued by the impulse to procrastinate. It seems so easy, and you always manage to get it done eventually, so why not? Take it from a recovering chronic procrastinator — it’s so much nicer and less stressful to get an earlier start on something. It isn’t that difficult either, if you just decide firmly to do it.
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13. Do less.
This is a tactic recommended by one of my favorite bloggers, Leo Babauta. Basically, do less is another way of saying do the things that really matter. Slow down, notice what needs to be done, and concentrate on those things. Do less things that create more value, rather than more things that are mostly empty.
Simply realising that you’ve taken on too much or you’re spreading yourself thin is the first step to reclaiming time for activities you want to spend more time on. If you happen to be a serial sleeper, consider getting up an hour or two earlier — or even 30 minutes, just to get a jump start on your day.
Work Smarter, Not Harder: 21 Time Management Tips to Hack Productivity [Creativity Post]
Comments
One response to “Need More Time? Instead Of Working Harder, Try Doing Less”
Jerk title – “Need more time? No you don’t. Just don’t do what you need to do”. Oh ok.
Nice idea but does it really work? Most people don’t have the luxury of deciding what they will do. Most people do the tasks they are required to do.
Another ‘lack of thought’ bubble.
My boss got a good one for that problem. Finished your work? Here’s some more work.
Doesn’t matter if it’s not productive and has no impact on the business whatsoever financially,
at least your doing something and not browsing the internet.