The idea that time and money are scarce shouldn’t be new information to you. The fact is, there’s always more work that needs to be done than there are hours in a day. And while we may be tempted to put in longer hours, we also need to take care of ourselves and our employees, which means they also deserve some rest.
#1. Don’t let people waste time on irrelevant tasks.
When people waste time on the Internet, that doesn’t mean that you should forbid them from going on it. But it should be their choice. In fact, some of the best employees are those who are willing to explore new things and share what they learn with their colleagues. But if you feel like you have to force some of your employees to keep themselves busy, then you have bigger problems than a few minutes a day lost surfing the Web. Your business may be slipping away through your fingers, and those wasted minutes could cost you dearly.
#2. Keep track of your time.
It’s so easy to lose track of how much time you spend on a project. And if you start to make a mistake, it will be really hard to know what you could have done differently. It’s best to measure the time people are spending over and over on a particular task, or even an overall project, and eliminate any waste of that hours. That way you’ll always know exactly how much time is being wasted. You can also use the knowledge gained from tracking your project times to help establish productivity for longterm projects and interests that don’t involve your company as well.
#3.Think like a CEO.
The way that you think about your company should change from day to day. It’s not just about how much money you’re making today, but it’s also based on the strategic vision that you have for your company, and the numerous hours of masterful planning and brainstorming with colleagues and friends. Be sure to think about how much time you’re spending on productive strategies, as well as ones that don’t produce anything for your business or yourself. If a project is important enough, then it’ll be worth every wasted minute spent on it. If it’s not important to your business at all, then why are you working so hard?
#4. Don’t confuse urgency with importance.
Some people may be more focused on the present moment than others. They feel that they have to get things done right now and they think it’s the most important thing to do in the first place. But things can’t be urgent if they’re not important. Your own personal productivity has a real impact on your business, so it’s easy to fall into this trap. You need to make sure that you’re spending time on tasks that are both important and urgent, so understand what the difference is between them and don’t let other people make you believe that urgency is everything.
#5. Don’t waste time thinking about what you don’t want to do.
You need to focus on tasks and goals, rather than thinking too much about everything that you can’t or don’t want to do. You must also remember that a day wasted on worrying is a day wasted in your business.
#6. Don’t spend too much time staring at the clock.
Sometimes you’ll find yourself just sitting around waiting for something to happen. This is a sign that you’re not focused on your business or your own personal productivity, but instead you’re stuck doing absolutely nothing at all. This is a trap for some people, especially when they’re not sure about what it is that they need to be doing with their time. When you spend too much time thinking about things like this, then recognize that you could get more done if you just make a decision on the best things to do and how much time they are worth in terms of money and effort.
#7. Get some rest and remember the big picture.
Remember that your goals are much bigger than just getting things done. While you may find yourself completely blocked and unable to complete a task, it’s important to know that you could probably create something of value if you spent enough time on it. The best way to get over the current problem is to forget about everything else and just get some rest. Sometimes people get in their own way from reaching their goals because they don’t have the energy or motivation to stick with it, which leads them down the path of feeling hopeless about ever achieving success.
#8. Don’t forget about your big picture for the day or business goals for the year.
Once you’re done for the day, it’s very easy to forget about everything that you accomplished. This can be a major trap for people who are following a routine of getting up and going to work five days a week. You have to know what your big picture is for the year, as well as your goals for each day. If you have something really important to do on Friday afternoon, then focus on that first thing in the morning and cut anything else out if possible.
#9. If something isn’t important or urgent then don’t worry about it.
Important things are only important to you, and not necessarily your boss. When you’re out of work, it’s easy to get caught up in all the types of things that happen when you’re at work: making phone calls, writing emails, planning events, traveling for business and a gazillion hours of meetings. Worrying is a major waste of time and energy. The best way to handle doubts about your own productivity is by considering what other people think about it so that you can figure out what’s really important while leaving everything else behind.
#10. Use task lists and set goals for each day or week.
The best way to be productive is to keep track of everything that you need to do and have a plan for every hour of your day. It’s also important to set goals for the day or week, as long as they work with the particular type of business that you’re in. There are tons of different ways to use lists and planning when it comes to being productive and effective, so use what works best for you. But if your current method isn’t working very well, then consider trying something new.
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