I’m lucky to have been exposed to many methodologies of time management. I’ve come to realize that time is your most important form of compensation. The “work less” and “make more” approach is challenging, but once it’s mastered it can be life transforming. Here are a few things I’ve learned to help get things done in the shortest amount of time:
- Create lists for everything and use them everyday. I use OmniFocus for Mac and iPhone to keep track my tasks for all of my projects. A simple notepad will do just fine as well. More is not better. It’s really important to remember that your goal is an empty checklist, so don’t bog it down with useless tasks that don’t provide value. Be realistic.
- Don’t multitask. This is a really hard concept to grasp, but if you think about it single tasking gets things done faster. Think of your brain as a microprocessor. It’s very fast, until you open too many programs and the system either slows down or crashes. If you’re working on task, finish it before you move on to your next task. If you feel that you need to run tasks in parallel, outsource the repetitive tasks for someone else to do.
- Limit your access to e-mail, instant messaging, and the Internet. Keep that inbox empty at all times, except for those that require action. Act on those e-mails immediately. Limit social networking websites to about 30 minutes per day.
- Do not be available at all times for everybody. Use a service like Google Voice for business use to allow you to screen calls. If you are working with a client and another client tries to get a hold of you, call them back when you’re finished. They would expect the same respect in return.
- Think 2-3 days ahead of yourself. What do you need to accomplish tomorrow, the next day, and the day after that? Don’t think too far ahead because your tasks will get overwhelming.
- Throw out long term goals. They really don’t work. It is far easier to accomplish things “in-the-moment” rather than a few months or even years from now. Remember, a goal without any action is only a dream.
- Wait until the last minute. This sounds crazy because it goes against everything you’ve ever learned, but the amount of time you spend on a project is usually equal to the amount of time you allocate to it. Studies have proven that if you put time limits and short deadlines on projects, not only is the quality significantly better, but it doesn’t cost as much to produce.
- Go for bigger projects. You can do more good on a project when it is properly funded. I often turn down projects that are full of frustration, baggage, and hassle because it takes way too much of my time. You should want to work with people that make you feel energized and happy.
- Working 80 hours a week at 50,000 per year is exactly the same as working 40 hours a week at 100,000 per year. Think of your work as hourly dollars and be fair to yourself and your client-you deserve to get paid for your time and your client will get a better product if you are compensated appropriately. It’s up to you to set these expectations.
I’d like to thank Marie Forleo, Tim Ferris, and David Allen for providing this insight to me. It has freed up a lot of my time and allowed me to do things I’m passionate about.
