Time is money. Therefore, you can’t afford to waste it. However, being productive can be tricky. Ultimately, every day brings new challenges and tasks that you need to tackle. While it might be tempting to run through your to-do list and hope that you can replace productivity with speed, you need to be careful about how you manage your time. Indeed, did you know that many people confuse speed and effectiveness, wrongly believing doing something quickly is synonymous with doing it well? The other common approach to boosting productivity is multitasking. But in reality, if you’re going to maximize the time you’ve got, you need to focus on one task at a time and make sure that you dedicate your whole and undivided attention to each job. But that doesn’t mean you can’t take shortcuts. You just need to choose time-saving options that let you achieve the same result without any of the hassles. Here are some detailed tips to stop wasting your time, once and for all.

1. You don’t use schedules

Staying productive is, in theory, making sure that you do everything you have to do at the right time. In other words, you need a planner to keep yourself organized and on track. Investing in a good planner is not a waste of money. Indeed, finding a planner you love will encourage you to use it, which means that you’re more likely to keep on top of your to-do list. There is no secret; you need to schedule your goals and appointments regularly, which means that you have to make time to fill up your planner. However, don’t think of it as a waste of your productivity. Keeping an organized planner helps you to gain an overview of your days, prepare for deadlines, and prioritize your jobs effectively. In short, it puts you in charge of your time.

2. You don’t use time-saving alternatives

There are many ways of tackling the same tasks. Ideally, you want to choose the most time-saving and effective method to achieve your goals. A simple example, for instance, is to be willing to switch to a remote solution if it allows you to reach the same conclusion. For example, if you’ve got a ticket, you might be interested in finding out how to fight a traffic ticket in California where the Vehicle Code Section 40902 lets you contest without having to appear in court. As a consequence, you can save commuting, preparing, and waiting time to achieve the same result. Make it a rule to always look for the quick option in everything you do as long as it provides the same level of safety, care, and quality.

3. Distractions are not your friends

Lastly, distractions can cost you a lot of time, especially when you’re sitting at your desk. You know the feeling. You said you’d do this, and suddenly you find yourself watching Youtube videos. Fighting off distractions starts by preparing your mind to the tasks by visualizing yourself working. Additionally, you can also physically remove interruptions by isolating yourself or controlling your browsing. 

We waste time every day by failing to prepare for the things we need to do. From scheduling to researching the best and most effective approach, you can shave off precious hours and make yourself more productive!

Best,

[a contributed post]