Time really flies—and it’s only when you get older—or when tragedies occur—that you realize what a luxury it really is. If there’s one thing people always regret, it’s that they “didn’t have time to … (insert unfulfilled dream here).”
The lesson? Don’t waste time! Every minute you save is another minute you can spend on the things that really matter. Here are seven time-saving suggestions you might find useful:
1. Mono-task, don’t multi-task.
I used to take great pride in being a multi-tasker until I tried mono-tasking (doing only one thing at a time) as an experiment one day—and realized I got more done in less time.
When you multi-task, you tend to switch between what you should be doing and what you shouldn’t. When you mono-task, you’re more likely to do only what you should, and in the absence of distractions, you’ll end up finishing all your tasks faster.
2. Eliminate distractions.
We’re surrounded by so many distractions these days—phones, gadgets, IM, Twitter, Facebook, TV, co-workers … even husbands and kids. I wouldn’t suggest eliminating the humans, of course, but if you can get rid of, postpone or control your distractions, you’ll be able to focus better and finish what you have to do with time to spare.
Here are a few things you can do when you really need to focus:
- Turn off your mobile phone. You don’t need to answer it or reply to text messages immediately. If people really need to get in touch with you, they’ll find another way to do so.
- Take the “instant” out of instant messaging. Instant messaging is a great communication tool, but it can really disturb your workflow. When you really need to concentrate, just turn it off or set your status to “Busy.”
- Schedule social networking time. As entertaining and educational as it might be to see what everyone’s status update is at any given time, you really need to get a grip on the whole social networking thing. Make a social networking schedule, specifying certain times you’re “allowed” to check your Twitter and/or Facebook, and stick to it. Or, reward yourself with some social media playtime whenever you’ve completed a work-related task.
- Make a “Do Not Disturb” sign. This can be literal or figurative, actual or virtual. The point is to let the people around you know that you cannot attend to them at this time. (My sign is a door-hanger that says “Buzz Off.”)
3. Empty out your email inbox.
This actually falls under number two, but email is such a big time-waster, it deserves its own category. (Actually it deserves its own article, but let’s save that for another day.)
- Minimize Spam. I would love to say “Stop Spam” but I’m really not sure that’s possible. There are however many ways that you can minimize the amount of spam that gets into your inbox. Protect your email address, and use the “Spam” button in your email client to report offenders. I also use a challenge-response service called Spam Arrest, which holds all unverified email hostage until I authorize it or the sender proves he/she is human. I love it.
- Trim the BACN. Bacn, Spam’s slightly more attractive sibling, is email you actually subscribed to, but rarely ever read. It’s “email you want, but not right now.” Chances are you have at least a couple of newsletters that you receive regularly. If you don’t really read them, just UNSUBSCRIBE.
- Turn off Facebook (& other social media) notifications. You don’t need to be informed every single time someone friends or follows you, comments on your status update, tags you in a photo or sends you some stupid gift like a drink or a cupcake. Edit your notification settings so that you don’t have to receive an email every time some action happens on your account. (Don’t know how? Check these links: Facebook | Twitter)
