People like to say that everyone gets the same amount of time in the day – from you to Einstein to that guy who stands around the park coated in metallic paint.
Although that may be true on the face of it, it doesn’t really tell the whole story, does it?
Every day, precious minutes are lost for reasons we don’t even think about. Some of these little distractions are almost inevitable ... meetings and emails, for example.
Others seem to crop up every day no matter how we try to avoid them. For example, who hasn’t slogged through work half-awake after a night where you just can’t fall asleep?
Luckily, there are plenty of ways you can stretch those eight hours of work so that they actually feel a little bit more like, well, eight hours.
1. Go to Bed and Wake Up an Hour Earlier
Remember, when we’re talking about efficiency, the main thing we’re really talking about is attention. If you can’t focus, you really aren’t using the time you have. So, the first thing you should do is try to bust any sleeping problems.
Plenty of people suffer with chronic back pain, a less-than-stellar sleeping environment full of noise and ambient light, or simply an older mattress that doesn’t support the kind of rest you need. Figure out what your biggest sleeping problem is and solve it.
What about going to bed earlier? This is especially important for insomniacs. A little bit more time in bed means you won’t have to worry about falling asleep “fast enough.” Getting up an hour early, on the other hand, will give you a chance to wake up and take your time.
2. Start the Day With a Single Major Goal – Not a “To-Do List”
Too often, when you start the day with a “to-do” list, you risk getting bogged down in process. “Clear out my email inbox” can be a to-do item, but does it really get you closer to your goals? Odds are the answer is no. Yet, these minor issues often dominate a schedule.
If you got up a little early (see #1 ...) you have time to sit down and think about what your real main goal is. You don’t have to have every step worked out in advance like you would with a traditional to-do list. Instead, do the step in front of you, then figure out what’s next.
Odds are, you’ll be much closer to a real breakthrough at the end of the day than you would be otherwise. That, in turn, will help you feel more motivated to get through a long week.
3. Break the Day Down into 25-Minute Segments
Challenge yourself to stay completely focused on a single task for intervals of 25 minutes. This will help you harness the power of your concentration without sabotaging yourself by setting a goal that’s too difficult to realize – like trying to stay 100% focused for a full hour.
The 25-minute interval is known as the Pomodoro Technique (the Italian for tomato) and has been widely studied by productivity experts. In short, it’s an amount of time most people can learn to stay completely focused without getting distracted. Afterwards, take a five minute break.
4. Eliminate Distractions Ruthlessly
If you decide to try out the Pomodoro Technique, this step becomes even easier. At the start of every 25-minute interval, get rid of anything and everything not related to the task in front of you. That means taking a moment to close unrelated windows and, if you can get away with it in your workplace, turning off the phone.
5. Give Yourself Positive Reinforcement
People often feel tired, stressed out, and distracted when they don’t see the fruit of their efforts. You won’t be able to give yourself a reward every time you succeed at something, but you should take time each night to review your accomplishments.
This can be a challenging task for perfectionists, who might want to ruminate on the specifics of what they could do better. Don’t fall for it. Instead, simply review the things you made the time and focus to do. If you had one major goal, note the steps toward it you took.
This is a great way to formally end the workday just after you get home. You’ll realize you’re taking concrete steps toward your objectives, which helps you do better the next day. Plus, the steps you took and what needs to be done next will be fresh in your mind.
It’s true that we all get the same hours every day – but you don’t have to be Einstein to take full advantage of them. Take a close look at your productivity habits and implement some of these suggestions. You’re bound to see an improvement fast!
Rob Steffens
I am the Director of Marketing here at Bluleadz. I'm a huge baseball fan (Go Yankees!). I love spending time with friends and getting some exercise on the Racquetball court.