The Easiest Way To Become More Productive

Feel like you never get enough done? That your to-do list seems to grow like a weed, and days disappear in a blur? That you can’t find the time to get around to certain things, and they niggle at you, causing you to wake in the night, stressed and sweaty?

Let’s discuss a deceptively simple strategy that doesn’t cost anything or require special equipment but is guaranteed to help you get more done.

Don’t Let Time Use You

Here’s the technique that will help you become more efficient and productive: Time yourself to determine exactly how long it takes you to complete each of the things you have to do.

All you need is a basic timer, like the one found on your iPhone.

We all work at different speeds. The key to making the most of your time is finding out exactly how long it takes you to accomplish the things you need to get done.  

Why It Works

Most time management troubles stem from our inability to correctly estimate how long it takes to complete our tasks and get to where we need to be.

People who are consistently late often underestimate how long it takes to arrive at their destination and don’t allow for delays.

Knowing exactly how long it takes to travel from point to point allows you to accurately plan your schedule, and add enough time for inevitable last-minute obstacles and interruptions.

People who routinely procrastinate often overestimate how long a task will take to complete – spending more time dreading and delaying the task, than the time it takes to actually get it done.

Telling yourself “It will only take 15 minutes, and then I can take a break” is much more satisfying than spending hours procrastinating about a 15-minute task.

Another reason this strategy works: the very act of setting a timer leads to increased productivity. When a clock is ticking, we tend to minimize distractions and focus on the task at hand.  

How To Do It

Begin by timing the things you do every day: taking a shower and getting dressed; making your morning coffee and breakfast; routine work tasks like reviewing and responding to e-mails, writing daily reports, or answering phone calls; your morning and evening commutes; and the amount of time you spend preparing and eating meals during the work day.

Write down how long each thing takes.

Next, time your daily household chores like feeding, brushing, and walking pets; loading and unloading the dishwasher; getting your children ready to leave the house; preparing, eating, and cleaning up after meals at home; cleaning and tidying your kitchen; making your bed.

Do you receive packages and mail every day? Do you take out the trash? How long does it take you to deal with those? Set a timer and find out.

Write down how long each thing takes.

When it comes to complex work projects, time yourself as you complete each component of a larger task: for example, for a presentation or report, record how much time you spend researching, writing, and editing; and how long you spend reviewing, discussing, or receiving feedback from others.

Then move on to the things you don’t necessarily do daily, like completing a round-trip to the grocery store; washing, drying, folding, and putting away laundry; vacuuming or sweeping your floors, and other household projects.

Understanding exactly how long it takes you to achieve your various responsibilities allows you to schedule your time more accurately; matching small windows of time to quick tasks, and never short-changing yourself when it comes to things that require a longer time commitment.

Bonus Benefits!

Never Be Late Again. A clear understanding of exactly how long it takes you (and other family members) to get ready to leave your house; how long your regular household chores take; added to the knowledge of your various commute times, allows you to adequately plan what time to get up in the morning - and what time to leave your home - in order to arrive at (or be ready to) work on time.   

Get Kids To Do Household Chores. The strategy of setting a timer works brilliantly for children who complain about doing household chores. Next time this happens, ask your child/ren to estimate how long the dreaded task will take, and then set a timer while they do it. This works in two ways: both motivating the child to complete the task as soon as possible (they’re racing against the clock!) and revealing the fact that many chores don’t take long. Once children understand how little time most household jobs take, they typically stop complaining, glance at the clock and get on with it. 

Get More Sleep. Many of us have a nightly routine we follow before getting into bed, like face-washing, teeth-brushing, putting phones on chargers, locking doors, walking dogs, etc. Once you know how long your routine takes, you can work back from your ideal bedtime, to ensure you’re always climbing into bed at the time you know will help you get the right amount of rest.

---

Try setting a timer and see if it works for you. I’d love to know what you think - you can contact me at: amelia@somehappyscribbles.com