I’m pretty sure that could all benefit from some time saving tips and as part of our 600 Interesting and Useful Things for Recruiters series Suzi Davis from Pink Spaghetti PA Services is sharing a full twenty tips (the second batch is here). Not all of them are strictly work focussed but all could lead you to being more productive during the day!
1) The 5 minute Challenge
Set the timer for 5 minutes to start attacking a job you hate or keep putting off. This works particularly well for ‘sorting’ type jobs.
2) Don’t be a Blunderbuss.
My corporate marketing days drummed in to me the importance of a targeted and strategic approach to EVERYTHING. In small business world we don’t have the time and resources to strategise for days and weeks but EVERYONE can put aside at least 1 hour a week to write down their business goals, turn that into an action plan, regularly review and develop that plan and make sure everything (especially your marketing) ties directly to that plan.
Without a plan you are hitting goals like a blunderbuss rather than a sniper…
3) Invest in a label Maker for easy to read categorising!
I got my lovely label maker in the post last week and it’s AWESOME. I’ve always labelled all my batch cooking (a strangely satisfying job) – but having them NEATLY labelled is much better and makes it even quicker and easier to plan my weekly meals.
I also made up a stash with each of my children’s names on and I’ve got through quite a bit of the stash already. It’s saved me ages.
Next on the list is all my box files…..
4) Think FAT as you read your emails. If you stay FAT as soon as you read them it helps you to stay in control
‘F’ile – items for future reference in appropriate e-mail folders
‘A’ct – read, reply, forward or follow-up
‘T’oss – delete unnecessary e-mail from your computer
5) Plan for Problems
If you have organised your day with no time spare you can guarantee a problem will arise that throws your plan into turmoil. Set aside some time each day to deal with unexpected issues – super bonus is if nothing develops, you’ll have the benefit of extra time to complete something else, have a coffee or maybe even…have a break
6) Turn off the email ‘Ping’
E-mail is a vital communication tool but it can be a major distraction. It’s hard to resist the temptation to check your inbox constantly. Hearing the ‘you’ve got mail’ ping is UBER distracting and can easily lead you astray from a task in-hand. Switch off the ping and allow designated email time throughout the day.
7) Don’t have your in-box on your desk.
If you do, it can become one giant in-box clutter-fest! Have an in-box and an out-box and put them on a shelf or cabinet so they won’t distract you
8) Use a Timer to limit Surfing
We all do it….”I’ll just check my Facebook page” or “I’ll just check out Right Move for a minute”. Before you know it 2 hours have disappeared. One of my time-stealers is Wikipedia with its brilliant but dangerous hoard of imbedded links. Before I know it I’m 150 tangents away from what I originally looked for. My useless knowledge bank is richer but my time bank poorer.
Don’t deny yourself…just limit it. Set a timer and as soon as it pings – stand up and walk away.
9) Reconsider the 1 hour Meeting
We often schedule meetings to last an hour. They then take an hour (or longer) – because that’s what has been allocated. Try scheduling them for 30 or 45 mins and see what happens.
10) Don’t let social media bog you down
Social Media guides often profess that to make it a success you HAVE to constantly be posting and interacting. Thing is, doing it less doesn’t mean your efforts will fail. So don’t be too hard on yourself – if you haven’t posted for a few days, chances are the world won’t implode
You can read the next 10 here...
