time wasting - let's not waste any more

We all have 24 hours in our day the only difference is how we use it (or not).  I won't waste your time with a long list of ways to be more efficient, as we have all heard them before, I just want to remind you of a few that will keep you focused and on track.

Lack of planning

Without a clear plan we can be left feeling overwhelmed by the enormity of the task at hand.  A list of things-to-do will help you to prioritise what needs to be done and when, but don't let yourself to become daunted by the long list you have created.  Don't over think it, that won't make it any shorter, take a moment, take a deep breath, and decide on what one  task or goal and get to work on it.  Break projects into smaller tasks, it can be, at times, to much to look at the end of the project without thinking about those all important steps needed to achieve the end result.  Set your goal and put in place smaller, more obtainable tasks and complete them one at a time.

Interruptions

Interruptions are unavoidable but we can manage their impact on our time.  It happens often, working from home does not make you immune either.  Co-workers stop by to discuss a work issue and it turns into a chat, the phone rings and you make general chit chat before getting down to business, emails that have no relevance to what you are doing keep appearing on your screen distracting you from your task.  The interruptions are many and varied and it is important to recognise when to say "no".  There will always be times when the interruption needs to be dealt with, be strong, set a time limit in which to deal with the issue, deal with it and get back to your task.  

If the phone is what interrupts you, put it on silent (put your mobile phone somewhere that it is not readily accessible), complete what you are doing then listen to the messages and return calls when you have the time available.  Leave your outlook minimised or off and allocate a time of day that you can devote to replying to emails, you can set up an automatic reply that lets people know when you will be checking your emails.  If you have an unexpected visitor, stand up to speak with them, avoid letting them become comfortable, standing will make everyone aware of time.  By eliminating or minimising the interruptions you can devote your time and focus to the task at hand and achieve your goals.

Procrastination

Procrastination is the avoidance of doing a task which needs to be accomplished and we usually do this by doing things that are more pleasurable than the task that we should be doing.  We often find ourselves doing the less urgent task instead of focusing on the more urgent ones.  Too much time can be spent thinking about the available options, then we become overwhelmed by the choices and fail to do anything.  Make a decision (the only bad decision is indecision), if you fail to make a decision it will result in inactivity.  Once you have made a decision you can start getting things done.  You can always keep your options open because sometimes things don't turn out the way you hoped.

Say "No"

It is ok to say no and the sooner we learn that, the better off and more effective we become.  We waste time doing those tasks we did not want to do or are doing for others because we did not say "no".  Say yes to those things that you care about and know that you have the time to do.  Saying "no" will give you the chance to use the extra time to do the things you enjoy and be with the people you want to be with.  

Get enough sleep

Not all of us can function on minimal sleep and even if you think you can it is only for a short length of time before you start to notice the effects of lack of sleep on your performance.  The average adult requires around 8 hours sleep a night, some need less, others more.  You know how much sleep you need to ensure you spring out of bed the next day.  Getting less sleep than you need builds up a sleep debt and, like all debts, it will eventually have to be paid back.  You may not notice that you have been missing out on sleep to start with but it is not a good habit to get into.  If you continue to miss out on sleep you won't be able to think or react to things as quickly as you could.  Even if you don't feel sleepy your brain is and it won't be working as well as it could.

A few more time wasters to watch out for

• time spent on social media 
• not being organised 
• playing games on your devices
• staring at the box (watching TV)