Efficiency is the buzz word with increased concern about the environment being energy-efficient. But what about our own ability to be efficient both at home and at work? What does being efficient mean to you?
The dictionary defines efficiency as "the state or quality of being efficient; competency in performance or the accomplishment of or ability to accomplish a job with minimum expenditure of time and effort."
Make sure you own time and not the other way around. This article and the ensuing tips are not about striving for perfection, but instead about allowing yourself the opportunity to make better use of your time throughout the day.
Organizing and simplifying your life are important steps to be taken in order to be the most efficient you can be. A well-organized office space or home will help you stay efficient.
Above all, when thinking about increasing your efficiency rate, remember to take care of yourself. Good food, plenty of rest, lots of water, and exercise will allow you to function at your best.
1. Schedule your day. Either at the beginning of each day or the night before, plan out each day. You are only one person and you probably won't be able to do everything. Use a schedule to organize your day into time blocks. Write out a daily TO DO list (electronic or in a notebook) and
prioritize items by importance. Remember, only schedule around 70 percent of your day. The other 30 percent will be filled with interruptions, travel time between appointments and errands, and sometimes emergencies.
2. Prioritize-Prioritize-Prioritize. List TO DO items by order of importance and label each item by importance and urgency. Make items that are extremely important stand out by marking them with red ink, a highlighter, or a star. Only focus on a limited number of actions per
day.
3. Multi-task small projects and details. Although, multi-tasking does not work for everyone or every project, in some cases it can be very effective. Some business reading on the subway or bus on the way to work takes care of two TO DOs at once...reading the article and getting to where
you need to be. Catching up with your sister on the phone, while you're dusting? Another good multi-tasking example that most folks can do. You're cleaning the house and catching up with a loved one simultaneously.
4. Say NO more often. Recognize what your priorities are. If someone requests something of you that you are unable to do comfortably or does not fit into your priorities, "just say no."
5. Delegate as much as possible. You can't do everything alone. Allow friends, family, co-workers, your partner, or your children to assist around the house and/or office. Many people find this difficult because they feel they are the only one who can do it right. Start off with small steps. Don't hand over an entire project, but instead "a step" that will save you time and energy. Make sure you remember to thank these people appropriately.
6. Organize. The more organized your home and work environments are, the faster work will get finished and the higher the quality your work will be. Make lists for yourself and others. Create inboxes and action files.
7. Control your procrastination. One common phrase used to help combat procrastination is "do the worst thing first." At the beginning of each day, do the one item that stands out the most on your TO DO list, or your most dreaded item. Set daily goals for yourself and plan lots of rewards.
