There’s a lot to be said for taking your time and get the job done right but I do feel like lots of people, myself included, can be at danger of taking this a little bit too far. Some times we work at a positively leisurely pace, which means we end up not getting enough work done. This leads to skipping gym sessions, working late and cancelling important social plans which could have been avoided if we had just worked efficiently in the first place. Here’s how to work harder and faster… and consequently get more shit done.
Pretend that your day finishes at lunchtime
Time is like money. If you have a lot, you tend to spend a lot. Why not drastically limit the amount of time you have to complete your tasks? If you have the time, you’ll naturally fill it. Give yourself a deadline of lunchtime to get everything done and book something else in so you don’t have a choice but to get your work done. I do this on weekends when I have big posts to shoot. I’ll book in dinner with a friend so I have to limit how much time I have to spend on the task. Give yourself a hard deadline so you can’t break it. You’ll plough through your work, guaranteed.
Give yourself a 2-minute decision-making deadline
Decisions should take 2 minutes at an absolute maximum. Deciding on what colour shoes to buy, choosing what restaurant to eat at, booking a hotel for your weekend away – you’ve now got 2 minutes to decide. Just make a decision and go with it. A weekend away is not going to be any better because you spent four days researching accommodation. Google it, pick a place with a good rating and book the damn thing. Same goes for lunch. Wandering around for 15 minutes trying to figure out what you feel like for lunch is a total waste of time. Make a decision and eat the food. Boom. Same goes for trying to figure out what to make for dinner or what to wear to that party. It’s not going to be the last dinner you ever have and it won’t be the last party either. Just get on with it. 2-minute decisions. Go.
Focus only on today
Have you seen Rent? There’s an amazingly cheesy song in it that I love called No Day But Today and I love it because it’s accidentally very poignant. There is literally no day but today. It’s an incredibly simplistic song about dying of aids but the lyrics totally support my point. It’s always today because by the time tomorrow rocks up it’s today again… do you see what I mean? The only day you have is this one so don’t be freaking out about tomorrow, next week, next month, next year. Focus on what needs doing today and do that. If you work the hardest you can, in the shortest amount of time, you will always have time to do something awesome in the day. Guaranteed.
Do you struggle to keep up momentum when you’re working? Are you guilty of sometimes not working to your full capacity?
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13 Comments
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If only my actual work day finished at lunchtime – that would be rad! In all seriousness, I give myself mental deadlines all the time, especially when it comes to blogging. I tell myself I’ve got x hours and jot down what I need to get done in that time. I hide my phone and go for broke… and it totally works!
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I used to do that when I worked in an office – I’d get 7 hours worth of work done in 5 hours and then I’d blog the rest of the time! 🙂
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this is soo good smags!
I don’t give myself deadlines because I don’t have to mainly!
but I can and I’m like that when I decide on something,
that’s it ok, all good! … “just do it!” they got that slogan right!
love m:)X-
That sounds wonderful! I have to give myself deadlines otherwise I’d never get anything done!
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2 minute decisions are challenging for us Libra’s but I’m going to give it a shot! Xx
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Ha! I have a friend who’s a Libra and decisions are torture for her. It’s hilarious.
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Great advice! Having a deadline to finish would be like those days you do leading up to your vacation time… SUPER productive. Hard to replicate, but this could totally work. I’ll let you know how I go. 😉
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Please do! I’m working this principal hard today because I’ve got a flight in the afternoon. Have to get all my work done in the morning. Eep!
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I am sooo indecisive – the 2 minute decision making would be a form of torture for me
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That’s the beauty part of it is that it forces you to make decisions! 🙂
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Oh wow I need that 2 minute decision rule, especially for things like holidays. I spend so long trying to weigh up pros/cons, that I usually get overwhelmed and just shut the computer! 2 hours wasted, and then have to start again! Fab tips 🙂
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I love the lunchtime deadline. I’m going to try that. And 2 minute decision time – done! Thanks lovely xx
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Love this. I needed a kick up the arse today. Thank you!
