subject: 10 Ways to make better use of your time at work [print this page] 1. Plan, plan, plan1. Plan, plan, plan
If you're forever struggling to get everything done in a day or even by the end of the week, then it could be worth taking a little time each morning or at the start of the week to realistically establish what needs doing and how you're going to do it.
2. Create a To Do list
Part of your planning could involve a simple checklist, so you can tick tasks off as and when you've completed them. The satisfaction of reducing your list can be the extra motivation you need.
3. Reassess procedures
Think about how you approach the tasks you're responsible for. Is there a more efficient way you could do it? By assessing and refining these procedures, you could save lots of time.
4. Prioritise your lists
Face facts. It is more than likely that even with a To Do list, you'll eventually run out of time. If you know this from the outset, you'll have lower stress levels and be more productive. Simply tackle the most important things first.
5. Change your hours
If you spend an hour every morning on a journey that takes far less either side of rush hour, and then the same going home at night, why not change your hours? Work 10 until 6.30, for instance, rather than the traditional 9 to 5.30. If each hour long journey is cut in half, you'll have five extra hours per week to get more done.
6. Work from home
If it's feasible to do so, why not work from home once or twice a week? You'll be cutting your commute out entirely, thus saving you even more hours and reducing your stress levels. Whether it's the extra hour in bed you need for more energy or you're happy to start earlier and finish later because the time would've been lost in the car, you'll certainly see the benefits.
7. Work during the commute
If you get the train to work, then why not use this time to read over documents, write memos or emails, or even plan your day? If you're driving and have a hands-free kit, why not make a couple of important calls to make life easier when you're in the office.
8. Outsource your calls
Incoming calls can take up huge amounts of time, so it may be worth considering an outsourced call centre or telephone answering service. They have teams of professional PAs, that provide a virtual office environment and allow calls to be dealt with professionally without the expense of an extra employee.
9. Delegate
If you're the boss, then it can be difficult to relinquish control of certain tasks. But if your time is better served on other projects, then it is important to share your workload. If you don't trust your staff to do them, they're probably not the staff you need. But if you do trust them, they could lighten your workload and provide you time for other tasks.
10. Take breaks
If you've got a mountain of work to do, there's a temptation to shut yourself off from distraction, keep the coffee flowing and get your head down. But research has shown that people are more productive if they take regular breaks. Whether it's a couple of minutes walking to and from the coffee machine or talking to colleagues about last night's game, you'll be surprised at how much better you feel when returning to the task at hand.
