8 habits that will make your work easier
Those days when you collapse on the couch at seven o'clock and think: what have I actually accomplished today? If I could skip them, I would do it in a heartbeat. And what turns out? You can ensure that your day doesn't go down the drain AND that you get a lot more done. How? Make a not-to-do list, it's much more effective than the to-do list.
As one of the world's most innovative business people, according to Fortune's 40 under 40, Timothy Ferris is always looking to do more in less time. I've recently become a groupie and read and listen to almost everything from him, so expect a lot of tricks from Ferris in the coming weeks. Starting with what you want to let go of when you're working.
1. Do not answer blocked or unknown numbers
I was already quite skilled at this. So skilled that you can't even leave a voicemail with me. Leave your voicemail with which email address they can reach you and voilà, Keessie is done.
2. Set priorities
It can't be that everything is equally important. You have BIG things to do and then trivialities. Always start your day with something big, then tick off the smaller things.
3. Do not start and end your workday with emailing
The continuation of the priorities, because emailing is the biggest distraction and ensures that you work less efficiently. Do something you really need to do first, your inbox can wait until after ten.
4. Only attend meetings with an agenda and end time
‘Of course I'll be there, what can I prepare?’ This is the trick to ensure you can skip the chit-chat. Chit-chat is nice, but especially for later, when you've finished the rest. And with an end time, you ensure that people don't start to drift off.
5. Don't let people ramble at you
Intervene. Just say that you have a lot to do and ask what they want from you. And then be a bit nicer, because before you know it, you're the office jerk.
6. Don't refresh your email all the time
I repeat: the more you are in your email, the less you get done. Capiche?
7. Take one social break per week
It's good for your mind to log out occasionally and leave your phone as it is. After all, you're not Rutte, so someone can surely wait an hour until you're done with that nice dinner with friends.
8. Don't spend your weekend working
You don't live to work. As Ferris says: “Emailing all weekend is no way to spend the little time you have on this planet.”
I was almost about to shout amen here, but that might be a bit too far.
Source: The Tim Ferris Show
