5 Effective Ways to Work Smarter, Not Harder

If you're a college student or a businessperson, you're probably already aware of the common strategies for working smarter rather than harder. This includes efficiently managing your time, taking regular breaks, and obtaining adequate rest and sleep. Sure, they're sound recommendations, but they can't be limited to what you're already doing on a busy day.

If you're currently employing those strategies but still find yourself overwhelmed with duties that you can't possibly do in a single day, you've come to the correct spot. Here are five extremely effective strategies to increase productivity (that you probably aren't aware of!).

Clean up your to-do list.

So you're set to start working on a big project that has to be pitched in three days. Your mind is racing with ideas, and you're not sure where to start or what you need to do to finish on time. As a result, you end up with a very long to-do list.

The problem with this type of to-do list is that it overwhelms you instead of helping you keep on track with what has to be done, stopping you from becoming productive. Multitasking isn't always a negative thing, but it might lead to you wasting time on jobs that aren't actually vital or urgent.

Consider "trimming the fat" from your to-do list by writing down at least 5 things in a single day, ranked by significance, urgency, and complexity. Avoid multitasking and focus on a single task at a time. Once you've completed it, you can go on to the next, less important activity. You'll feel less stressed and more productive this way.

These duties must be goal-oriented and completed first thing in the morning, whether at home or at work. Because if you put these duties off until later, you'll most likely become preoccupied with other things and run out of time to complete them. Everything else will seem simple if you get them out of the way first thing in the morning.

Prioritize and delegate tasks.

When it comes to your work, you can make use of the Pareto Principle, which states that 80% of the consequences come from 20% of the causes. You can direct your time and effort (80%) towards the most critical tasks of the day by recognizing them (20%). Remove all unimportant tasks from your schedule and don't waste time trying to perfect them.

Delegate less critical duties to someone who can accomplish them for you whenever possible. After that, make a priority list of your own tasks. Do it as soon as possible if it can be done in half an hour. Schedule and prioritize them if they will take more time to complete. You can work smarter, not harder if you combine it with good time management.

Learn to automate.

Do you get tired of performing the same things over and over? Consider putting them on autopilot. This can be accomplished by making a weekly list of all the tasks you perform on a regular basis. Then, using the power of technology, automate them via an app or by making your own - whichever works best for you!

Processing e-mails is a regular repetitive task that many people experience. According to a 2017 Carleton University research, a "normal" knowledge worker spends 11.7 hours processing e-mails at work and 5.3 hours at home per week, for a total of 17 hours. That's around one-third of their working week! You can use Gmail hacks to enhance productivity, such as keyboard shortcuts and experimenting with inbox layouts, to help you save time spent processing e-mails. You can save a few minutes dealing with a large number of e-mails by using these.

Even minor automations can have a significant impact. If you frequently give presentations or hold standup meetings, for example, you can develop your own templates and reuse them. Keep in mind that the more automation you have, the more time you can devote to creative and productive work.

Know when to walk away.

Learning to walk away from hard jobs, while it may seem counterintuitive, might really help you be more productive. By taking a break, you are immediately removed from a difficult work atmosphere and, as a result, you prevent becoming burned out.

Even if your conscious mind is trying to take a break, if you're working on a complex problem, your subconscious mind will keep working on it. This is why, even when we aren't thinking about it, we occasionally get a "Eureka!" moment — when a solution comes to mind unexpectedly.

Allow your brain to "catch up" so you can return feeling revitalized, psychologically prepared, and ready to tackle the work.

Embrace your strengths and weaknesses.

Nobody knows you as well as you know yourself. You have your own set of strengths and weaknesses, and they'll influence how you approach work in some way. Learn to embrace both by doing more of the activities you think you're good at and avoiding the ones that slow you down.

Avoid multitasking at all costs, and if at all feasible, delegate or work with someone who can help you with your weak spots. You'll be able to focus more on what you're good at.

Working smarter, not harder, necessitates a significant amount of planning on your part. But, in the end, it will result in excellent work and less stress. Hopefully, the suggestions above will help you change your working habits for the better. Not only will you be able to complete things in less time, but you'll also have extra energy and time after all of your job is over.

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