We all have the same amount of time in a day. So what sets apart those who are productive from those who aren’t?

How we manage that time.

In this podcast I go over five tried and tested time management hacks.  If you implement these into your life, I promise that you will find you are getting MORE done in less time, and with more calm and focus.

I use all 5 of these hacks on a regular basis to get my work done efficiently and effectively – and therefore do better quality work in less time – which is a win-win situation, for sure!

This podcast is actually a little peek inside one of the workshops I offer in the Thriver Circle – How to be More Productive by Managing your Time, Energy, and Focus.

What I share here today is less than a quarter of what I share in the full workshop, but it’s a powerful hit of information that – if you implement it! – will see your focus improve and your work flow.

P.S. This episode is a redux of episode 30. I managed to pick up an illness on my way home from Japan, and instead of subjecting you to a whole episode of my sounding croaky, I thought a replay of this useful episode was in order, instead!

Copy of Copy of Copy of Copy of Ep 26 quote - sonia mcmanus

Quotes and highlights from this Episode:

  • It is scientifically proven that multitasking DOES NOT WORK.
  • Your brain can not process two tasks simultaneously.
  • Instead it very rapidly jumps from one task to the other.  That transition period slows you down.
  • You will actually get LESS done if you are multitasking,
  • The better approach is single-tasking.  Turn everything else off, and focus on the singular task at hand!
  • Don’t check emails as they pop up throughout the day.  Process them instead, and then move onto the next task.
  • The Pomodoro Technique works with the scientific findings that after 90 minutes your brain’s focusing ability is tapped out.
  • After that period, you must reset your brain.  Grab a drink.  Go for a walk.  Stretch.  Play a video game.  Play with your cat!
  • Split your time between focused work, and then rest.  During the work, do nothing but work!
  • You can download an app to time your focused sessions.
  • When you know there’s an end coming, it allows you to be highly focused.
  • Chunking your tasks is another effective approach.
  • Create blocks of time for similar tasks.
  • You can chunk by the day or by the week.
  • Maybe your mornings are dedicated to creating, your early afternoon is for processing emails, your late afternoon is for marketing.
  • Or you can dedicate Tuesday and Thursdays to making, Fridays to marketing, Mondays to business.  What works for you!
  • This approach allows your brain to really dive deep into the task at hand.
  • The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People has suggested the matrix technique.
  • This method has you put all tasks into four categories, ‘Urgent, Important’ ‘Urgent, Not Important’ ‘Not Urgent, Important’ ‘Not Urgent, Not Important.
  • A great tool for prioritizing!  Keep in mind, it’s the Not Urgent, But Important’ category that often gets overlooked.
  • And lastly, but not least there is the two minute rule.
  • From Getting Things Done by David Allen.
  • If it takes two minutes or less, do it now!
  • When our brain has a task that it knows needs to be done, it loops and keeps coming back to that task.  Causing distraction.
  • If you can answer an email quickly, do it!  Let that loop be closed.
  • What strategies have you used?

Download/Listen to this Episode

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