When you’re trying to get stuff done at work, time is precious. And it’s even more precious when you’re wasting time. So, if you’re looking for ways to minimize your time-wasting habits, we’ve got five ways that might help make the most of the limited hours in your day.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that using your time wisely is easy. You must be willing to change some of your habits and develop new ones—especially when it comes to communicating with others, which can be tough. But if you want more control over your workday and less wasted time overall, these tips are a good place to start:
- Stop using e-mail for everything
Use email to communicate with colleagues, customers, vendors, partners, and friends. It’s a great way to stay connected with people who aren’t on your team or in your department. But don’t use email for everything—you can waste time by sending unnecessary emails that can be easily handled over the phone or face-to-face conversation instead.
- Be a better listener
Listening, like a lot of skills, can be learned. It’s not just about hearing what someone is saying; it’s also about understanding and remembering that information. When you’re listening to people speak, don’t get so caught up in your own thoughts that you forget to do something as simple as paying attention to their words or body language.
- Don’t check social media
Checking social media is another major time suck. You’re probably not working on something that requires your full attention, so you might as well check in on your friends and family. But if you’re doing this regularly and often, it can be detrimental to your productivity and focus.
- Take short breaks
If you’re feeling like the workday is dragging on and you don’t feel like you have enough time in the day to get your tasks done, take a break. A short walk around the office or grabbing some fresh air can help clear your mind, reenergize, and make it easier to get back to work when it’s time to return.
- Plan more one-on-one meetings
One-on-one meetings are a great way to stay on track and keep your team moving forward. Try scheduling regular one-on-one meetings with your team members to get updates and stay on the same page. There are many ways to organize and plan for effective one-on-one meetings, but here are some tips that can help you make the most of this time:
- Check in with your team before the meeting (via email or Microsoft Teams) and get everyone’s input about what they want to talk about. This will help ensure that you’re all on the same page when you meet up in person.
- Make sure that there’s something specific coming out of each meeting so you can check how much progress has been made at its conclusion.
- Use a one-on-one software to increase efficiency during meetings.
