Time is precious so stop wasting time. Benjamin Franklin once said, “Lost time is never found again” as a way of convincing someone not to wait to take action. Nearly all of us waste time each day. Aside from the obvious culprits—social media, procrastination, commuting, and interruptions. There are tons of other unintentional ways we waste time.
Let us help you with some strategies so you can stop wasting your time. The good news is there are some simple, yet effective strategies you can use to stop wasting time and start doing the things that really matter.
How To Stop Wasting Time
Figure out your true goals and desires
You need to have clear goals and desires. Determine what you really want from your workday, year or life. It will give you focus and direction.
Schedule your day.
Scheduling out your day is a really effective strategy to help you stop wasting time. You can use time blocking on specific tasks to let you focus. Assigning specific tasks to a specific time of the day helps you stay on track and regain your focus.
Rise early.
When you wake up early, you have more time in the day. It also helps set the tone for the entire day.
Work on your most important task first.
Working on your most important task first will keep you from the bad feeling of watching the clock approach 5 pm and knowing you still have a lot to do. You have to start by working on the tasks that will produce the biggest results for you.
Block distracting websites
Social media platforms are designed to keep you coming back for more, or keep you scrolling for hours. You can block websites that distract you from your work. By doing this, you can focus on one thing at a time, making it easier to keep track of how long you’ve really been working.
Do low-value works at specific times
There are certain low-value tasks that have to be done at some point. You need to schedule these tasks throughout your workday. You can use these low-value, low-energy tasks to your advantage. Since they cost less of your mental and physical energy, they can offer a great break between tough workflows while still keeping you productive.
Do deep work.
According to Cal Newport, deep work is the opposite of wasting time. During periods of deep work, you’re completing meaningful and important work. Your focus and attention are on the work at hand.
Set deadlines.
You need to start creating deadlines for your most important tasks. That way, you know exactly how long you have and how much time there is in your schedule. Then work back from the deadline to determine what you have to do each day to finish on time.
Manage your energy.
You need to manage your energy because every task requires a certain amount of energy. We often fail to plan our days according to our rising and falling energy levels. We have to realize that we are not a machine. A realistic understanding of how much energy we have and the energy required for the tasks in front of you.
Use the Pomodoro technique.
The way these technique works is you need to set a timer for 25 minutes. During the time range, you need to focus on one thing only without distraction. After the session, take a five-minute break. After 4 sessions, take a 25-minute break. This technique is proven to improve your focus, help you solve problems faster, and increase your productivity.
Do activities/hobbies that truly enrich your life.
Doing meaningful hobbies and activities is a great antidote to wasting time. When you do activities and hobbies that enrich your life outside of work, you will be more productive in life in general.
Now, that you know these strategies, stop wasting time and start doing awesome stuff. If you caught yourself wasting time go back to these strategies and refocus. Let us help you on this journey.
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