Do you seem to spend more time planning your week than completing tasks? That's probably due to the spread of the planning process over several days. Although there is no need to prolong it. You can set up a plan for a week of productivity in half an hour or less.
Preparing for a week of productivity gives you several days of perspective on how to spend your time wisely. Daily schedules and plans made on the fly don't provide that long view.
A weekly schedule also provides guidance, preventing panic and uncertainty. There may be some weeks where you focus on a single topic or project, too.
In either case, you can use a weekly schedule to break down big goals into manageable chunks. So let's get started.
You might think that it makes no difference what day of the week you do your planning. However, it is better to do it on a Sunday night . When Monday morning rolls around, you can start with confidence and know what tasks are on your list. These 3 types of lists will help you be more productive. These 3 types of lists will help you be more productive when it comes to being organized and productive. -the list is the ultimate tool. Three types of lists could give you all the power you need without overcomplicating your planning. Read More
Many people have good intentions to plan their schedules efficiently but get distracted. So, before you start planning for the week, minimize distractions that could throw you off track.
To start, tell the people in your home that you won't be available for the next half hour. Also, don't plan your week while simultaneously browsing on your mobile How to Get More in a Day by Blocking Mobile Distractions How to Get More in a Day by Blocking Mobile Distractions When you're trying to focus, distractions are a nightmare. It's time to block out distractions and get stuff done with some free apps for Android and iOS. Read more or watching Netflix.
Tasks can take faster than they should without proper time management. That's why you need to enforce the 30 minutes time limit in planning your week. Go into the clock app on your smartphone and set a timer for half an hour.
As the seconds tick by, you'll stay motivated. The timer will also encourage you to take this task seriously.
The apps make it easy to check the weather forecast, chat with friends, and more. Of course, apps also make your scheduling goals easier. Here are a few that are especially useful.
IFTTT allows you to set triggers to handle repetitive or tedious tasks. Consider using IFTTT to automatically add events to your Google calendar. Then, the possibility of forgetting one or more is reduced.
Download: IFTTT for iOS | Android (Free)
This app called QLess allows you to skip waiting in line, giving you a virtual alternative. You avoid being with others who also want a service or product. Reserve your place With the app and receive notifications when it's your turn. Try to use it for appointments that come up unannounced.
Download: QLess for iOS | Android (Free)
The Waze app reduces time lost in transit. It integrates with your Google Calendar and even suggests the best time to leave a trip to improve traffic.
Provide your start and end addresses, plus desired arrival time. Waze does the rest and sends a notification to reduce the chance of being late.
Download: Waze for iOS | Android (Free)
As you review your week, determine the substantive factors that require you to make BIG decisions. Then break those decisions down into segments per day . You can decide two things on a Tuesday, but anticipate no major elections the next day.
Of course, it's not always possible to know when your life or work will force you to make decisions. In all other cases, plan your week so you can make solid decisions in the morning .
Research with physicians and court judges found evidence of decision-making fatigue. It got worse later in the day, which suggests you should try to decide things early.
It's time to see all the tasks for a given week and organize them by priority . Be sure to be realistic about the estimated time needed for each. Consider using a time tracking app The best time tracking app for Android, iOS and desktop The best time tracking app for Android, iOS and desktop We show you how time tracking can benefit you or your team, what look for Time Tracking Software and the best cross-platform app we could find for the job. Read More
Rank the activities in order of highest to lowest priority. So you won't waste time figuring out how to start each day. Then use a system where you fill in each day of the week with the priorities ranked.
Try a method that gives you a visual reference tool. Depending on one, you can quickly calculate the average workload for a day. Sometimes you can delegate low-priority tasks to people or send them to later days. When classifying your tasks, always focus on the mandatory responsibilities first.
Regardless of whether you use a traditional or digital daily calendar, these free printable time blocking planners will help you avoid overwhelming them. Free Printable Time Block Planners Will Help You Avoid Overwhelming Time Blocks can help you prioritize your important goals. These free printable planners are ideal for blocking time and getting your tasks done efficiently and effectively. Read More focus to show priority. Red might be for the most critical tasks, with the less crucial appearing green.
You can depend on that system to accommodate tasks you don't know about on Sunday night. For example, trying the steps outlined here allows you to plan for most of the week. What if your boss assigns you a new responsibility on Wednesday and you want a deadline to complete it?
Thanks to the color coding, you can see at a glance that Thursday has four high-priority tasks. By contrast, Friday only has one. That information makes it easier to tell a superior that you can't tackle the new job until Friday.
Download: MyHours for iOS | Android (free, premium from $6/month)
Stopping your workflow might seem like a terrible idea when you're getting things done. However, one study found that the most productive people work for 52 minutes and take a break for 17 minutes. Each block of work is like a sprint, while breaks are recovery periods.
When planning your productivity week, break times as tasks Hopefully you are now using a timer as suggested above. Depends on one daily. It will ensure that you take breaks when you need to, but that your downtime doesn't drag on for too long.
Ideally, you should build small time segments into your days for things that defy prediction. Even when using a time tracking tool, tasks can take longer than you thought.
Meetings can end. A morning headache can reduce your efficiency for tasks in the earlier half of the day.
Most people immediately begin to feel drained when faced with such circumstances. Personal guilt could also enter the equation if people are too hard on themselves.
That is why it is useful to reserve time In your week for things that unexpectedly happen. If a particular day doesn't contain any, use the time available to start the next day's tasks.
Overcoming yourself hampers productivity by causing unnecessary stress. It's easy to pack too much into your schedule, especially when you plan days ahead.
Things like severe weather and traffic delays make the challenges caused by overscheduling even more frustrating. Adding a few minutes each side of scheduled events and being aware of limitations prevents problems.
Going through these steps for the first time will likely require the full half hour. However, familiarizing yourself with the suggested processes and applications should make you more efficient. When you do, you won't need as much time, despite scheduling an entire week at a time.
You'll also likely find that some strategies work better for you than others. Feel free to adjust the steps above and adapt them to suit your needs. Plus, check out more time savers like time management templates 10 Incredibly Useful Spreadsheet Templates to Organize Your Life 10 Incredibly Useful Spreadsheet Templates to Organize Your Life forgotten and unfulfilled commitments? Sounds like you need to get organized. Read More
