Here we are in a new year. And while I have goals and resolutions, overwhelmingly, my mission this year is to work more effectively – and more efficiently – and by doing so, working less.
That’s right, I want to work less this year.
Why? Because I want to allow more space to think. More space to develop ideas. More space to write. More space to create. This means I’ll have to say “no” a little more often. That means I’ll have to be more deliberate in my planning and scheduling. It means I’ll have to be selective with my time. It means I’ll have to make sacrifices.
But with Tim Ferris’ 4 Hour Work Week and Sarah Bray’s 90-minute workday, I know I’m not crazy. Here are 5 things I’m doing to work less.
Avoid “lingering” emails
You know what I’m talking about. Odds are if you look at your inbox right now there’s an email someone sent you last week that you’ve been waiting to answer – for whatever reason. I’m happiest when I’m not procrastinating. I’m most satisfied when something is complete – when I can check something off the to-do list. Leaving an email unanswered when I’m perfectly capable of working up a response is self-sabotage. Today, this year, and moving forward, I’m making real time for email and making sure that, during that time, I’m not avoiding responses, allowing day after day to go by (which only builds more time for excused and distractions to creep in).
Scheduling time for email
Everyone says they’re going to do this and without a doubt it is one of the hardest things to follow through with (guilty). I have 5 times scheduled throughout the day that I will open my email. During those blocks of time I’ll focus ONLY on responding to said emails. Outside of that, it’ll have to wait. This will keep me sane and will (most importantly) set more realistic expectations to others who, right now, probably expect me to respond to an email within 30 minutes, even on a Sunday afternoon.
Creating “real” work space
We have an office, but I work from home a lot. If you’re like me, you know it’s pretty damn impossible to get a lot done when you’re sitting on your couch with the TV on in the background. This year I’m focused on creating “living” space and “work” space – and making sure that the two don’t mix (including leaving my computer in said “work” space). The most important piece here? Making sure that work stays in “work” space and living stays in “living” space.
Letting tech do more of the lifting
I’m pretty old school in a lot of ways. I still love hand-writing to-do list’s on my whiteboard. I use TextEdit to keep random notes way more than I should. You get the idea. Apps are a blessing and a curse – and I’m convinced our devices are good for two things: 1. Distracting us and 2. Increasing our productivity/efficiency. This year I’m going to make the most of the apps I have at my disposal, but haven’t really given the proper attention to – these include:
- WorkFlowy – for to-do lists. Not the sexiest, but without a doubt the cleanest/simplest I’ve found.
- Basecamp – for work/project management. We’ve been using this at Proof for months now and honestly, I don’t know how we survived without it.
- Evernote + Webclipper – for branding, design, writing, and other random inspiration. Keeping it all organized and accessible from any device is a beautiful thing.
- Pocket – for saving articles I find online to read later. This app is beautiful and insanely simple, by the way.
- Fluid – which allows you to turn any of your frequently-visited websites into “apps” accessible directly from your desktop. Those few seconds you’ll save add up.
Prepping/Planning
One of Napoleon Hill’s key components to success in any endeavor is a “definitive plan”.
It’s amazing how a little preparation makes all the difference. Example, I’m much more likely to go for a run at 6 in the morning if I’ve got my running outfit set out and ready the night before. Having to stumble around in the dark to find my shoes, headphones, watch, etc. sounds like no big deal – but it’s a tiny little annoyance that can be completely avoided if I just think about things ahead of time.
This same idea can be applied to work. I’m making a deliberate effort this year to be more prepared. A little preparation will go a long way in saving time, building confidence, and removing unneeded barriers (excuses) to getting things done.
Doing more. Working less. Pretty novel concept, eh? Who’s with me? What will you be doing in your pursuit of a more effective, efficient work life?