Do you ever find yourself struggling to get everything done? I don’t know about you, but my to-do list seems like a million items long… Being overwhelmed is the norm in this busy world we currently live in. Causing stress, pressure, anxiety, and, most of all, leaving you feeling drained.
Over the years, I’ve found simple yet effective ways to do more with less.
To get more done without the chaos and emptiness.
Today I’d like to share some of that list with you. It’s allowed me to capitalize on my productivity, efficiency, and results.
The things that matter to the bottom line. So without wasting any more time, let’s dive into the 10 simple tools to get more done!
Writing it down is a start, but the goal should be to check off these items daily. What is the big goal? Is it to save money, go to the gym, write a book, or fill in the blank. Once you have crystal clear idea of the goal, write down 3 things to do every day to get you closer to it. This trick works wonders.
Time blocking is a simple yet effective tool to focus more on what you need, not the randomness the day brings you. Distractions are inevitable, but these days they seem more common than ever. If you want to read for 30 minutes, turn your phone off, put it on, do not disturb, or even put it in another room. Dedicate this time and ONLY this time to the task at hand. I know it’s hard, but you can do it!
When you have a clear space, you have a clear mind. This could be how you keep your car, office space, house, apartment, gym bag, or anything else. If you can avoid chaos, papers, clothes, and a mess, you will feel more in control, balanced, and calm. Don’t believe me? Try it.
Yes, even listening to music is a life hack in my eyes. Choose music that speaks to you - the artist, band, or composer. Put it on in the morning, the afternoon, and the evening. Working with chill/upbeat music helps my flow and creativity. If a particular channel or artist isn’t working with me at that time, I’ll change it up. Spotify is my go-to premium music streaming service.
Or should I say don’t multitask… I have to catch myself from time to time from task switching. You should refer to this as multitasking from now on - task switching. Because that’s actually what it is. You are switching from one task to the next to the next, and so on. Multitasking is a myth and a complete waste of your time.
Bria Tracy has it right in his book Eat That Frog. The book's main takeaway is to do the most challenging task of your day first thing in the morning. This technique is extremely powerful and works unbelievably. If you have a daunting task that seems like so much work, tackle it first. Before you know it, you’ll be done and working on other things. Read the book if you haven’t yet!
I grew up in an industry where everyone thought they were “tough.” Not taking breaks was viewed as being hard-working and strong. Not a chance… I’ve had my fair share of 16-hour days, and not taking breaks is one of the worst things you can do. It not only limits your thoughts, creativity, and abilities but also hinders the quality of work you do. Breaks help, take them and get more done in less time.
This is a big one nowadays, with so many people working full-time from home. If your office is your living room, bedroom, office, kitchen, or anywhere else in your house/apartment, good luck… Not setting clear work and chill/rest areas will harm your work-life balance. Know when you’re working and when you’re not. When the two mix, it becomes hazardous, and work will consume your entire life.
How many devices do you have? I currently have 3 around me - a laptop I’m writing this post, an iPhone, and I’m listening to Apple AirPods Pro. While devices are great and can help you be efficient, they also act as huge distractions. Distractions that waste your time doing meaningless things. Yes, there is a time and a place for that, but not always every day. So limit how and when you use them effectively.
Resting is a life hack, and I’m sticking to it. In a busy world, you want to be busy, right? Resting is necessary to balance growth, creativity, and longevity. Rest is required to do an optimal job in all that you do. Elite athletes and the world's most powerful CEOs need rest. Stop seeing rest as hindering your abilities but instead feeding them.
Doing more doesn’t always mean more hours, time, and energy. I like to use the term work smarter, not harder.
Simplicity has changed my life. Complex doesn’t work. It’s hard, time-consuming, and overwhelming.
Keep it simple if you want to get more done in your life and job.
Follow one or even all ten of these simple life hacks to do more - today.
It all starts with knowing what you want to do - intention and focusing on building the key habits that will serve you to get there.
Start small and keep going. Consistency of simple actions will change it all for you.
Chris M Wilson
Chris Wilson is a keynote speaker, CTI coach, and entrepreneur. Through his Hover to Fly framework, he aims to impact the next generation in their careers and lives.
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