Here are some easy habits to drop that will help you gain hours back to your day.
This is taken and distilled down from author Tim Ferriss' The 4 Hour Work Week. If you haven't read this book we highly recommend it. It is packed full of strategies to improve your work performance and allow you to get more done during the workday. If you have read Tim's book then maybe this list can serve as a reminder. We have pulled out some of what we feel are key points you can implement right now. For an easy to read PDF check out Tim's blog here.
1. Don't answer calls from unknown numbers.
Maybe the easiest advice on the list. Don't let your phone waste your time. Our feeling is that most people are already following this suggestion. Damn robocallers.
2. Do not email first thing in the morning or last thing at night.
Checking email in the morning can derail your routine before you have set your day up for success. Checking email at night can get those gears spinning and keep you from a full night's sleep.
3. Do not check email constantly. "Batch" and check at set times only.
In fact try to batch most of what you do. Have set times during that day that are scheduled for your email, workouts, meeting, nutrition. If you don't protect your schedule someone else will make it theirs.
4. Do not work more to fix overwhelm, rather prioritize.
From Tim: "The answer to overwhelm is not spinning more plates, or doing more, it’s defining the few things that can really fundamentally change your business and life.
5. Take at least one day off from your cell phone per week.
As heavy users of social media this is probably the hardest for us. However, taking one day off will allow you to take care of yourself and set up for another awesome week of whatever your cat/dog are doing.
6. Do not expect work to fill a void that non-work and relationships and activities should.
From Tim: "Schedule life and defend it just as you would an important business meeting."
Hopefully some of those tips help you scale back tasks that might be sucking time from you. For the full list follow the link below. Also check out Tim’s book The 4 Hour Work Week (link).