Sometimes I wonder whether I just have too much work or whether I am inefficient with my time. You won't find me surfing the internet or anything, and I never really feel like I've been unproductive unless I've been in meetings all day. So what gives? Anybody have tips to increase efficiency?
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4 comments:
Hm, I've been really productive these past few days, so I can pretend like I know something!
I have a running to do list (I use a computer program that lets me assign "due dates", though probably not totally necessary). I try to have 3-4 things I really want to get done in a day, and focus on those. I've found if I have more than that, I'm more likely to get distracted or just work on pieces of all of them and not actually finish anything.
Also, my goal for this year was to do a better job of work-life balance, which I think has made me more focused when I'm at work, because I'm refusing to take my computer home unless there's something really urgent.
I also try to clean up my inbox at the end of each week - when it's too cluttered, I feel too cluttered.
Ok, that's all I've got for right now!
I agree with Amy in terms of getting your mind focused on just a few things to accomplish in one day. (Who is Amy?) Hi Amy.
Also, I find when I try to see things with a little perspective, strangely, I feel I've accomplished more that day.
Giving myself mental breaks also helps.
Good luck!
Thank you both for your insight. Emily (my sister) meet Amy (my friend and former RA).
I like the idea of sitting down in the morning and figuring out 3-4 things to accomplish. I feel like I get bombarded with things all day, so it would be good to have a clear list of what I need to finish each day.
I wish I could say that I won't work at home, but that just isn't true. But what I do need to do more to maintain balance is to make sure I am doing things other than work--like going to the gym (even if it feels like I just can't spare the 1.5 hours) or taking the dog for a good walk (not just around the block).
I will happily consider any other advice from others too. I need help!
Hmmm...efficiency?
A list of to-dos is very important for my productivity and sanity. I also have an inexplicable, yet functional mental calculus of prioritizing those goals. It has something to do with speed with which the goal can be accomplished and immediacy of need.
I read something somewhere, which I kind of do, about breaking down large tasks into action items. For instance, write my dissertation is not a good task, but complete the analysis of one variable might be. It has something to do with psychology and tricking your mind into focusing. Any single task should take no longer than your personal span of focus (for me about an hour).
Another book I read suggested only checking email and phone messages a couple of times a day (never actually answer the phone). I can manage this with the phone, but I am a slave to email. I have gotten better about not responding to anything that requires more than 60 seconds for a response. Those have to wait until one of the three times a day I deal with such things (first thing, after lunch, and end of day).
I don't know if any of that helps...
Big Hugs.
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