Do you spend hours at your desk with less to show for it than you’d like? This can be a very frustrating feeling because you just know that you’re not living up to your fullest potential. No matter where you are now- you can make the changes necessary to stay more focused.
Here are some ways on how to stop wasting time at work.
Plan & Prioritize MIP’s
You get to your office (or desk if you wfh) and you think- “Huh?, What do I need to do today”? Then perhaps while you’re trying to figure this out, you check your email and then scroll FB for a few minutes. Can you relate to this scenario?
Planning your work ahead of time and then prioritizing your most important tasks will help you to not waste time. If you know exactly what you’re goals and tasks are every day, then you will always have a road map to follow.
To stay even more on task- you can assign timeframes for each of your to do’s. Here’s an example of one of my days and how I allocate time:
- Get Up/Coffee/Work Out- 5:30 – 6:45 am
- Read/Journal- 7:30-8 am
- Write for Busy Bee- 8:15- 10:15 am
- Photography Shoots- 11:30- 3pm
- Process Images- 4-5 pm
Of course it’s always a good idea to leave some wiggle room in your schedule for any unforeseeable emergencies.
Managing Projects
Feeling overwhelmed from a project can be a time waster. Kind of hard to start if you don’t know what to do. The best way to get through this is to break it down into smaller, more manageable parts. This will help to keep you from procrastinating and move you towards your project completion one step at a time.
Block & Batch
Email is one of the top time wasters in the workplace. It becomes habit and many people don’t even realize how excessively they check email or scroll social media. Assign specific blocks of time for checking/answering emails, making calls, attending meetings and working on your most important tasks. During these blocks of time, use Pomodoros so you stay extremely focused and don’t go back and forth between two things.
Eliminate Distractions
I also discuss eliminating distractions here. It’s important enough to talk about again. Identify your main distractions, like social media or unnecessary apps, and limit access to them during work hours. If you really need help staying on task, then apps like Focus@Will, Forest, or RescueTime can help.
Limit Meetings
I have a beef with meetings. I think in most cases, they are a waste of time. Only attend meetings that are absolutely necessary to your job. I realize you may be roped into meetings in which you don’t set the agenda. In this case, suggest that meetings always have one.
Keep tabs on the output/deliverables for the meetings you attend. If you find that they provide no value, speak with management about your concerns. Propose a solution that will keep you just as productive- but keeps you from attend as many meetings.
You could even go so far as to recommend that all meetings be at the same time every single week. It’s difficult to block/batch your work if meetings are held during those times.
Automate Repetitive Tasks
Do you spend a lot of time on repetitive tasks- such as writing specific reports or responding to customer complaints? For those tasks that are monotonous, look for ways to automate them using tools, templates, or scripts.
Interruptions
Interruptions are varied; these include Colleagues who drop by to chat for a minute, the boss who needs you to go get coffee, or your neighbor in the cube over who is talking excessively loud on the phone. The solution here is to have an honest discussion with the culprits on how it’s effecting your work.
A great approach is to work together as a team. Maybe initiate a collective project where everyone agrees to uninterrupted work periods. It sets a standard and helps everyone create a culture of focus.
You’re Bored
If the tasks aren’t stimulating or challenging, it’s easy to drift into daydreaming or find yourself scrolling social media. Switching gears can help. Try asking your boss for new responsibilities or finding a way to make your current tasks more engaging.
Summary- How to Stop Wasting Time at Work
Regardless of how much time you waste now, you can always change your habits. Here is a summary of how you can stop wasting time at work. Plan and then prioritize, manage projects by breaking it down into achievable parts, block and batch, eliminate distractions, attend less meetings, automate repetitive tasks, manage interruptions, and get more challenging work if necessary.
Getting a handle on those time wasters can not only make a difference in your productivity, but you will feel better about the value you are providing either in your workplace – or with your own business.