When it comes to the workforce, it pays to be efficient. Working smarter, as opposed to harder will benefit you tenfold in the long run. Working smarter will leave you feeling less stressed, more accountable to your boss and peers, and ultimately happier with yourself.
Being an efficient worker takes you to a higher level of work, producing quality results. The CGS Team is sharing a few ways you can be more efficient in the workplace, and ultimately work smarter not harder!
1. Focus on One Task at a Time
This may be one of the hardest things a busy woman has to do! When you have multiple projects, job tasks, and meetings, it can be easy to multitask.
However, when you multitask, you are only giving each task a portion of your full attention. That means that everything getting partial attention won’t yield the best results.
When you focus on one task at a time, you are giving that task your full attention. This will allow you to think clearly and produce the best results. It will take time to establish this as a habit, but having good time management skills will definitely help!
2. Establish Good Time Management Skills
When you are self-aware of the time and how long it takes you to complete tasks, you can start planning accordingly. You already know that you need to focus on one task at a time, so how much time do you need to give yourself to complete that task?
Establishing good time management skills will ultimately allow you to get more work done, meet your deadlines, and avoid working overtime.
Check out the article Time Management to a T for some tips on boosting your time management skills. When you manage your time the best way possible, you get the most done in the time you’re given.
3. Set Routines and Prioritize
According to Carson Tate, founder of Working Simply, our brains are designed to respond well to executing patterns. This can come in handy when setting and following routines.
If there are certain tasks that need to be completed at the start of the day (i.e. checking emails, completing required training, etc.) start establishing daily routines to complete these tasks.
The same goes for functions that need to be completed throughout the day. This is where prioritizing comes in.
Prioritize tasks by due date and order of importance. Important tasks due immediately need to be completed as soon as possible. The next priority are tasks that have a quickly-approaching due date. Lastly, focus on tasks with due dates farther out.
Establishing routines for ongoing functions will help you get the most done. You can read some more tips for planning your week and tackling your to-do list!
4. Keep a Clean and Organized Workspace
How does a clean, organized workspace help you work smarter? Well, imagine your boss asking you for your printed presentation immediately. You know that you printed it out, but where did you put it?
You look down at your desk, see an array of papers, and panic starts to set in. You’re scrambling to find the presentation (which, of course, is at the bottom of all the other papers).
You eventually find the presentation, but now you’re flustered, your heart rate is racing, and the annoyance has almost taken over. All of this could have been avoided with a clean desk, or organized workspace. Read Beautify Your Workspace for great décor tips for your desk.
5. Use Your Breaks
A smart worker always uses her breaks. A hard worker does not, at least not always. If you’ve been hard at work for the past few hours, a break can help you avoid the inevitable burnout. Give your body and brain the break it deserves by taking advantage of the breaks offered to you at work.
Go for a quick walk outside. Grab a bottle of water and take a few sips.
Allow yourself sometime to get a quick rejuvenation in before getting back to the job. You will feel more focused and more motivated to get your work done.
Related: 7 Ways to Stay Motivated at Work
It’s easy to get drawn into your day and before you know it, it’s time to go home. Avoid that feeling of getting nothing done by testing out the tips above. Work smarter, not harder so you can feel better and get more done!
What are some ways you work efficiently on the job? What do you do to give yourself a midday boost? We want to know what works for you, so reply with a comment below!
5 thoughts on “Five Ways to Work Smarter Not Harder”
Love this article! I actually do a lot of the things mentioned in the article, especially utilizing my breaks! So many of my coworkers ask me why I don’t experience the burnout phase, when we all have equal amount of work. I love taking breaks to get my thoughts back together and avoid getting too tired while just staring at the computer!
I’m right there with you @kaylabrenae I’ve always been a firm advocate of taking all of my breaks! It’s absolute necessary to avoid burnout, and like you said, gives you time to recharge!
I am a huge proponent of working smarter not harder. I feel though as I have made the move from the small business world into the corporate world that managing your time efficiently and effectively is not appreciated. That is something that I struggle with personally everyday.
Happy Friday Ladies! @kaylamae @rbohn @phoebebriggs @lriegler @adavis21 @Samantha-Callahan @shelbylayne4 @lauren-haney @k8ti3bug94 @tschroeder311 @pchristina @cfgirls @mackberry We’re sharing 5 tips to help you work smarter, not harder when it comes to the workplace. Some CGS members are sharing how they work smarter! Check out the post “Work Smarter, Not Harder” up right now!
Awesome advice!
Focus is the key, and if you think about it…you really can’t think of two or more things at once.
On taking breaks, I used to just get so caught up in work until I would forget about them. Breaks
are a stress reliever.