I often wish I had more than 24 hours in the day. Although obtaining a few extra hours is unfortunately not possible, there are ways to get the most out of the time we do have. These practices have helped me be more productive during the time that I have, and I hope they help you.
I am convinced that one of the biggest threats to the adult mind is the amount of everyday information we store in it. All day, our brains are sifting through thousands of to-dos and incomplete items:
You forgot to return your client’s call.
The proposal has not gone out yet.
Taxes are going to be due soon, and you have not prepared the documentation.
The printer is acting up and will have to be repaired.
You need to start hiring for a new marketing position.
It is relentless. The reminders do not stop until we complete the tasks. The brain’s goal is to make sure we survive, and this is one of the ways it helps us. And your brain is right: the information is useful and important.
Days are full of activity and go by in the blink of an eye. Between one thing and the next, it will show if ideas and work are not managed properly. We will miss a deadline, forget to call a big client back or drop the ball on an important assignment. Executing is key but so is following-up to ensure that everything that was needed to be done was done on time.
Fear not: there are ways to combat this. All that is necessary is developing a system to keep track of all your to-do list items and ensuring the system works to follow through on all these tasks.
So many things to do, so little time: the demands of work can seem endless. There is a certain number of things that need to get done, and throughout the day, we go from one to the next. There never seems to be enough time, and it may seem sometimes impossible for things to get better.
There is, however, an alternative to merely surviving. To rise above the daily to-do list, you can set up processes for yourself, your employees, and your company. These same tasks that engulf a business can be organized into overall processes. The procedures that are designed for the firm will provide more organization, efficiency, and accountability for the work that needs to be accomplished every day.