10 Ways to work smarter
1
LOOK IN THE MIRROR – Look at what you’re good at, have been successful at, and have conquered already — the clues to your success in any area will come from here. Fact.
2
GET SMART – Don’t let yourself burn out. Take breaks. We know you’ve got an endless to-do list, but science shows our brains have a 90-minute focus time. This is known as the ultradian rhythm. Take more time out and you’ll accomplish more. Desk time can help with this.
3
REMOVE YOURSELF – If you feel your stress levels rising, walk away. Getting away from the work issue will reduce your angst and give you a chance to think it out. And if it’s a problem requiring a solution, there’s a good chance your subconscious will deliver.
4
SINGLE-POINTED FOCUS – You’re a woman, which makes you a queen of multitasking by default. Try to leave this ability at the door and instead laser in on a project or task so you can get it done and move forward. To quote Alexander Graham Bell: “Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus.”.
5
PRACTICE MONEY-MAKING TASKS – It’s easy to get caught up in the minutiae of your business. Take a look at your to-do list and sort out the revenue-generating tasks from the ‘need-to-do’ and the ‘must-do’. (Workflowy is a goodie for this).
6
BE A GREAT LEADER – You aren’t superwoman! So you can’t, and shouldn’t, do it all alone. Get assistance from others — maybe a virtual assistant to help on an hourly basis, or someone to clean your house. This will help free you up to focus on doing what’s best for you and your business.
7
ENLIST MENTORS – The value and joy of having a mentor is that you can tap into their wisdom and experience, and potentially avoid making unnecessary mistakes. They can also act as a great sounding board when you need advice or insights.
8
EAT AND EXERCISE – Taking care of yourself through good nutrition and regular exercise is essential. Without good nutrition your brain and instincts will be slower. And we all know that a regular exercise regime is a great way to keep us mentally and physically energised. Diarise daily activity and enjoy the immense benefits of fueling your body and brain.
9
SLEEP – Regular or habitual lack of sleep can so easily have an adverse impact on our efficiency, productivity, and energy. Left unchecked, it can weaken our immune system and lead to other health issues. Aim to get good quality sleep. It’ll make a world of difference to how you feel each day.
10
DEFINE YOUR PURPOSE – This is the key to working smarter. If you know your purpose, you know your priorities and you can bring it all together. Energy, focus, and mental clarity are the rocket fuel for the road to successful outcomes.