5 practical ways to save time and improve efficiency

Introduction 

Ever struggled with time management skills? Are you also prey to this hideous situation? Well, it’s high time that you get on the right track. Wasting your time and being less productive are signs that you lack motivation. It’s high time that you stop hearing pep talks, but rather start implementing them. Take a small step ahead and amaze yourself with the big leap that life takes you forward. Below listed are 5 simple and practical ways to save time. 

1. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. 

A solid plan is paramount to improve your efficiency. Humans get easily influenced by various unfavourable circumstances in life. This is why crafting a schedule and sticking to it is considered crucial. Living a life without a rigid plan is the same as a train spearheaded without a destination. Some may find it thrilling to enjoy an unpredictable, unscheduled, and carefree life welcoming unexpected circumstances. This is a much debatable topic of all time. But remember, with planning, one becomes more confident to face uncertain situations and handle them with ease and a firm conviction. Therefore, the first and foremost step to make use of your time efficiently is by crafting a solid plan on how to live your day well. Living off by a plan is one of the best ways to save time.   

Preparing a do-list and persistently following it makes it easier to achieve your goals. This can be supported by a factual theory backed by science. According to the 21/90 rule stated by Dr. Maxwell Maltz, it takes 21 days to develop a habit and another 90 days for it to become a part of your lifestyle. Get started with a to-do list and stick to it to achieve your immediate goals.  

2. Take breaks often 

Being productive isn’t determined by the duration for which you stick to your chair and continue doing the work. It’s more about how efficient and focused you are while working. All these factors are controlled by our brain. According to studies, the human brain can’t concentrate without sufficient breaks in between. Taking a break after every 90 minutes will help you stay focused on any task that you are tackling.  Another rule that supports this notion points to the 52/17 rule. Work for 52 minutes and then take a break for another 17 minutes. People were seen to be more productive after following this methodology. Despite the distinct rules that exist, it solely depends on the person to decide when to take a break. Analyse the break pattern that suits your schedule and work on it to improve your efficiency. Taking short breaks in between can increase your productivity, which is why it is perceived as one among the best ways to save time. 

While taking small frequent breaks, make sure you don’t indulge in any tedious activities. Instead, do something creative that will help you seek bliss, refocus and get back to work with more motivation. During break time, taking a small walk around the garden /office cabin or reading a book to divert your thoughts will refresh your mind, body, and soul.  

3. Good health

Would you be able to concentrate if you are sick? Falling ill is uncertain. But reducing the chances to get sick can be brought to null by three basic steps: 

 3.1. Keep yourself hydrated

Daily, on average, a human body loses 2.3 litres of water through sweating and excretion. To balance this amount, drinking 8 to 10 cups of water is mandatory. Additionally, keeping yourself hydrated makes it easier for the brain to concentrate and think sharply, for 85% of the brain is composed of water and all major functions of the brain including the maintenance of the fluid balance are supported by water. So, to be more productive, one must drink plenty of water or other fluids like herbal teas or black coffee devoid of sugar. 

3.2. Adequate sleep

These days, when people evaluate success in terms of money and productivity in terms of putting the job at the frontline to earn more, we tend to prioritize work and other associated factors over sleep. But little do we realise the direct impact sleep has on productivity and efficiency. According to Philip’s annual global sleep survey, 75% concluded that they couldn’t be productive as usual after a poor night’s sleep. Insomnia can affect the degree of alertness and concentration. This in turn can eat up your time to accomplish a particular goal in an allotted period. Therefore, sleep helps you to focus more and thereby enhance productivity. Hence sleeping for an adequate amount of time is considered significant and is one of the practical ways to save time.

3.3. Exercise 

Exercising often is one of the best medications that can be advised to a person who lacks concentration. Any physical activity can increase the levels of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine levels in the brain. These hormones have a lot to do with a person’s attention, focus, mood, feelings of happiness, and well-being. Furthermore, studies have proven that exercise can increase blood circulation to the brain. This results in the deliverance of higher levels of oxygen and nutrients to the brain which in turn improves productivity and efficiency at work.

4. Do not multitask 

People often misunderstand multitasking as a tactic that comes under the ways to save time. Multitasking refers to the indulgence in more than one activity at a time or is perceived as switching back and forth from one activity to the other. Multitasking may seem like getting done with more than one work in a short period. But to the contrary, it reduces the degree of productivity by 40%. Our brain isn’t very good at multitasking and one may end up completing a task with lesser efficiency than expected. Therefore, devote your time and focus on one thing at a time and move on to the other only after getting done with the former task. 

5. Keep aside your distractions

Have you ever noticed what distracts you, the moment you start working? It may be the notifications in your phone or an opened tab of Pinterest or Netflix on your laptop. Put aside all the possible distractions from your reach. Though this may seem simple and childish, it can be far more effective than you think.  

Conclusion

Time is valuable, precious, and priceless, for you can’t get it back. You can neither buy it nor sell it. All you can do is make use of it with the utmost content. So why waste it when you can’t look back.  Follow the above-mentioned ways to save time and improve your efficiency.  

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