5 Changes You Can Make To Your Work Schedule To Make You More Productive In Nigeria
Does working more actually connote more productivity? Are those who work more than 15 hours a day the most productive set of people? The truth is that it does not and they are not.
Humans are not computers programmed to achieve results at high level over time. Even computers break down without effective management. Napoleon Hills stated that the key to success and wealth is working smarter and not working harder.
Related: 12 trusted ways to become more productive at work
The conception that working harder and longer and spending 15hours of your day at work will get you the desired results is wrong. Very many times I hear people come out to say that entrepreneurs don’t sleep. This is a fallacy except they are speaking figuratively.
The amazing thing is that people actually believe it in this part of the world and indeed in the developed countries. A report by Staples stated that 70% of Americans believe that the more you work, the more productive you become. Consequently, they put in over 40 hours a week.
Let me clear your doubts. To become more productive at work, irrespective of what you do, the quality of your time is much more important than the quantity of your time. You can finish in 5 hours something you originally scheduled for 10 hours.
To become more productive, you have to live a balanced life so as to avoid unnecessary stress from any sphere of life.
You have to balance the needs of the tripartite nature of man; your body, your soul and your spirit if you will become more productive.
To do all these, you need time and you can get time by being smarter about your work schedule. It is important.
As he noted in an article for The Economist, C. Northcote Parkinson stated, “It is a commonplace observation that work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” This is now known as Parkinson’s Law. Basically, no matter how many hours you work, you’re still going to get the same amount of work done. So, it’s important to learn how to manage your time wisely and be more productive.
Scheduling Your Work to become more productive
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It Is Better Manage your energy, not your time
For you to be anywhere near optimal productivity, it is imperative to you manage your energy. Time is important but it is more important that you concentrate on your energy level than on your time.
Also read: 8 important habits needed for success in Nigeria
To be more productive, you will understand that is less about what you do with your time and more about what you do with your mind according to Robin Sharma. Where it becomes interesting is that how you run your mind is a function of your energy level.
In this regards, you know that time of the day when you are more productive, you have to use it. To some, it is in the morning, to others during the day while many others prefer the night.
The joy of using that time is that your creativity is at its peak and you will definitely be more productive.
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Remove useless tasks
For you to be more productive, you have to purge useless and unnecessary tasks from your list. You can do that at intervals by making a list of all you do on daily, weekly and monthly basis.
When you have done the above, try to group the tasks based on Importance. This automatically opens to you the tasks you are spending too much time on and the ones that you will be better off allowing someone else to do.
Making this list helps to know when to hire and when not to hire. It can only be done by you. Try it out.
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Embrace the use of technology
Technology makes you more productive. Why not embrace it.
I know some will argue that they don’t know how to use some of the technological tools. It is true. But it is also true that you can learn. Machines are more efficient and effective and will save a whole lot of time and energy.
For instance, instead of writing with your book and later transferring to the content to the PC, you can write with the PC straight away.
Technology can help you increase your productivity astronomically and in multiple areas.
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Clarify your top three things.
According to Stephen Covey, the key to becoming productive is “not to prioritize what’s on schedule but to schedule your priorities.”
Here I believe that understanding your top three priorities will enable you become more productive. However, it is not just understanding them that is important here. You have to at least, achieve those priorities.
These tasks are the tasks that have the higher impact in your business. Scheduling your priorities allows you work smarter and you can run your million dollar business very well and also have time for friends and family.
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The weekend suits admin work
Weekends are meant to refresh you and give you some time with your family and friends. Enjoy it.
If you spend the bulk of your weekends working, it won’t help more than working 14 hours a day will. They all have the same outcome; you will burn out. However, you can spend a few hours and do admin work and you will definitely achieve a lot.
The end point is to become more productive, you will find out that these courses of action frees you up and makes you smarter and you will definitely live longer. Start today to implement the change gradually and see what you have got. Time will vindicate me.
