Do you feel worn out, and physically drained due to an overwhelming schedule? Like there’s no time to unwind for a second and your schedule shows no signs of slowing down? Time traps keep a lot of us trapped in the same routines.
That’s the result of today’s all-consuming society. Many people feel as though they’re trapped living the same routine, a routine that tosses simple tasks like cooking a meal, or cleaning the house to the bottom of the pile.
If this is the case, something isn’t right.
In this TEDx Doncaster article, we’ll take a look at five of the main time traps that are holding you back from having time to relax and have fun, and how you can start to free up some of that time.
Not Getting Up Early Enough
It is fair to assume that most people today operate on a nine to five schedule. For those that wake up early, you’ll be aware of the advantages over those that snooze the alarm once, or twice.
Numerous data studies have concluded that waking up early fetches success. Early risers are known to arrive early to work, have the chance to eat breakfast, and have improved rates of productivity. Whereas people who sleep in are inclined to complain that there is not enough time in the day to achieve their goals.
Multitasking, Don’t Do It
Doing two things at once might lead you to think you’re getting more done in the time that you have, but studies show we’re not as productive as we first think.
Data shows that people who multitask are less productive and waste more time when switching between tasks than they would if they were to focus on one task at a time.
It is also suggested that multitasking is harmful for the human brain, as it is simply not capable of focusing on a variety of tasks at once.
The lesson here is to deal with one task at a time and react to single issues to prevent themselves. Trying to do too much at once will only induce stress.
Spending Time Freely Without Tracking
Keeping track of your time is an excellent way of maintaining control over your day.
Record everything on the agenda, from appointments and deadlines to everything in-between. By making an analysis of the time you’ve spent, you’ll be able to see if you’re spending the right amount of time on certain tasks, and how you can be more efficient moving forward.
Without tracking, people are often left wondering where all their time in the day has gone.
Organisation is Key
Misplacing your possessions is a certified way to waste your time. Not only that, but these time traps can bring down your rate of productivity and mood.
Think about it, if you’ve lost your keys and end up spending 10 minutes looking for them without success, you start to feel stressed and angry at yourself for not being more organised.
Staying organised is a great way to give your productivity a real kick up the behind, and you’re able to free up that little bit of extra time to spend on things and with people you enjoy.
Focusing On Speed Rather Than Quality
The Antidote, a book by Oliver Burkeman, tells of a Formula One pit crew.
This team, which depends on fast, efficient teamwork to find success, realised that they were not functioning at top speed when they concentrated on being fast. Instead, they found their best success when they emphasised smooth teamwork and functioning together as a group.
The same applies to time management, when people are too concerned with working at a fast pace, they end up with less than impressive results or even taking longer to complete tasks.
By focusing on the quality of work rather than rushing, you’ll start to see improvements in the work you produce and you’ll start to get more done with the time you have.
For more wonderful ideas worth sharing, take a look at our TEDx Doncaster blog posts here.
