5 Ways to Maximise Your Time
If you’re feeling spread thin, or that there aren’t enough hours in the day, I’ve been there. My focus word for this year is optimise, and I’m finding that when it comes to optimising my life — whether it’s coordinating family schedules, running my business, or overseeing our HQ renovation project — it’s all so much easier when I’m able to maximise my time.
I’d love to share what has been working well for me, especially if you’re feeling like…
→ you have to do everything yourself, or else it won’t get done
→ you can’t seem to get your projects across the finish line
→ you’re just not getting the results you want
Speaking from experience (which includes plenty of mistakes!) I can confidently say that it is possible to get more done in less time — but only when you know how. Here are 5 go-to strategies that I use daily to maximise my time and keep things on track.
1 — CLARIFY your goal
If you’re spinning your wheels and second-guessing yourself, bouncing between too many different ideas, it’s time to step back and get clear on your goal. What did you set out to achieve? Can you make it more specific?
Much like the Maps app on our phones, it’s much easier and more efficient to chart the best path forward when you have an exact destination in mind. You’ll save yourself so much time and energy by starting with where you want to end.
Take Action: Reflect on your goal and make sure you’re 100% clear on the desired outcome. Then take a minute or two to visualise yourself achieving success. Studies have linked visualisation with not only realising your goals but also lowering overall stress.
2 — Harness people power
What does it mean to harness people power? In short: Don’t do it alone.
Sometimes this means letting go of control and enlisting others to help. For example, when our house needs tidying up, I find it much more efficient to have a “power hour” — or even just 10 minutes! — where all six of us race to put things away. It can actually be really fun when everyone gets involved. By enlisting your family’s help, you can “simplify to multiply.” Another example could be joining a carpool so that you don’t need to devote time to the school run every day.
Harnessing people power can also look like outsourcing your to-do list. For example, you might budget for a monthly cleaning or gardening service. A key benefit of outsourcing is that other people won’t be sidetracked or slowed down by the miscellaneous to-dos that you might think of around the house or garden!
Take Action: Take a look at your to-do list and choose 1 or 2 tasks to delegate. Enlisting help doesn’t make you any less organised or dedicated — it’s actually a sign that you’re investing your time and resources wisely. And you might be surprised by just how many members of your family or community would love to lend you a hand.
3 — SAVE TIME WITH Systems
I love a good system. It just makes life so much easier. Adding systems to my work and home life saves me a huge amount of time and energy every day, because I don’t have to waste time rethinking the process or figuring out the next step.
For example, at the start of any renovation or design project, I start by opening up our saved renovation roadmap in Asana, our project management tool. This way, I don’t have to rely on memory for the exact order of every detail — the steps are already outlined so that I can jump straight in without delays.
Take Action: Think of one of your “time sinks” — something you do each day that takes up more time than it should. Invest a few minutes now in creating a simple, repeatable process that will save “future you” that extra time and energy.
4 — Follow a guide
When we’re travelling, we love to get insider tips from locals on the best cafes, hikes or beaches. (In fact, I recently created a locals’ guide to our area, Byron Bay, when publishing my latest book, Home by the Sea.)
Why, then, do we feel like we have to fumble through and figure out major projects on our own? I often see this with friends who are planning a renovation — they think they have to give it a try themselves, rather than consult an expert — even though it will cost them time, money, and lots of headaches. After all, a home renovation is one of the most expensive projects you can take on in life. The total cost sometimes surpasses the original price of the house! So why not seek out a guide to help you get your renovation right?
Take Action: Take time to investigate resources that can help you with your project or goal. This guidance might come in the form of a neighbour, contractor, online course or local expert. Even booking a quick 30-minute consult could save you a lot of time by getting your questions answered early.
5 — commit to A Deadline
I have always thrived on a deadline, going back to when I was a student and then a journalist working in magazines. The power of a deadline is that it takes away the question of when the work will be finished. This is especially important when coordinating with others, whether it’s your family, your colleagues, or a team of trades. The real momentum picks up when everyone starts working towards a clear finish line. Remember: What gets scheduled, gets done.
Take Action: Set an exact deadline for your project or goal. Once you know your date, stick to it. Yes, sometimes life gets in the way, but that’s when you can lean on the strategies above to protect your time and keep things on track.
SUMMARY — 5 WAYS TO MAXIMISE YOUR TIME
Clarify your goal - Start where you want to end
Harness people power – Don’t do it alone
Save time with systems – Don’t waste time second-guessing the steps
Follow a guide – Leverage the experience of experts
Commit to a deadline – Remove the question of “when”
Download the free Reno Rulebook
When you’re building or renovating a home, time is the ultimate non-renewable resource. In this free guide, we’re sharing 10 strategies and shortcuts to help you save time and money by getting your renovation right from day one.
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