Why You Need to Rethink Your Job

Right now, your job takes up the vast majority of your free time. You probably spend 8 hours a day at work and at least 1 hour a day commuting. Sometimes you’ll clock out late (most times in fact) and then there’s the time you spend getting your lunch and clothes ready for work. In short, you don’t really spend 8 hours a day at work… you spend 10 hours at least. You spend 8 hours sleeping too, so that means you have 6 hours max to yourself. 

 

Oh dear.

 

And here’s the thing: your job is only likely to get more stressful. As most of us try to gain a better salary, we are forced to take on more responsibilities and this ends up meaning we work longer hours and feel more stressed and more burned out at the end of the day.

 

The problem is that many of us don’t realize we have a choice. We assume that the only way to feel like we’re accomplishing something is to work harder. We feel like the only way that we can make more money is again to work harder.

 

The Alternative

 

Here’s an alternative: how about you aim to make your 9-5 job as easy as possible and in the meantime, you get your fulfilment and extra income from a hobby. 

 

Would you like to be a painter? Then you can work any job during the day and spend your evenings painting. The painting is where you can try and ‘achieve’ something and get the satisfaction, not your data entry job. And if you can sell a couple of paintings then you’ll be able to supplement your income as well!

 

Instead of looking for the job with the best salary, look for the job with the most flexible time. Time is worth more than money in terms of freedom and this will ultimately lead to greater happiness. 

 

Now you have a new aim: instead of working hard to get more work, work hard to reduce your work. Ask your boss about flexi-time, or if you can work from home one day in order to gain back more hours. You might be surprised how flexible they can be and if they’re not? Consider looking elsewhere.

 

Remember, even if you’re taking a pay cut, you can always make that money back in other ways and you can always find fulfilment in the things you’re really passionate about!

How to Get More Value From Necessary Tasks and Chores

Getting back time is all about having more time to do the things you enjoy in life. This means that you stop spending time working in the office and you cut back on washing up and commuting.

 

Instead, you’re going to try and start spending time doing things you love such as being with your family, watching great TV and pursuing your personal goals/projects.

 

But the way you go about this might be a little different from what you expect. Forget all the strategies you read about that tell you how to save ‘ten minutes a day’ or ‘an hour a day’. These cut off a little time at best and few of us stick to them.

 

Instead, ask yourself how you can get more value out of the time you’re currently using up. That means doing two jobs at once, or just enjoying the time you’re ‘wasting’ that little bit more.

 

Read on to see what on Earth I’m talking about…

 

Multitasking

 

One of the best ways to get more from your time is to multitask. You can’t multitask with jobs that require your full attention and creative awareness. But any job that can be done ‘mindlessly’ can be paired with any job that doesn’t require use of your body.

 

For example, you can catch up with correspondence or make important admin calls when you’re driving (if you have a hands-free system), when you’re walking to the shops or when you’re washing up! By doing two jobs at once, you free up one ‘slot’ to use yourself later.

 

Making it More Fun

 

At the same time, you can also multitask to make a boring job fun or rewarding. For example, if you’re washing up then why not watch your favorite TV show at the same time? You’re getting just as much out of that time and now washing up isn’t as dull.

Another great strategy is to do things with friends. Staying in touch and maintaining correspondence takes time. So instead of worrying about fitting it in, why not turn a boring job – the weekly shop, your workout – into something you can do with a friend?

 

If you commute on the train, then you can absolutely make more use of this time. How about using it to learn a language, read a great book or even start setting up your own side business using a laptop?

3 Tricks To Finding More Focus

It is not all that hard for you to stay focused and concentrated on whatever you want to do in the workplace or in your life in general. There are many good tricks that you can use to become focused so you can fix up whatever you are trying to manage.

 

1. Establish an environment that is conducive to your focus.

 

Many people often fail to focus because they may struggle to concentrate on whatever it is they want to do. If you keep a healthy environment going in your home or workplace then you should actually stay focused. This means that you have to clear out anything that you know can be a distraction to your work at large.

 

It's also a good idea to make that environment comfortable. Keep chairs and other pieces of furniture that you know are comfortable ready for you and anyone else in your space to utilize.

 

2. Make sure that you prioritize everything that you are doing.

 

You must be fully aware of how much time you are spending with certain types of functions in mind. You'll have to think about prioritizing different types of tasks based on what you know you can do first and what you feel you need to complete ahead of time.

 

You must prioritize everything that you are doing so you'll control your efforts the right way. Plan your events ahead of time so you'll know what you should be doing. This will provide you with solutions that are effective and sensible for whatever you want to complete.

 

3. Understand how you can manage stress in your life.

 

It's easy to become distracted by different things because of the stress that might come about in your daily life. However, if you understand how to manage stress then you'll easily figure out what you want to do with your life at large.

 

You need to especially encourage yourself to be a little more active and productive in whatever it is you want to do. Think less about what could go wrong in your life and think about how you're going to use different ideas for what you plan on doing while also leaving in some extra time for work. This can be based on the stuff that might get in the way as you're trying to do certain functions.

 

On a related note, think about scheduling some times for rest. If you give yourself a bit of time to rest then you need to think a little more about when you are going to fix up different issues over time. This is to give yourself more of an effort to take care of whatever you want to do.

 

5 Ways On How To Stop Procrastinating

Procrastination is among the most crippling behavioral and psychological traits there is. Are you among those people blocked, stopped, or sidelined by this? Perhaps many people are in constant battle with trying to get solutions on how to stop procrastinating so that they can change their operation modes. Procrastinating is affecting everyone ranging from people working in the corporate world, housewives to students.

 

Statistics have shown that 20% of the world's population grieves from procrastination and this number has quadrupled in the last 20 years. The major cause of procrastination and lack of motivation is confusion, vagueness and a fuzzy mind about what you need to do and for what reason. If you are serious about wanting to stop procrastination, then check out the following 5 ways on how to stop procrastination:

 

#1: Focus on your goals

 

This is among the effective ways of stopping procrastinations. The more you maintain your focus on your goals the easier it becomes to handle procrastination and laziness. You can maintain your focus by doing simple things that can assist you in remembering your goals several times in a day. Things such as writing a post-it-note about your objectives and pasting it on a place where you will always see. You can also read your goals several times in a day. You can also visualize yourself having attained your objectives. Such practices will help you remain focused to your goals and hence solve procrastination.

 

#2: Get good night's rest and Exercise regularly

 

This may sound like a corny cliche but it's very true. Research has shown that a human being has more energy, can think better and able to prioritize excellently when he/she exercises consistently and sleeps well.

 

#3: Set healthy deadlines

 

When you have goals to be achieved, set healthy deadlines to accomplish them. By setting a definite time frame for yourself, you can curb this procrastinating habit. Ensure that the deadline is realistic to avoid burdening yourself as unrealistic deadlines makes you more prone to procrastination.

 

#4: Get it done, not perfect

 

Most people immerse themselves into perfectionism. Don't work too long to get everything perfect, the idea is to ensure it is done but not perfect. You will have first drafts, in each step then when it's done you go again editing, refining as you want. Besides part of any endeavor is consistently refining things as you get response on what is not working. Success means getting what is right and not what's so effective. Therefore, avoid perfectionism because it leads to procrastination.

 

#5: Do something difficult

 

Hardship or difficulty is always inevitable in your live and they must be part of live. The sooner you get accustomed the better. If you have a behavior of evading things that may discomfort you, then you need to begin doing these hard things. Begin with things that cause small discomfort. By occasionally doings things against your will, you are exercising your willpower and also developing mental toughness to face difficulties when you meet them in your life. This way you will no longer be anxious and there will be no need to procrastinate difficult things.

 

Follow these strategies and surely, you'll see yourself going forward in the right direction.

 

7 Lifehacks For More Focus

The dawn of the information age has brought its own problems with it and one of the major problems is the ability to focus. The ping of a What's app message, the need to constantly check the number of likes we got for our Facebook posts, so much so that even when we are driving 70 mph on a highway we can't resist the temptation to text, instead of focusing on driving and end up playing with our own lives as well as the lives of others on the highway.

 

Let's take a look at 7 lifehacks for more focus in our lives.

 

1. Switch off Multi-tasking

 

Multi-tasking, the word itself has become fashionable these days. The root cause of losing focus can be this very thing, instead of doing something that we enjoy and taking pleasure in what we are doing, we end up doing a lot of different things while enjoying none of it.

 

2. Get Away from Distractions

 

The world DID function when there weren't any cell phones. So for God's sake put your phones in silent mode and resist the temptation to constantly check for social media updates when you're watching a movie, at friend's dinner party etc. Cell phones are just one example, the same applies to tablets, computers, the ubiquitous TV etc, all of which vie for our attention and can distract us in a jiffy.

 

3. Set Clear Goals

 

Being clear about what you set out to do gets half the job done, even before you start it. By meandering about the job and not able to clearly define what you are going to do, you lose focus midway and may be leave the job half done. For example if you want to clean your house, set a date and say to yourself that you will clean the house and finish the job by 5:00 PM on a Sunday.

 

4. Time Slot Method

 

Research has shown that you are most productive at certain time of days, like early morning or late at night. Delegate tasks that are toughest and need most of your attention to these time slots.

 

5. Prioritize Work

 

In your to-do list, set the work that is most important on top and work towards it. If some tasks can wait, let them wait, don't lose focus on your current job by worrying about less important things.

 

6. Take Breaks

 

If you are not making headway in your current task, walking away from it and coming back to it after sometime can get things done. Instead of just breaking your head against a wall, take a break and come back to it with a fresh new perspective.

 

7. Exercise

 

Make exercise a part of your daily routine. It increases the blood flow to your brain, sets you in a positive mood and helps you stay focused for the day ahead.

10 Quick Tips to Gain More Focus For Your Business

If you have ever been trying to get a little more focus for your business efforts then you should think about a few sensible ideas for making your business work a little more effective. Here are a few tips that you can easily benefit from.

 

1. Start by keeping everything as organized as possible. It is much easier to keep your business work under control and easier to manage if you are organized quite well. You will easily understand whatever it is that you are trying to do with your work if you are organized as well as possible.

 

2. Take a closer look at the goals that you are trying to set. See what your progress is for all of your goals and figure out solutions that you know will be easy to manage.

 

3. See if there are any times where you can work on your business efforts without any interruptions.If you know of times when others are not going to be in your way then you should have a relatively easy time with getting your business efforts in check.

 

4. Think about one goal for each day. If you focus on just one goal each day then it will become easier for you to finish up everything that you want to do.

 

5. Understand when your clients are important and when certain people you are working for aren't clients. Think about who's going to be more likely to pay you for what you do.

 

6. If there's a way how you can automate certain functions then feel free to do this. It can help you to figure out what's right in your workplace.

 

7. Think about what you enjoy doing the most and try working on that at the start. The things that are easier to do should be the first ones that you can finish off so you'll have time for other stuff in your life.

 

8. Keep all notifications at work off for a bit. If you keep any program or item that notifies you of certain things off then you'll easily stay focused on what you really want to do.

 

9. Time yourself properly based on when you should be working and when you need to get stuff done by. This should really keep you motivated and in check.

 

10. Plan your work out ahead of time. Think about when you are going to do your work and consider the timing for how everything is to be done and it should be easier for you to manage whatever you have to do.

 

How To Cut Distractions So You Can Focus More

If you want to boost your productivity, you should learn how to concentrate and avoid distractions. Distractions may not seem harmful at first, but in the end, they really affect the quality of the work you are doing and if you are studying you may end up not learning anything. 

 

How To Cut Distractions So You Can Focus More

 

1. Structure Your Environment

 

The place where you work or study can have a great impact on your ability to concentrate. Try to locate yourself away from any potential distractions such as windows, doors or phones. You should also ensure that your study or work space is free of clutter. If you are working online close all the other browsers on your computer apart from the one you are working on.

 

2. Clarify Your Objectives

 

By setting clear objectives of what you hope to accomplish, you will be able to concentrate more. If you are not sure of what the end result will be, the uncertainty will make it impossible to focus and you will easily be distracted.

 

3. Take Regular Breaks

 

Ensure that you take regular breaks. Regular breaks can help improve your alertness and concentration levels. Long studying or working hours not only affect your performance and mental capacity but your physical health too. Taking regular breaks when studying or working is also good for your physical health, such as your preventing tense muscles and eye health.

 

4. Routine

 

Set yourself a time frame within which you will study or work and stick to it. You should set a clear starting time and finishing time. If you need time for fitness classes, dog walks, school hours, cleaning your house that is fine, but include them in your daily routine before they become distractions.

 

5. Divide Big Tasks

 

Big tasks usually do not have any clear starting or ending point and as result they destroy focus. If you are working on a large project that requires a lot of work, clearly identify the steps that you will have go through to finish the project. If the sequence of actions is not obvious, it will be hard to focus.

 

6. Keep Refreshments Handy

 

Thirst and hunger can be major distractions while you are working or studying. Have plenty of healthy snacks (such as a fruit, cheese, healthy snack bar or peanut butter) and water and near your study or work space so that you can stay energized and hydrated without being distracted.

 

7. Communicate

 

Tell the members of your family (if you working or studying at home) or your workmates (if you are working in an office) that you will be busy and they should save any interruptions or questions until you are finished. You can also put a note on your door asking not to be disturbed.

 

How To Eliminate Time-Wasting Tasks

In order to completely eliminate bad time management habits and stop wasting precious time today, consider developing a routine that will help you avoid wasting time. Things that we feel like reacting to such as: phone calls, emails, news stories, text, etc. are known as urgent tasks. According to Brett McKay, "Important tasks contribute to our long-term mission, values, and goals." Understanding all the basics of time management is a very valuable lesson because they can be incorporated in all aspects of your life. Below are some remedies to set you on the path to productivity.

 

1) Avoid Multitasking

 

For a lot of us, multitasking is a way to keep up with the flow and feel like we are not getting left behind. But only 2 percent of the population can multitask successfully. It actually reduces our ability to focus, lowers the quality of our work, and can actually cost us time. It is very important to stop multitasking as soon as you realize you are doing it. Instead, try to minimize and manage interruptions, and work on improving concentration by scheduling your day into blocks of time.

 

2) Put an End to Silent Procrastination

 

If you procrastinate a lot, then you must understand the pains and stress that comes with putting things off. Procrastination is always easy to spot, especially when you are scrolling Facebook, playing solitaire, or gazing out the office window. Though it might seem like an innocent waste of time, this can lead to stress due to missing a very important deadline or inability to complete simple tasks. To overcome this, create task reminders by making use of your day planner. If your work requires the use of computer, then make sure you avoid time-wasting websites so you are not tempted. 

 

3) Learn to Say No

 

If you have already planned your schedules, you are working as effectively as you possibly can on important tasks and you have found ways of dealing with things that distract you a lot, but you still don't have enough time? Probably you are trying to do too much. You need to learn to say no. You can't always take care of everyone else. But you can still care and say "No" and look for another way to help without sacrificing your own success. You want to slow down and remain focused on the biggest pay-off activities that'll give you the best results in a time frame you prefer, personally and professionally.

 

4) Continue With What Works for You

 

If your morning ritual is to "warm up" first and ease into each day by grabbing a cup of coffee, answering email and checking in on Facebook, then that may be what you need to do to start your day. Activities that eat up your time can only be referred to as problems if they continue to get in the way of getting things done. However, you have to be honest with yourself about how much time that is being spent on such activities and whether it is really a time waster or a tool. 

 

5) Do the Most Difficult things at Your Peak Time

 

It is always better to handle or tackle the most difficult tasks whenever you are at your peak performance as this will help you schedule your day properly. You don't want to make important decisions when you are not efficient or energetic. If you perform best whenever you are awake first thing in the morning, then tackle those jobs first. Avoid using your peak performance time for easy assignments or for socializing and playing. 

 

In conclusion, being organized and productive in the areas that are very important to you will be rewarding. As discussed above, avoid procrastination, do not multitask, work on your more difficult tasks whenever you are most alert and learn to say no - because most of our time wasters come from a courage problem and not a time problem. Hope this helps. Wish you the best in your efforts to eliminate time-wasting tasks.

 

How To Get More Done In Less Time

Having a good focus, whether in your tasks, your goals or life in general, is one of most people's top keys to achieving success, both in studying and building a career, or simply in their daily routine. Another key for success is efficiency and the ability for doing more things quickly and correctly. Unfortunately, not focus neither efficiency come naturally to a lot of people, so it becomes necessary to find strategies to be more efficient, that is, learning to get more done in less time. Here are some tips you can try. 

 

Stop Multitasking. Multitasking may make you feel like you're doing more, but it will most likely only help you procrastinate and take longer to accomplish each task. Worse yet, it will lower your focus on each task, and most likely increase the probability of making mistakes, causing you to have to go back and re-do thinks, which will set you back.

 

Start now. As soon as you start a task - preferably one at a time - your focus shifts to the task ahead, planning what and how to do it, and especially evaluating any progress and difficulties ahead, causing a sort of obsession, which makes it physically and mentally impossible to stop or drop the task. So the best way to get something done is to start doing it instead of thinking about it.

 

Keep Yourself in Check. The other good way to make yourself do this is to evaluate yourself. Look long and hard at the tasks you realistically need to accomplish and set yourself some goals and deadlines, either general ones, or smaller ones for each task or stage, and each day. Then, make a list of what you actually did at the end of the day and compare both. Trying to make both the lists identical will help keep you focused and determined, and in turn ensure you do more with your time.

 

Relax. You don't need to do everything in one day, especially because you most likely won't be able to, so the best thing you can do is having a balanced schedule. Find out which are your best work hours, and try to compress the heaviest - or more challenging - work into those hours. Then make time for regular breaks and long recreational periods, where you can eat, watch a program or read a book, have some human interaction or go out. This will ensure you have a clear, relaxed mind while you work, and thus keep you focused. Also, it will give you something to look forward at the end of that pile of work to do, so it will keep you motivated to get through it quicker.

 

These are some proven methods which work to help retain focus and accomplish more work in less time. It is good to note, though, that each person is different, and some techniques may work better in each individual then others, and you may find a different strategy will work better on you. But if you're really struggling, these tips may be worth a try, at least as a starting point, to get your focus to where it needs to be.