But that is going to end. We propose a method 9 steps that will allow you to organize your time in an efficient and tailored to your specific needs. The key is simple: trocéalo everything. Turn your work, your time and attention into smaller pieces. Working through short sprints and go much further. The time you win, it’s time for you. You can use it as you like:
1. Discover what your “care unit”
It may stay for hours in front of the computer screen, it’s true, but that does not mean that we are making good progress with work. Nobody is able to maintain a high level of concentration for a long time. As we are saturated, we began to jump to other core activities: check mail, send a message, look at the newspapers online …
To take advantage of the time, it is important to discover what your “care unit”, ie the time you are able to devote to complete a task without interruption and with a high level of concentration. It can be 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 60 minutes, 70 minutes … more difficult. This unit is based on the schedule that you can build your perfect job.
2. Calculate how much work can be done in that time
Experience gives you the answer: if you care unit is 40 minutes, they are calculating how much work you’re capable of doing at that time: to translate words X, X write lines of code, make a sketch, etc..
Most of the work we do in our professional activities are similar to others that we have previously completed. Therefore it is difficult to estimate. You do not need to be accurate. What we seek is a reference for planning work properly.
3. Carve up the tasks to fit the blocks of time
With these two references, our unit of care and the amount of work we can do in the meantime, we have sufficient information: we can cut our work a day in smaller fragments, so that fit with our blocks of time. It is reasonable to set targets.
An example:
If you are writing text for a website, we can assign the task of producing a product of the first unit of time of day. The next product is written in the next unit. And so on.
Another plus:
If we have to design a logo for a company, we devote the first 40 minutes of creativity, and the following 40 design.
If, for whatever reason, unable to finish the task on schedule, remátala in the next block of time. And notes to refine planning for the future.
4. Uninterrupted
This is crucial: any activity that leaves the task will only distract, will eat your time and attention. This prevents check mail until you have completed the task. Groups all the calls that have to do and do it in a block of time. Or two if necessary. Forget your feed and the latest news. You can find information at the end of the day, when you complete your work.
5. Rests between each block of time
The work is often more effective when introduced short sprints followed by short rest physically and mentally. When you complete the task, or when the unit of time, take 5 minutes of rest. Rise of the chair, stretch your legs a bit, look to the bottom to rest the eye. As the days progress, increase rest time between each block of activity.
6. Decide which is your daily limit care
After a certain number of hours, our mind is much slower. It is true that if we endeavor, we can spend all day working, more or less unabated. All we have ever done. But surely not what you want. The limit is not just physical. The limit is yourself. You must decide how many hours you are interested in working to fulfill your professional goals and, above all, personal.
How much you want to win? How do you live? How many hours do you work? These are the questions that mark how far they should go. If you organize it is possible to complete the work smoothly and that you are a good number of free hours. You can take advantage of other activities to enjoy, or you can dedicate to move to other jobs or seek new clients. Please note that this is a career background: if too much force the machine is burnt before time.
7. Distributes the tasks according to your pace of work
Each has its good hours, and others that do not produce much. It is important to bear in mind. Most pay better in the early hours, eg from 9 to 11, and noticed a fall after lunch. There are other people that it costs to heat, and is gathering pace as the day progresses. It is not just a matter of physics, or metabolism. Circumstances play an important role: there are professionals who prefer to start at 6 am because it is a very quiet, no noise, no kids dancing around. Others, however, opt for the night.
Whatever your pace, you should take this into account when allocating the most complex tasks in the hours that are more agile and awake. You can go less demanding tasks, leaving that part of day that you’re more tired.
8. Avoid by all means, the lock
A task can take more than you thought, maybe even double or triple. Nothing happens. Sometimes miscalculated, and we do not take into account all the difficulties. But what may not, under any circumstances, is that you spend the day in white, completely blocked by a task.
It is important that in such cases, you are flexible in order to break the blockade. One strategy that works best is to switch to another task easier, you can move forward in the day, free your mind a little and give you confidence to face the challenge with renewed strength. These are not shy away from difficult tasks or those that we dislike, but to break a deadlock that can make our day an absolute waste of time.
It’s easy to get to the lock end of the day, when we are more tired. Most of the time, the knot undone when we attacked the problem the next day fresh and rested.
9. Automate processes using web tools
There are plenty of tools online to help you complete all these steps with minimal effort. Managers as listasgem tasks, or the to-do-list from Google, allows you to record and manage jobs that you will make. Other applications such as BookFresh, help you sync your time with your clients and collaborators.
If you want to know more about the art of cutting, check out these 10 quick tips to better manage your projects.
You can also view the article 4 Steps to Creating a Freelance Schedule, published by Thursday Bram on Freelance Switch.
