RH Nuttall Ltd

It sounds like an impossible dream, doesn’t it? The idea of getting more stuff done in half the time it would normally take is surely akin to somehow inventing more time.

And that’s impossible, right?

Well, yes, it is. But improving your productivity and efficiency to a point where you can literally do more in the time you have available isn’t impossible. Far from it, in fact.

Here are five brilliant strategies that will help you get more done and gain more time for yourself in the process.

1. Revisit your expectations

When you take on a big task, how often do you ask the stakeholders what they expect from you?

If you don’t get a handle on what they actually want, you might dive in head first assuming that it needs a massive amount of time spending on it.

In some instances, you might actually discover that you don’t need to spend half the amount of time on a project than you had assumed.

2. Re-purpose wherever you can

Depending on the type of project you’re working on, you might have the opportunity to repurpose older stuff.

This isn’t a shortcut that should be frowned upon, either. For instance, it’s a much-used strategy in content marketing where bloggers, video makers and podcasters return to old content to rejuvenate it.

You can do the same with report writing, product design and even graphic design. If you created something amazing a while ago and it relates to what you’re working on now, dig it out for inspiration.

3. Work from templates

If possible, working from templates is a great way to speed up your working processes.

Think about the various projects you undertake and how often you run through the same initial setup routine. That can be cut completely by creating a pre-prepared template.

You’ll obviously have to invest some time in creating that template, but that’s a once-only affair, and will save heaps of time in the long term.

4. Use conversation rather than writing

Writing anything takes a fair bit of time – particularly if writing isn’t something you’re particularly proficient at, or comfortable with.

This is why, sometimes, it’s best to make your work a conversation. For example, if you’ve finished a big report, why go on to write a lengthy email explaining what it’s all about if you can instead pick up the phone and talk to the person you were going to send the email to?

Talking, usually, takes half the amount of time it would take to write the same thing.

5. Time block

Time blocking is a great way to train your mind and body to work deeply on tasks.

Deep working is a great way to really get into the groove of something without being distracted. In turn, that should almost certainly mean you complete whatever it is you’re working on in a much shorter time.

Think of time blocking like booking time with yourself in the diary. It might sound odd, but it works – big time.

Wrapping up

You only have so many hours in the day. Use our tips above, and you’ll slowly begin to claw more of them back for far more exciting things.