3 Tips for Working Smarter, Not Harder

As we grow up, we’re often taught that we need to work harder in order to have better results. But that simply isn’t true, often we need to find ways to work smarter. Whether you’re looking to grow your small business, or wanting to improve your productivity so you can take off more time with your family, learning how to work smarter will serve you greatly. Here are my top 3 tips for working smarter, not harder, so you can start living your dream life.

1. Clear Out Mental Distractions
If you’ve got a lot of things floating around in your head, it will be close to impossible to sit down and focus which will greatly impact your productivity. Finding ways to clear out mental distractions will make a huge difference in terms of what you can achieve. I suggest starting by getting out everything that’s floating around in your head. Write a list of all your ‘to-dos’ and use that to clear up some mental space. Perhaps you’re worried about finding the perfect vacation rentals for your upcoming trip, or maybe you’re more concerned about finding the best private schools ontario for your kids. Whatever it is, having it down on paper will help you see how much you need to tackle, and you can start putting deadlines for when you’ll get things done to help organize your tasks.

2. Outsource Whatever You Can
Chances are you’re spending a lot of time working on tasks which you’re potentially not even that good at. One of the things I’m terrible at is managing my social media, so I decided to hire someone to help me with that just for a few hours a week. It frees up those few hours so I can work on other aspects of the business that I actually enjoy, but more than that it helps me feel much more positive about my business because I’m not spending time on something I loathe. By outsourcing, you can help ensure your business is more likely to thrive, by hiring experts to tackle tasks you’re doing and not enjoying. Obviously outsourcing does require a financial investment, but I more than make back what I’ve spent in terms of extra productivity!

3. Get Rid of Your Phone
I like to turn my phone on airplane mode for certain work chunks. Doing so allows me to switch off to all distractions and I can be much more focused in my work. Have you ever looked at your phone’s stats and been blown away by how many times you pick it up each day? My iPhone also now shows me the total amount of time spent on my phone each day and the numbers are mind boggling! By having clear boundaries about how and when you’ll use your phone during your work hours, you can become a lot more productive. By having your phone on Airplane mode, you wont find yourself accidentally searching for the best silver hoop earrings instead of sending through that invoice you are overdue sending.

Finding ways to work smarter, not harder, can transform your working relationship and ensure you’re being more productive without spending more time at the office.

Brett Sartorial
 

Brett is a business journalist with a focus on corporate strategy and leadership. With over 15 years of experience covering the corporate world, Brett has a reputation for being a knowledgeable, analytical and insightful journalist. He has a deep understanding of the business strategies and leadership principles that drive the world's most successful companies, and is able to explain them in a clear and compelling way. Throughout his career, Brett has interviewed some of the most influential business leaders and has covered major business events such as the World Economic Forum and the Davos. He is also a regular contributor to leading business publications and has won several awards for his work.