05 Sep 5 Ways to Free Up Your Time
Fellows tend to lead busy lives, often juggling a combination of work, side-hustles, passion projects and hobbies. During the most recent Association Book Club meeting, we explored a book called “The Power of Fun” by Catherine Price, and a major theme that emerged was the difficulty of finding the time to rest, socialise, have fun and explore hobbies. So, for this edition’s Food for Thought, let us explore how we can free up more time in our busy schedules to achieve greater balance.
1. Prioritise your daily tasks.
This can be done in various ways; however, the process is usually multi-pronged. Firstly, identify which tasks are the most urgent – what needs to be done right away? Secondly, it can be very helpful to keep a schedule or planner, and schedule necessary tasks as far in advance as possible. Thirdly, see whether any tasks can be delegated or outsourced. Lastly, remain aware of tasks that are the most time-consuming and explore how you can optimise them.
2. Set achievable and realistic deadlines.
At the beginning of each week, take some time to map out the tasks that you will need to complete, insofar as you can predict them. However, it is important to note that you are a human at the end of the day and that, realistically, there is so much that you can do in a single day or a single week. Allow grace for tasks that can wait or can be spaced out over time.
3. Multi-task less.
It has been proven time and time again that multi-tasking is not as effective as we would like. Doing several tasks concurrently actually tends to make the tasks take longer to complete than if they were done individually. Instead, take a look at your tasks through the aforementioned priority lens and take a top-down approach to completing as much as you can, one by one.
4. Just do it.
Beating procrastination is easier said than done, especially in a context where the spectrum of mental wellbeing can obstruct our capacity to get on with certain tasks or goals. However, a good way to think about it is as an act of self-service. The sooner you start a task, the sooner you can finish it. Which leads us to our final point.
5. Take necessary breaks.
Taking (reasonably-timed) breaks actually has mental and physical benefits. It refreshes your mind and body, allowing you to do more. After every task, take a break that is proportionate to the task. For example, taking a quick walk to stretch your legs and get some air after completing a work assignment. Additionally, allow yourself grace to reward yourself after a long day or a busy week. This will incentivise you to work through your daily tasks.
Hopefully some of the above points will allow you to free up more of your time!
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