A lighter calendar for greater productivity: How to plan your activities wisely and avoid being overwhelmed

The better and more efficiently you are able to plan your work activities, the more productive you will become. People with constantly packed calendars full of meetings and tasks, constantly jumping from one thing to the next, may appear efficient, but they often struggle to focus on a single task for any extended period. Want a lighter calendar and a calmer, more effective workday? Here are several tips.

Set clear priorities

According to FastCompany, the first step is to define your priorities. Do not try to do everything at once or take on every task. Identify a few key priorities and organize your work around these main plans and goals.

Learn to say “no”

If a colleague wants to schedule a 30-minute meeting, but the topic is not relevant to your priorities, learn to say “no.” You do not have to accommodate everyone at all times.

Apply the two-minute rule

Try to follow the so-called “two-minute rule.” This principle states that if a task takes less than two minutes to complete, you should do it immediately. This prevents small tasks from piling up and cluttering your workflow.

Schedule downtime

Include free time blocks in your daily schedule. These are often necessary when a task takes longer than expected or when your priorities shift unexpectedly. These open time slots give you the flexibility to adapt without having to completely reorganize your entire plan.



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Article source Fast Company - leading U.S. magazine and website for managers

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