Is the pressure to add more to your already full plate zapping the joy out of your career and business life? Let’s leave the so-called virtues of multi-tasking behind and consider how doing less can help us get ahead at work.
Keep It Short and Sweet
Make sure the subject line of your e-mail is clear and to the point. Long-winded emails take a lot of time to write. Your efforts are wasted if the recipient doesn’t want to take the time to pour over your wordy narrative. If you have a lot to say, maybe a phone call or an appointment is the best way to go. That e-mail can simply be a request for the best time
to call or stop in.
Curb Unsolicited Emails
You can opt-out of telemarketing calls through www.donotcall.gov, but did you know you can also opt out of unsolicited, commercial emails? Registration is free through the Direct Marketing Association and is good for six years. Visit www.dmachoice.org for details.
Destroy Distractions
Do you need to check Facebook every half hour? Are you being interrupted by notifications that aren’t necessary? Silent your cell phone, log out of IM, and focus. Do the essentials first. Can’t cut it off completely? Try limiting the time you spend attending to social media to 10 minutes, and then get back to productive work for an hour at a time.
Straighten Up
Remove everything from your bulletin board and set it aside. Now think about why you have a bulletin board. Is it for inspirational quotes? Do you post your to-do list there? Is it to quickly access phone numbers or your wireless login code (that you can never seem to remember)? Happy memories? Make a label for each topic and then replace the items you want to keep. Be sure to throw away anything that’s useless and outdated. If you want to keep certain notes, business cards or photos but don’t need them at a moments glance, find another place for them.
Get Rid of the Piles
If you find yourself spending time thumbing through paperwork on your desk, consider converting your paper documents to digital files. You’ll be able to organize, search, archive and review, as well as distribute from the convenience of your computer. If you convert to Adobe Acrobat PDFs, you can also use tools to touch up text, images and create interactive forms. Learn more at www.adobe.com.
Make Meetings Matter
Is a two-hour meeting necessary? Establish a goal for each meeting and only meet for the amount of time need to accomplish it. If you think 20 minutes is plenty of time, then go for it. Keep it simple. Take notes. Wrap up your meeting with a list of actions to be accomplished. Begin your next meeting by reviewing the progress.
Outsource
Your mundane task could be someone else’s bread and butter. Instead of trudging along on work you dislike, ask someone else to do it. An activity you abhor doing could be a co-worker’s idea of a good time. Need to justify spending money on outsourcing? Consider the extra time you’ll have for improving your business or enjoying valuable time with your loved ones.
Express Gratitude
Treasure your relationships with a thank you note. Mail a real card. It will take you less than five minutes. Keep it brief and sincere. Stop letting those good intentions pile up. Quiet that nagging voice in your head, feel good and move forward with kindness.
