How To Save Time At Work

No matter how much time we plan, schedule, and set reminders for, there never seems to be quite enough hours in the day – you sit down with a clear list of tasks, and before you know it, somehow it's already midday and you don't feel as though you've actually achieved anything. And if you're finding yourself constantly racing the clock at work, you're definitely not alone – not that that will probably make you feel any better about it. 

The good news is that saving time doesn't take a lot of effort in most cases, and it could just be that some small changes or additions to your day are all that's needed. It's always worth looking at a few simple ways to claim back your day, and with that in mind, keep reading to find out more.

Photo by Mikhail Nilov

Simplify As Much As Possible

One of the biggest mistakes we all make is overcomplicating things, and that usually means that meetings run longer than necessary, emails turn into essays, and task lists become endless. Once that all happens, it's easy to lose sight of the main priority, and that's why things don't get done.

So instead of adding more to your plate, try stepping back and thinking about what actually needs doing, and what can wait. Once you're able to spot the tasks that really move things forward, you'll automatically get more done in much less time.

The key is to set a clear, simple goal for each day, and that's going to make a massive difference – as long as it's achievable and will take you a step or more ahead, it's going to be the right thing.

Technology Should Work For You

Most people have something of a love-hate relationship with work tech – some tools are amazing, and they'll save you hours every week, but others just end up creating more confusion than they solve. The important thing to get right is making sure the tools you're using genuinely lighten the load and aren't making things harder for you.

For example, businesses that deal with a lot of contracts often find that contract management software makes things so much easier because instead of chasing paperwork, dealing with missed deadlines, and sorting through endless email chains, you can handle everything from approvals to renewals in one organised place. And that's got to be a good thing.

In the end, finding the right tech setup might take time and be tricky at first, but once it's done, you'll realise how great it is to save time and effort and become more reliable and successful.

Protect Your Best Hours

We all have certain parts of the day when we're sharper, more focused, perhaps more creative, and so on. Some people love working in the early mornings, and others are much better after lunch, and so on. So knowing when you personally do your best work can completely change the way you plan your day and make things much easier and more effective for you.

If you want to make the most of this time, you don't want to fill these productive hours with meetings or admin – instead, you'll want to protect them for your most important work, whatever that might be. That way, you'll get more of the important things done, and when you're feeling less productive, you can do the tasks that take less brainpower, like replying to quick emails or perhaps organising files and so on. You'll get more done in less time, and as a bonus, you'll feel far less drained by the end of it.

Keep The Energy Flowing 

It might sound strange, or even like it's a bad idea, but the fact is that taking regular breaks actually helps you save time. After all, trying to power through for hours without stopping usually leads to slower thinking, more mistakes, and serious burnout. However, short, proper breaks – away from screens if possible – recharge your mind and stop the day from getting away from you quite so much.

Even five minutes to stretch, breathe, or grab a coffee and go for a walk can be enough to reset your brain, and the trick is making breaks a habit and not just something you do when you realise you can't go on until you pause for a minute or two.

It's important to know that the best kind of productivity isn't the frantic, rushed kind (even if it might feel like you're getting a lot done, it might not be your best work), and what you really want is steady, consistent, balanced work. That way, you'll save time, get more done, and feel much better.