Truth is, it’s the doing that gets us all tangled up.
We overbook our calendars, procrastinate on the things that are important while attending to things that are merely “nice to do.” And sometimes we simply take on too much—even when we know better.
The answer? Embrace these five productivity hacks to get more done in less time.
How to Get More Done in Less Time
Before we even jump into the tips, I encourage you to invite God into your day.
You can plan and try as many time management tips as you like but if God isn’t in the picture, your focus is on the wrong thing. When we seek to get more done it can be to accomplish our own ambitious goals or we can choose to be about our Father’s business.
My prayer is that we will put Him first in all that we do and allow Him to direct our steps.
In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”
Now, here we go with the tips on how to get more done.
1. Make Your Calendar Your Friend
Wondering if you can take on another activity at church? Want to know how much time you really have available for that new project?
Try blocking off time in your calendar for all your existing projects. Fill in all your appointments, church events, kids activities, time for meals and family functions, and everything else you’re committed to.
What’s left might just shock you.
Make it a habit to block time in your calendar for every commitment, and you’ll never again over-promise or over-commit.
2. Check Your Habits and Rituals
You might not realize it but you have certain habits and rituals that you follow.
You have a morning ritual (wake up, brush your teeth, have your devotions, work out, shower, and get to work or start homeschool), evening ritual (check homework, tuck the kids in, watch the evening news, and hit the sack), weekend ritual (sleep late, mow the lawn, catch a movie, go to church, visit your mom), and so on.
The trouble is, if you’re not careful with your rituals, they can turn into productivity killers.
Let me ask you. Is checking Facebook or email a part of your morning ritual? Distractions such as these can turn even your best intentions into hours of wasted time.
Take a good look at your rituals.
What are you doing that you should not be—or that should be moved to another part of your day?
Make your rituals more efficient and you’ll automatically get more done.
3. Choose to Let Go
Did you hear the news?
You don’t have to do it all yourself.
Whether it’s at work or at home, you can (and should) hand off certain tasks to someone else. At work you can have an assistant create documents and manage your calendar. If you’re a writer or blogger, you can hire out some of your tasks to a Virtual Assistant or via a site such as Upwork.
At home, get the kids involved in chores. It will benefit them and you.
The time you free up will allow you to work on what’s truly important—and that only you can do.
4. Get Laser-focused
Multi-tasking is impossible. You might think you can get more done by doing several things at once but it simply doesn’t work.
Instead, use your calendar to block time off for important tasks, then turn everything else off so you can focus. No phone, no Facebook, no kids or husbands or neighbors or pets demanding “just a minute” of your time. Tune everything out, and you’ll find your tasks getting done much faster.
5. Make Time for Play
Trying to do all the things without any time for rest and relaxation is a sure way to burn out. You cannot work all day every day and hope to be at your best all the time.
Take a day off. Get some rest, or relax on a long, slow hike. Go for a prayer walk. Plan a personal retreat. Take a friend out to lunch. Go shopping with your kids. See a movie or a play. Do something—anything—other than work.
Not only will you return feeling much more refreshed, but you’ll find yourself more creative and productive than before as well.
Remember, as hard as Jesus worked, He carved out time to rest and relax.
I know how hard it is to manage your time so that you can get more done. It seems virtually impossible.
You probably feel like you’re spinning your wheels. Don’t ask me how I know. 🙂
Introducing Time to Shine (New E-Course)
The truth is, you and I can both benefit from some encouragement and support to create margin in our day so we don’t lose our minds. I invite you to join me for my new course Time to Shine — a time management course just for Christian women to help us mind our minutes so the moments matter.
We know that God is calling us to do amazing things for Him but the enemy wants to steal our joy and overwhelm us in the process. Let’s not let him, friend.
And, by the way, it’s always so much better with friends. So, tell a friend to tell a friend.
How about you?
What tips have you tried to get more done in your day?
Which is your favorite one?
Maybe more importantly, which one works?
Share your tips in the comments below.
Wishing you blessings,
P.S.
This post was the most clicked post in the Literary Musing Mondays link-up hosted by Mary Hill at Mary-andering Creatively. A big ‘thank you’ to Mary and her readers.
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Psst…the Time to Shine Course is HERE!
Wondering where your day went?
Feel like you hardly have time for the things that fill you up? Me too!
That’s why I created this time management course just for us.
Time to Shine will help you mind your minutes so your moments matter.
I constantly feel like time is NEVER on my side! With 8 kiddos, time is a rare commodity. 😉
Great tips here, Marva. I’m currently working hard on #3.
Sharing this today!
Both my husband and I are a planner, and we plan out our whole year – putting on the calendar those events we know happen EVERY year. This helps us to not over book, know what each other’s schedules look like, and realistically know when we will be busy or not.
Glad you enjoyed it, Bettie. Too often I’ve run ahead of myself and tried to do it all on my own strength — I’ve learned the hard way that it’s never a good idea. 🙂
Great thoughts about examining our days and paying attention to where our focus is. I love how you started it all by laying it before the Father, and offering our days up to Him!
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I love your time management tips. Thank you for sharing with Grace & Truth Christian Link-Up. I need to work on #5.
Great list. I especially liked number 2: I’ll definitely be evaluating my rituals.
Yes! Those rituals can make or break your productivity, Ashley.
Thanks for stopping by and joining in the conversation.
Blessings!
I constantly feel like time is NEVER on my side! With 8 kiddos, time is a rare commodity. 😉
Great tips here, Marva. I’m currently working hard on #3.
Sharing this today!
I know what you mean, Rachel… expect for the 8 kiddos part. 🙂
Look on the bright side, you’ll have a lot of hands to hand over to.
God’s got this, friend.
Both my husband and I are a planner, and we plan out our whole year – putting on the calendar those events we know happen EVERY year. This helps us to not over book, know what each other’s schedules look like, and realistically know when we will be busy or not.
These are such excellent, practical, doable suggestions! I think #1 is especially helpful and can be a reality check! Thanks for sharing.
Such a great list! I love it! One of my favorite fall quotes is “Autumn reminds us how beautiful it is to let things go.”
Amen!
Glad you enjoyed it, Bettie. Too often I’ve run ahead of myself and tried to do it all on my own strength — I’ve learned the hard way that it’s never a good idea. 🙂
Thanks for stopping by!
Great thoughts about examining our days and paying attention to where our focus is. I love how you started it all by laying it before the Father, and offering our days up to Him!