How to Be Efficient Introduction

To be efficient is to accomplish as many tasks as you can with as little time and effort as possible. Wouldn’t it be great to accomplish your entire task list with half the time and effort? Well, by being more efficient you can! This article is going to give you multiple ways to be efficient, let’s get to it.

Create a Schedule

To make a schedule start by listing all the tasks for the day. Ask yourself what you should do today and note it down. Make an estimate of how long each task will take and organize these tasks in order. Know how much time you have to do these tasks throughout the day as well. Some tasks always have a pre-determined time span. For example, going to work for 8 hours lasts 8 hours + the time it takes for you to come back home. Once your task list is finished check if there are any ways you can improve it or if there is something you forgot. Try to stick to your schedule as much as possible. You don’t have to be 100% on time but have it as an estimate for when you should be doing each task. Knowing the estimate of when you will do each task helps you stay organized and it is crucial to be efficient.

Set Goals and Deadlines

Setting a goal deadline can help you get motivated to finish the task by a specific time. Deadlines keep you accountable for doing the tasks you have to do, they play a significant role to be efficient. Though deadlines might be stressful, stress can be used to eliminate procrastination. Stress from a deadline can also increase focus and motivation, as you have to complete the task within a specific time frame.

Organize Your Thoughts and Environment

By being organized in both your thoughts and your environment, you can be efficient; the more organized you are, the simpler the process.

To organize your thoughts I suggest journaling and reading what you wrote so that you get a better idea of your thoughts. Try to write anything that comes to your mind and think of why it did. Aside from your thoughts, it will help you understand your emotions better as well.
To organize your environment I suggest cleaning your room. Remove all objects that are misplaced and put them where they should logically be. For example, clothes should be in the wardrobe, not in a pile on top of your chair. With a tidy room, your environment is now much more organized as your room is where you spend most of your time.

By organizing both your thoughts and your mind, you will have more brain power as there will be less friction due to having a clear mind and environment. This can improve your brain and make you be efficient.

Prioritize Tasks

Prioritizing tasks matters a lot to be efficient. First off think of the urgency and deadlines your tasks have to establish a task hierarchy. Which task do you have the least time to complete? start with that one. Think of how big an impact each task will have and rank them from this. How much effort and resources does each task require? this also plays a role in the hierarchy.

Eliminate Distractions

If you have fewer things taking time away from your tasks, you are going to be efficient. If your tasks require no internet, I suggest turning it off. Open it again when you have to check your messages but try not to indulge in scrolling through social media during that period. Personally, I have taken off the Wi-Fi from my phone and only check messages when I go outside, there I use free Wi-Fi for messages. This way I can be efficient without wasting time on useless activities.

Let others know that you do not want interruptions during a specific time frame so that you can be efficient with your work. Create a workspace where you have no distractions nearby, this is crucial to eliminate distractions and be efficient.

Include the Word “No” in Your Vocabulary

By including the word no in your vocabulary, you learn to resist time-wasting tasks. Set your priorities straight, if you have to work then work. You can always have fun when you are done with your tasks. Examples of this include:

When that little voice in your head tells you to open your phone and scroll through Instagram wasting time… YOU SAY NO.
When a friend of yours wants to go out but you have a deadline tomorrow for something not completed yet… YOU SAY NO.
When the voice in your head tells you to stop, not work, and be lazy you tell that voice… NO.

To be efficient you have to say no to some things you will want to do. However, there are exceptions to this, for example, if you have been working hard and a friend you have not seen in a year is coming around town today, go out with them.

Practice the Two Minute Rule to Be Efficient

The two-minute rule suggests that if a task takes less than two minutes to be completed, do it immediately so it does not pile up. To utilize it, check out your task list and finish all the 2-minute tasks first. Act immediately on them, this way they do not take up precious brain space and you can then tackle the harder tasks to be efficient.

Remove Less Useful Tasks

Not every task is essential, when reading your list evaluate which tasks are the least important. You are sure to find some tasks that have little to no value, either use the two-minute rule here or remove them altogether. Your brain needs to focus on what matters and tasks that do not accomplish much take thought space away from what actually does matter.

Group Tasks to Be Efficient

Are you on your way to shop for some groceries? Why not throw the garbage on your way there? that way you manage to complete two tasks instead of one at a time. To be efficient, find out which tasks can be grouped together so you can save time grouping them. Check your list to see which ones can be grouped.

How to Be Efficient Conclusion

Now that you know how to be efficient, let’s recap! Create a schedule, a schedule is an estimate of how your day will look but you do not have to be 100% on time. Determine how long each task of the day takes. Set goals and deadlines for tasks. Be organized. Simplify your day. Prioritize tasks based on what they need to be completed. Practice the two-minute rule, if a task takes less than two minutes to do complete it now. Eliminate as many distractions as possible. Learn to say no to things that drain your time. Remove non-essential tasks. Group some tasks to be efficient. I hope you found some value in this article, and I wish you all the best to be efficient.

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