‍It’s no secret that the world of work is changing fast. Digital transformation, new technologies, and shifting attitudes towards work are all reshaping working practices. In a recent LinkedIn survey of more than 20,000 professionals, 42% of respondents indicated that they spend too much time on unproductive tasks at work. Moreover, 78% of those surveyed said improving productivity is a crucial concern for their organization moving forward. So how do you get more done and spend less time working? It might seem impossible, but with the right strategies and techniques, you can optimize your workflow to make working time more efficient and productive.

Here are 5 ways to get more done and spend less time working:

Schedule your day

If you want to get more done and spend less time working, take time to plan your day. A disciplined approach to scheduling your day can help you overcome distractions and focus on the most critical tasks. Plus, it can help you identify potential bottlenecks in your workflow that impede your progress. When scheduling your day, start with the most crucial task of the day. This should be the task that will move the dial the most towards your goals. Next, schedule your other jobs in order of importance. Be realistic and don’t overload your day with too many tasks – this will only result in burnout.

Delegate and outsource

Successful entrepreneurs know that delegation is key to scaling up their business. If you are a manager, learn to delegate tasks to your team members. Doing so will free time to focus on more essential activities and help you do more. If you are a manager, you can outsource administrative functions like social media management, graphic design, or content marketing. As a CEO or COO, you can outsource administrative tasks like accounting and finance to Cook CPA, marketing, or HR and recruitment services.

Use automation tools to streamline your workflow.

Automation has been hailed as the new IT. And while the hype may be a little overblown, there is no denying that automation can help you streamline your workflow and get more done. There are many different tools you can use to automate your workflow. You can use tools like Zapier, IFTTT, or Workato to connect your apps and automate your workflow. There are many different tools and services that you can use for automation. The key is to find the tools that best fit your needs and the needs of your business. 

Use to-do lists

To-do lists are a tried and true productivity hack. They can help you get more done and spend less time working by keeping track of your most essential tasks and helping you stay focused on your goals. Ideally, you should have different to-do lists for other tasks. This can help keep track of important but unessential tasks (e.g., managing a social-media campaign) and unessential tasks (e.g., cleaning your desk). When creating a to-do list, ensure a deadline for each item if relevant. This will help you stay focused as you work and ensure you don’t let any tasks fall through the cracks.

Set Deadlines

Deadlines can help you get more done and spend less time working. Deadlines are good for two reasons. Firstly, they keep you on track and help you stay focused on your goals. Secondly, they are a great motivator. Knowing that you have a deadline for a task is an excellent way to spur you into action and ensure you get the task done. If you want to get, more done and spend less time working, set a few deadlines for crucial tasks. This can be helpful for both short-term and long-term goals. Be careful not to set unrealistic deadlines.

Conclusion

Work is an endless source of stress, anxiety, and frustration for many people. Spending too much time on unproductive tasks at work can make you feel overwhelmed, burnt out, and exhausted. This can lead to poor work-life balance and negatively impact your health. Luckily, there are many ways you can get more done and spend less time working.