If your work week feels like total chaos, you’re not alone. Many people struggle with the demands their employers or clients put on them. By Friday night, they’re exhausted and simply glad that the whole thing is finally over.
But do you personally want to live like this?
Usually, the answer is a resounding “no.” But what can you do about it?
Fortunately, this post has some answers. We explore how to take back your working week so that you feel in control of it again.
Time-Block Your Calendar
First, you’ll want to do what millionaires do and time-block your calendar. Focusing on one task at a time is the most productive approach for the vast majority of people.
When you start time-blocking, you avoid overbooking. You can finally determine when you want to work and who you want to call you.
Prioritize Tasks
Next, look at how you can prioritize your tasks. Ideally, you want to focus on what’s urgent and important first, and then work your way down the list.
Sticking to this approach requires discipline, but it is also worth it by the end of the day. Yes, you want to put off the tasks that give you the most fear, but you also want to ensure that you get them done so you aren’t worrying about them.
Thinking about time management for the overwhelmed is also critical here. If you only have a limited supply of energy, you want to ensure that it is going into things that offer you the biggest bang for the buck, and the greatest peace of mind.
Limit Your Distractions
On top of this, you should also limit your distractions. Getting everyone that’s non-critical out of your mind while you’re working allows you to simply focus on being productive.
Of course, if you are productive, don’t let anyone know about it. Revealing that you can complete more work is often a recipe for receiving more.
Review Your Weekly Plan
If you can, you also want to review your weekly plan on a Monday morning. Running through what you’re doing allows you to prioritize based on your goals and deadlines.
This process usually takes around 15 minutes, and once it’s done, you’re far less likely to find yourself scrambling to get things out of the way during the week.
Batch Tasks
If you have a bunch of similar tasks you need to complete during the week, batch them. Doing the same task repeatedly often allows you to make the best use of the short amount of time that you have available.
For example, you might relegate responding to emails to an hour in the middle of the day, or break it up into chunks so you can focus on the rest of your work.
Automate
Finally, you need to automate as many of your tasks as you can, using whatever systems are available. If you do clerical work, AI can take care of much of the heavy lifting for you. Failing that, use regular software or delegate to others.
