Working smart for the better

Should you work harder, harder, and then, infinitely harder…?  From what I’ve seen, we really should be working hard, of course!  However, after having reached a high level of working hard enough, working harder could prove to be unproductive and even unhealthy, giving undesired results.  That’s why working smart is a superb approach that I love and dedicate this post to.

As a self-improvement blogger, I’m always sharing ways to ‘make your daily life easier!’ (my tagline).  Work hard… that’s good, but, crush it by working smarter.

Here are 8 key ways that blend well for working smart…

1. Goals and productivity

Planning your daily work is a must. You should also have weekly, monthly, yearly and (if possible) longer-term plans, with constant/regular feedback and review.

Read on setting goals and achieving them:

8 tips on life goals for your fulfillment

4 reasons you should know your life purpose

10 reasons vision boards support your success

10 daily habits for productivity

2. Checking emails

I check my emails only 2-3 times daily and make use of the priority folder, with notifications enabled for the important ones.

3. Taking breaks

Taking regular breaks helps me to recharge, and I work better after getting back to work.  The interval and duration of breaks vary from person to person, and according to your organization or work from home life.  Avoid having lunch at your work desk, but rather move out of your workspace.

Don’t skip your coffee breaks.  Who doesn’t want coffee, tea or other goodies, such as herbal infusions, with all the benefits that they bring?

4. Fitness and relaxation

Exercising at your work desk, for a few minutes daily, aids relaxation, and you’re likely to feel fit to continue further work.  Rotate your shoulders, stretch your arms and legs.  Apply a little pressure at the temples, breathing in and out, deeply.  You’re fresh again!

5. Delegate when possible

You can delegate work that can be done by others, so that you can concentrate fully, on what only you should do (this may differ, depending on your role, if you’re an employee or not, or on your organizational structure).

Previously, I used to manage my business, an online shop and chose to outsource certain tasks that were better done by specialists in given fields.  This gave me the time I needed to concentrate on key activities that truly needed my attention and intervention.  Delegation and outsourcing aren’t the same, but they both allow you to focus on what you should.

Read more about being self-employed:

8 benefits of being self-employed

How to work from home joyfully

6. Automate what you can

Generally, automated tools provide support in various ways.  There’s an app for almost anything you can think of.  Automation applies to many tasks as well, depending on the nature of the work in question. Basic accounts normally offer some free features or perhaps only a free trial.

Find some great apps that I recommend:

6 ways apps boost your productivity for the better

Resources

7. Benefit from team synergy

Haven’t we all heard that “The whole is more than the sum of its parts.”- Aristotle?  This is the effect of true ‘team synergy’!  Forming a team carefully, having great team spirit and cohesion, contributes to working smarter, for achieving set objectives.

8. Daily healthy habits

Last but not least, the importance of your wellness and well-being should never be underestimated.  Having a balanced diet, drinking plenty of water daily, exercising regularly, meditating and sleeping enough, are highly required so that you feel good about yourself.  Feeling happier, motivated and energized, you’re likely to focus on working smart, for achieving desired results!

Visit the following links for posts on self-care:

How to leverage working from home for self-care

8 special reasons to enjoy laughter yoga in life

10 reasons to embrace gratitude joyfully!

Conclusion

While working hard is important, optimize your available time, effort, and resources by finding ways to work smarter, and adopt these habits for all the benefits that they bring. Do you work smart differently?  Would you like to share your ideas and experience?  If you know someone who needs to read my blog post, please share it.  Thank you!!

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in April 2018, and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

GIF courtesy: GIPHY

Photo/Image courtesy: Canva

Resources:

Goal

Synergy

How to do less but get more done