Tips for Getting More Done

 

This guest post, written by Jennifer from ParentSmarterNotHarder.com, dives into how to get more done at home.

The Secret Sauce

I’ll never forget when I learned about the glory of a batch file.  I was an undergrad Software Engineering major and I learned that you can put a bunch of tasks together in a “batch file”.

All you have to do is run the batch file and all of those tasks get done automatically.  What magic is this? 

A file can take care of all of these annoying little tasks that I hate? And I can get more done? Fantastic!

Over time, I learned that the concept of batching, doing a bunch of similar things together, not only applies to computer science, but also to other areas of life.

As a project manager at a software start-up, I had to learn quickly how to batch tasks.  There just isn’t enough time during the day to do all the little tasks that need doing AND make progress on the larger projects that will bring my company revenue.

Batching saved me a number of times.  By doing a lot of similar tasks together in a set time, I’ve cut down on the amount of time I spend switching tasks.

My productivity at work sored, and I started to wonder, could I make this work for me at home?

So I started batching tasks at home.  And you know what? It WORKED!  I could actually get more done at home.

 

I felt like I had discovered some secret sauce. By doing a lot of the tasks that I don’t love together, I was able to get them done in less time and then they were DONE and I could focus on the stuff that I love doing. 

Eventually, I learned to apply it to the stuff that I love too, and I’ve become so much more productive that way.  If there are similar tasks, I try to put them together in a way that makes sense to save so much time.

If I can do it, anyone can!

Start right here with your Free Guide to re-creating the way you do things – Get More Done.

 

How can you batch tasks at work?

 

 

The trick to batching tasks at work is to group all relevant tasks together.  Some jobs have it easier than others but there are always tasks that can be done together.

If you’re a blogger, for example, there’s writing, social media, connecting with other bloggers, and research.

I spend one day of week researching.  I do all my keyword research, find sources for my posts and any other research that I might need to get done.

Once I get going with my research, it’s a lot easier to stay in that mental frame of mind and to get a bunch of it done.  I also find that I can get into a rhythm that carries me along.

I spend the next day writing.  I write my blog posts based on my research, and any emails I have on my list.  Taking a day to focus on my writing lets me feel the creative juices and get going!

Once my posts are written, I spend a day working on all my marketing.  I create graphics, set schedules, and fill my social schedule with curated content.

I use schedulers so I set my entire social schedule for a week at a time.  It makes it a lot easier and that important part of my business is run on autopilot.

I take another day to focus on outreach. I see what other people are putting out there, and work on building myself in the community of bloggers.  I comment on other blogs, comment and like posts on social media, and work on my guest posting opportunities.

The last day is spent reviewing my week.  I look at my wins and losses in order to make improvements going forward.

I also review older posts.  Because I’m still on the newer side, I don’t have a lot of posts to review, but I’m always looking into what I can improve and update.

This helps me stick to a schedule and I get a lot more done by keeping my focus on one group of tasks.

Another great item to batch is email.  Talk about getting more things done!

I only check my email at certain times of the day.  I have time set aside for specifically working on emails.

I delete (and unsubscribe to at least two emails a day to keep my inbox light) and take care of any low hanging fruit.  Next, I mark items that need to be responded to.

I sit down and write all my emails at the same time.  It helps me to make sure I don’t miss anything and once I’m in that groove, it’s a lot easier to keep the momentum.

How can you batch tasks at home?

 

Not only can you batch tasks at work, but they can also be applied at home!  Some tasks are just easier when all done together.  So in a way, batching helps you get things done faster.

Cleaning

I clean in batches.  I’ve learned that it’s a lot easier and takes less time to do the same type of chore at once.

I get out all my bathroom cleaning supplies and do all the bathrooms at once.  It goes a lot faster and I can let things sit while I rotate to the next bathroom.  This works out really well and keeps me moving.

I also dust all of the rooms at once.  I never have to put the duster down!

Take a look at how you typically clean.  Write down all the tasks you do and see what can be grouped together.

You could do types of chores, rooms, or themes.  Whatever makes the most sense to you.

Just remember, the trick is to group things together that will help you be more productive. Experiment with it until you find the perfect solution for you!

Cooking

Cooking is a great place to batch tasks!  It’s one of my favorite batching activities.

First, you figure out all the things you want to make.  I like to shop around on the Internet for lists.

Next, you do your shopping and you buy everything you need to make a bunch of meals.  It can be a lot cheaper when you’re buying in bulk!

When you get home, do all your meal prep at once.  Because you already have all the equipment out, it goes a lot faster.

Plus if you’re cutting up chicken, for example, it’s a lot easier to do it all at once and then clean once.

I typically freeze a bunch of meals.  Then over the course of the week, I have meals that are prepared and ready to go!

It might take a bit longer to do the prep, but it’s worth it when I’m busy and the last thing I want to do is make a home-cooked meal.

Bills/Mail

I like to pay all my bills at once.  It’s so much easier to batch everything together so you don’t forget any bills.

If you pay your bills by mail, have a designated spot for all the bills to go.  Then at a set time, sit down with your checkbook, envelopes, and stamps and go through the pile.

If you pay your bills online, create a spreadsheet with all of your information for your accounts.  I keep the URL of the bill payment site, plus my usernames and passwords in it (I have it password protected on my computer).

You can then just click on the website and enter your username and password.  Go down the list and you’re finished with the bills!

Ready to try it?

Batching your tasks together can really make a difference in your day to day time management.  It can help you get all the small stuff done so that you don’t spend all day trying to remember to do it all.

Batching also helps you remember to do everything that needs to get done (like paying all the bills).

It can save loads of time and mental energy, freeing you up to focus on the things that matter to you.

When I feel like I need a tweak to my current productivity, I start with a brain dump to come up with my list of tasks. Then as I go through my brain dump, I use highlighters to group similar tasks together. Finally, I create new routines that group those tasks together.

Whenever you try something new, like batching tasks, make sure you stick with it for at least a week, a month if you can.

Soon you’ll be batching like a pro!

 

——>Feeling Ready to Crush Your Day?<—–

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Jennifer is a mom who happens to also be a software engineer.  Between working part-time as a project manager, taking care of her child, and everything else, she has a lot on her plate!  And she used to struggle with it all. Then she discovered how to use technology to increase her productivity! Jennifer helps overwhelmed moms learn how to manage their time and to use technology to be efficient so they can have more time to do the things they love! You can find more of her writing at ParentSmarterNotHarder.com.