How to get more done in less time

If you are constantly struggling to find time to finish the million things on your to-do list, it’s probably time to take a step back and review your work processes. Here are key ideas on how to get more done in less time from 3 different books.

BUT don’t just read this article. Make a decision and commit to implementing at least one of these systems to achieve maximum productivity. Take action right away, don’t procrastinate!

1. Start by Creating Time

[Ideas from Get in the Go Zone: Making the Most of Me by Mark Mckeon]

Wish there were 48 hours in a day instead of 24?

The Go Zone is a program that helps you create more time in your day. It teaches you how to build good habits into your daily routines that will help you get priority tasks done faster. It shows you how to manage your stress by deciding when to focus and when to relax. Furthermore, it encourages enjoying time for yourself without feeling guilty.

Here’s a quick overview of the 3 zones:

The key idea is to set aside 8-10 Go-Zone hours in a week, when you are operating in your “Ideal Performance State”. In this zone, you experience energy peaks and focus intensely on critical tasks, one item at a time, for two-hour periods, with absolutely no distractions or excuses (yes, that means no texts/phone calls/emails, etc.) You will be amazed at how much you can accomplish in that period of time if you set your mind on getting the most important tasks – and nothing else.

For every Go-Zone hour, you reward yourself with a No-Zone hour. This is when you do the exact opposite – you focus on staying totally away from work. That includes not even thinking about anything on your daily task list. Instead, immerse yourself in something or anything that you enjoy fully, so you can recharge for the next Go Zone.

Everything else outside of these 2 zones (and your sleep time) is your Slow-Zone, which is also the default mode that most of us function in. Here, you are in cruise mode – work gets done, but without requiring significant mental energy, with much more wastage, and not at optimal productivity.

Obviously, implementing this system requires some changes to your current routine. But, if you can create more time for yourself and get more work done, isn’t it worth it?

Read more in our book summary of Ge t in the Go Zone here.

2. Organize your “Stuff” and Clear your Headspace

[Ideas from Getting Things Done (The Art of Stress-Free Productivity) by David Allen]

How do you enter the Go Zone with a prioritized list when you don’t even know what you must/ should do?

If you feel overwhelmed by a huge daily task list or loose ends in your life, then this is a great book to start with. Getting Things Done (GTD) outlines a detailed workflow that helps us become more productive by clearing our headspace. By getting “in the zone” and operating with a “mind like water,” we can handle an overwhelming number of tasks with relaxed control. In the end, we accomplish more yet feel more relaxed and energized.

How does that work? GTD is made up of 5 key stages:

The broad idea of the approach is this:

You start by collecting everything big or small that could require your attention and put them in one place (so you know it is “safe” and you can find it any time). This could be a physical place (like notes/ slips in an in-basket) or a digital place (like an organizational tool/ app).

Then, you decide if/ what to do with each item and organize them into baskets that you can retrieve and act on systematically. [The book explains the different baskets you should create.]

By having everything organized and handy, you can act on the most productive item during scheduled time blocks, and/ or whenever you have free time.

Specifically, in a typical day, you could evaluate your work priorities using this 3-fold model:

As and when you find yourself with some spare time on your hands (e.g. when a meeting is cancelled or while waiting for a bus), rather than start doing the first item that comes to mind, identify the best item to work off your “Next Actions” list, using this 4-criteria model:

Read more in our book summary of Getting Things Done here.

3. Put First Things First

[Ideas from The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey and The Effective Executive by Peter Drucker]

It’s impossible (and ineffective) to try to do everything. The key is this: effective individuals don’t just get things done; Get the right things done. This is where prioritization and personal management comes in.

If you are not yet prepared to change your daily routines and personal systems (suggested in items (1) and (2) above), then at least understand and apply this fundamental success principle: Put First Things First.

How exactly do you do that?

Stephen Covey suggests that you focus on the important activities, not just the urgent ones. To do that, you plan weekly and act daily, giving time to your priorities.

Using the time-management matrix above, prioritise time for Quadrant II activities. Specifically, to ensure that you are preventing and not prioritising crises, do your planning weekly, with 4 key activities :

a) Identify Roles: Write down the key roles in your life

b) Select Goals: Identify 2-3 key results to achieve for each role in the coming week, incorporating Quadrant II activities.

c) Schedule: Plan the week ahead and set aside time for these goals.

d) Adapt Daily: Adjust activities to manage unexpected developments.

In his book The Effective Executive, Peter Drucker outlines several principles on what makes an ideal approach to tasks. Here’s one powerful principle – As part of your weekly planning, consciously ask yourself this question about you and your team’s work: “if we did not already do this, would we go into it now?”. Use this question to identify activities that are no longer productive, eliminate them, and direct the resources to new opportunities.

[Check out our book summaries of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and The Effective Executive.]

Getting Started

There are so many productivity hacks that can help you get more done while still prioritizing your well-being. This article outlines 3 powerful systems/ ideas that you can apply immediately to your life. Pick the one that resonates most with you, and incorporate that into your routine – on a daily basis. There’s absolutely no reason/ excuse to wait.

Remember, the faster you take action, the faster you will learn and see results!