Tips to stay productive1/16/2024 ![]() I struggled to move projects forward because I was trying to do it all. You aren’t delivering on what’s expected, and what I’m seeing is a lot of busywork, but few tangible outcomes.” My manager was direct with her feedback: “You need to change how you manage your time, so that you can focus on high priorities first. My boat was taking on water at every turn, while theirs seemed to float effortlessly across the calm surface. Simply put, I observed many successful leaders doing the exact opposite of what I was doing - creating clear boundaries around their time and space. It wasn’t until a few years later, when I was offered a senior role and my responsibilities grew, that I saw how flawed my “always-on” approach had become. As a recent grad, at the start of my career, it was easy to fall prey to this thinking. My success fed my false belief that when something works once, it will work again and again. I was highly attentive to customers, viewed as reliable by my team, and could deliver on any ad-hoc requests from the leaders who worked at the head office. It was 2009, and as a newly minted pharmaceutical sales rep, I believed this attitude was a marker of success. There was an odd satisfaction in powering through my inbox. See more from Ascend here.Įarly in my corporate career, I was masterful at replying to emails instantaneously and staying on top of the multitude of requests I received from colleagues, vendors - and truthfully - anyone with my email address. Carving out these small moments creates space to catch your breath. Insert 15-minute blocks into your day that act as protected time. Build buffers into your schedule to avoid overplanning. Don’t fight the truth of time: You ony have 24 hours in a day.Look at the goals you need to accomplish over the next year, prioritize what is most important, and cut or reschedule the ones that can be moved back to avoid overwhelming yourself. This will help you feel more in control of your time and focus on things that are important an urgent. ![]() Live by your calendar, not your inbox: Organize your calendar first, based on priority and create pockets that align to your optimal state, or the times of day when you feel most focused and energized.There are ways to create clear boundaries around your time and space. But as we start to get more responsibilities, we find that it harms us more than doing good. Often, we think that staying on top of the multitude of requests we receive, instantaneously responding to requests, and saying yes to everything is a marker of success. If you’re struggling with managing your time and energy at work, know that you’re not alone. ![]()
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