3 Steps to an Efficient Work Day (So That You Can Relax)

It’s time to unwind, get away from the stresses of the everyday and make some time for yourself. More often than not we get so caught up in work, social media, the news and reality TV that we forget to actually live and enjoy ourselves. We forget to shut off from the digital world and take some time out from the keyboard.

Whether you are working from home or just spend too much time online, you need to balance your time. But how do we do that in this busy world where time is money?

Planning

Mondays are my busy day where I’m prepping the week ahead. I use Asana as my online to do list, allowing me to plan what I need to do on a daily basis.

For example, on Monday I will schedule blog posts, social media and emails. However, on a daily basis I need to check records, update databases, reply to emails, etc – but that doesn’t take long. It’s all the scheduling beforehand that takes some time. With Asana, I’m able to split my week up so I have enough time to myself on other days.

Scheduling

There is so much that can be done automatically, allowing you to take a break from doing everything live. Using scheduling tools such as Hootsuite or Buffer allows you to keep social, allowing you to be “there” for your followers and promoting your business, blog, or website without actually having to be online all the time. This goes for scheduling blog posts too. If you scheduling a few posts a week, you are left with plenty of time to do other things. Mail Chimp is also a fabulous way to keep subscribers informed of news, updates, meetings etc. When I’ve scheduled all these things, every day bits and bobs can be focussed on and more time can be spent to myself.

Auto Responder

Some jobs (or if you’re self-employed) can allow you to set up an auto responder with links to the most important pages and questions of a website that will answer someone’s query right away. This tool is especially handy for those frequently asked questions that take up a lot of time!

Spending Your Time Wisely 

Once the daily tasks are complete and I know my scheduled posts and tweets are being published and people are working answers out for themselves based on an epic FAQ, I can finally have time for me. Often, that time is often sucked up by internet instead of activities that actually make me feel good. Here are some ideas for tips for making the most out of your spare time!

• Turn off phones, laptops, iPads – everything. It’s time to unwind.

• Put on some music (not the radio as news can interrupt the enjoyment!)

• Make a cup of tea or coffee.

• Read a book, paint, colour in, write a letter, reorganize your wardrobe or move the room around. It’s a creative distraction from everything else and it’s therapeutic.

• If the weather is good, go outside and do some gardening. It’s relaxing, gives you fresh air and doesn’t involve staring at a screen.

• Go to a coffee shop with a book and grab some lunch. If you have to take your phone, don’t be tempted by any free Wi-Fi.

• Go for a walk in the park, along the beach or just to the shops and back. Pick up a little treat for when you get home.

• Visit the gym. It’s a great way to keep fit, healthy and releases endorphins.

Last Updated on February 27, 2024