3 Steps to Improving Productivity (and Happiness)
You might be one of those people who try to take on everything at work, plus everything at home. But this could actually be doing more harm than good. Instead, try focusing on just the right things – we will show you how. Not only will this help you become more productive, but you will also be happier as a result.
Enjoy!
Gary
Everyone wants to get more done in less time. One would think that, with all of the smart technology and automation we have today, we would have more personal time than ever. Instead, it seems that we are working more, while feeling less motivated.
One way to increase not only your productivity, but overall happiness is to outsource tasks in both your professional and personal life. So many people feel that they are the only ones who can do what they do well. Then there is another group that feels that it is easier or less expensive to just do things themselves. If you fall into one of these two categories, you are probably sacrificing time and energy that could be better spent with family and friends or doing the things you love.
There are three steps to determining what should be outsourced in your life.
- Complete an Activity Inventory – Grab two separate pads of paper, one you will keep on your desk at work and one for home. Write down everything you do in the course of a week. For the home inventory, have everyone in your household contribute to the list. No task is too insignificant.
- Assign a Feeling to Each Task – At the end of the week, label each item as Motivating, Just Ok, Annoying, or Dreaded. When analyzing the home activity inventory, ask each contributor to label the tasks based on their personal feelings.
- Begin Outsourcing – Any items that are Dreaded should be immediately outsourced, if possible. At work, this could mean delegating to someone on your team or hiring an assistant. Next, work on outsourcing Annoying tasks, followed by the Just Ok tasks. At home, you may find a Dreaded task for you is Just Ok to another family member. Take the opportunity to redistribute who takes care of specific chores.
Outsourcing tasks at work may feel like a drain on revenue. However, if you dread sending out agendas, setting appointments, or following up on past due invoices, outsourcing these tasks to a virtual assistant will liberate more time for you to focus on the revenue-producing work that truly excites you.
For some people, there may be a certain stigma to hiring a landscaper or housekeeper. However, if you are consistently missing out on time with your family, or feel that you have no time to relax, not doing so can negatively impact both your personal and professional life.
Sure, maybe you can do everything, but should you? Everyone has a unique set of Motivating, Just Ok, Annoying, and Dreaded tasks. What motivates you may be something that another person dreads – so take these tasks on yourself. And, by the same token, why not give someone who is motivated by your dreaded tasks the same opportunity?
Gary Vice is sought out by leaders in Software and Services who recognize the need to attract the industry’s best talent. Through Strategic Recruiting Partners’ extensive network of relationships, they are able to identify high level opportunities for well qualified candidates. To discover how this process can benefit your job search, simply reply to this email or call Gary at 469.402.4008.