The key to working smarter is to replace old, ineffective time-usage habits with new, good ones. Easier said than done? You bet! But remember, successful people are successful because they are willing to do the things that unsuccessful people are not willing to do.     by: Michael LeBoef

In doing research on various topics I came across this topic “Working Smarter.” I have no problem with working hard when I need to, but if I can work smarter and not harder then I will definitely work smarter.

Here are the following tips that I found in my research:

1. Time management – working smarter you need to replace ineffective habits with new ones that will help you get the job done easier. This is what makes successful people, successful, because they are willing to do what others won’t.

2. Energy – Plan your day so that the goals that require the highest energy can done first. Also evaluate what goals or task drain you of energy and if you can pass them on to those who like to do those task.

3. Find a New Habit – Not a Nuns hat either, a habit that will help you be a better person, boss, husband, wife, employee. The hardest thing in starting a new habit is “Starting.”

4. Scheduling – scheduling is another tip for working smarter. This follows with time management and energy. Schedule those high energy, time consuming appointments and task early in the day. Use a schedule form or calendar to help you organize your time and energy.

5. Deadlines – deadlines in your scheduling is also important. Deadlines help you meet goals and quotes that equal income or missed income. Here a 3 Deadlines Aids to the scheduling process:

1. determine the deadline target date, and mark it on you schedule
2. estimate the amount of time that you’ll need to complete the task at hand.
3. once you have a estimated how much time a task will consume, work back from the deadline.

Keep your schedule flexible, you never know what is going to happen, life is full of surprises.

6. Avoid Over commitment- when you over commit yourself you loose site of what you want to accomplish for the days goals. Your stress level goes up and you loose effectiveness in dealing with others and yourself.

7. Don’t Be Afraid to Say NO! – make it a point to refuse request that aren’t in your schedule and best interest. But do it in a polite and direct manner so that you don’t inadvertently offend or hurt the person’s feeling. Here are 4 tips that will guide you in saying No!

1. So no repeatedly before people can anticipate a yes. Don’t led people on just tell them yes or no.
2. Realize that you have the right to say NO. You also don’t have to offer any reasons as t why you have turned down the request.
3. When saying NO just do it as pleasantly and politely as possible. Remember you have the right to say NO.
4. Consider offering a counter proposal if you think that it would help in saying NO.

8. Try doing things in batches – doing things in batches, whether its paying bill, running errands, making phone calls or writing letters, emails or text. Do them all at the same time to help these little things from being a hindrance to the major goal.

9. Concentration –  improve you ability to concentrate so that you will be more effective when it come to being creative. This way you can focus your full attention on ideas that you are thinking about.

10. Choose a place to work that is exclusively just for work if at all possible. In today’s world people have home offices and if you have one then use it for just that. Don’t use your office and desk for any unrelated things that are not relevant to your work.

11. Organization is key – when you organize your approach to your problems you are halfway to solving your problems or roadblocks. Organization can also help anticipate potential crises.

12. Subconsciousness – put your subconsciousness to work for you. Allow you subconscious mind help you solve problems, relieve stress and anxiety, let it help you flesh out ideas. Important decisions are usually made at the subconscious level.

There you have it 12 tips for working smarter and not harder. These tips have helped me through some trying times when working in different jobs, they have also helped in and around my home. Use them however you like to help you relieve the stress in your life and work.

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