Five Simple Ways to Get More Done
One of the amazing things about the pandemic, is that for many people they are busier than ever with their jobs and find that they can’t get the things done that are important to them. Working from home means that you’re always at work and it’s easy to fall into the trap of never walking away from your computer. This means that other things in your life can suffer, and you can miss out on long-term growth.
Setting boundaries around work is easier said than done. Certainly you’ve heard that before. Four years ago in France a law was passed that gives employees the "right to disconnect" from email, smartphones and other electronic leashes once their working day has ended. We are far from that in the United States, but there are some things you can do to at least add some juice to your days that include some personal goals.
Refine your Master Backlog. If it’s been a while since you’ve done this, take the time to do it now. What are some of the wild, crazy or ambitious goals that you’ve been putting off bringing to the top of the list. Pick one, move it up, and put it in your next Sprint.
Work on your personal goals first. I’m an early riser and get more done before my first meeting at work than I ever could if I let these things go until the end of the day when I’m more likely to be tired and not have the motivation. So get up an hour earlier and tackle those goals on your Sprint Backlog first.
Focus on fewer goals. Having too many goals to work on at a time can cause you to become scattered and energy draining. It’s okay to not be busy all day long.
Nap. Yes, a twenty-minute nap can recharge you better than a shot of espresso in the afternoon.
Take credit for small steps every day. You don’t have to, and probably cannot complete everything you would like to in a single day, a single week, or even and entire Sprint. Rejoice in the progress you’re making. It will all add up.
I didn’t mention the most common advice on this topic, because you’ve read it everywhere by now, but I’ll say it here. Turn off your distractions. Put the phone away and turn off email notifications. Do this just for an hour, you don’t need to torture yourself longer than that. The rewards will astonish you.