How to work less and get more done

The assertion that only a long and hard work can lead to success, in our time is not contested, and can not be questioned. We were led to believe that if we do not work for a long time, it means that we are not working hard enough.

The current economic situation forces people to work overtime just to keep in place. Moreover, many of us even boast that operate 12 hours a day without raising her head.

But every phenomenon has its own downside.

According to a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, People who work more than 11 hours a day have a 67 percent higher risk of heart disease.

other scientists examined about 2,000 British civil servants and found that working more than 11 hours a day doubled the chances of developing depression. In addition to your health, length of operation may also have a negative impact on our relationship and personal life.

So what to do? How to keep up with the ever-increasing demands and do not bury yourself alive at work? And then we gradually come to the key messages to be delivered in this article.

Long-term continuous operation does not allow you to do more.

The whole point of productivity, friends. Numerous recent studies show that a reasonable combination of work and rest allows you to make more than if you had all this time hopelessly devoted labor process.

So, you can work less and still be more productive? The short answer is YES. But for this you need to know and follow a few simple rules and techniques, which you'll learn in this article.

1. Focus on three major tasks for the day

In the world there are a hundred million paper, computer, mobile and other task lists. Probably, even the ancient people made themselves a notch on the spear, not to forget their deeds.

But whatever tools are powerless without one simple rule: every morning, take a few minutes to think and write three of the most important tasks for the current day. And then focus your efforts on the implementation of the short list. The main thing - these three problems, the rest as far as possible. This simple but powerful habit will greatly increase your productivity.

2. Exercise for 30 minutes every day

We all know that exercise is good for our health. But did you know that exercise is also good for our brain?

According to psychiatrist John Ratey of Harvard Medical School and author of "Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain" Exercise not only make our muscles healthier, but also help reduce stress, improve training and help to think more clearly.

3. Start work early and finish on time

Ask any a successful person when he wakes up and is more than likely that you will come across a lark. To explain this, there are many different reasons, but in the context of this article, the most important is that of morning you have fewer distractions and better focus on your three main daily priorities.

But in order to be productive, you must also give your brain a good rest, so tend to leave the office or get up from the monitor exactly on time. You'll not only feel better, but will be more energetic and productive the next day.

4. Sets strict time limits

Parkinson's Law It says that the work aims to take all the time allotted to it. Thus, according to Parkinson, if the grandmother can write a letter to her niece year, she would write him a year. If the editor gave me to write this article three days, that is how much time I'm going to write, correct and improve this opus.

Work fills all the terms on the allotted her.

So, try to give yourself a realistic time frame uzhatye to perform the necessary tasks. And try to keep within them, yes.

5. Use the rule of 80 \ 20

Many readers are well aware of this rule, which says that 20% of the effort brings 80% of the results. With regard to the topic of the article it means that you need to focus on activities that are really important, and spend less time on everything else.

6. Stop multitasking

Multitasking does not make us more productive.

In fact, the division of our attention has a negative impact on productivity, concentration and energy. "Multitasking eventually makes you run slower, increasing the chances of mistakes," said David Meyer, a scientist from the University of Michigan. So, if you want to be more productive, you learn to do one thing at a time.

7. Sit on an information diet

Today, to get information overload as easily as heat stroke in the middle of the Sahara. And about similar symptoms: darkening of the eyes, attention, inhibited reactions, sleep disturbances.

Tim Ferriss, author of "The 4 Hour Work Week" recommends in this case, go on a diet "low information content."

You really need to read all these e-mails, blogs, newspapers, magazines, etc.? And you really have so much time on Facebook or watching TV?

It is better to try at least a week to cut out of your life so much unnecessary information as you can and see how to increase your productivity.

8. Take the time and place for reflection

People of intellectual labor and creativity are the item did not quite understand correctly. "Why else would a special time for reflection, when I'm at work and do just that?". The fact of the matter is that you need a special time, during which you will not think about the logo of your website or delays in product shipments.

We are talking about idle abstract thought processes. About the meaning of life, about women and relationships of the eternal and the momentary. Find a place where you no one will distract and return to the earth, and think about everything except work. First it is unusual, but then you learn. Attend this secret place regularly.

If you've read this far, then you probably bursting with the desire to start right now. Do not rush to grasp at all the items at once. Simply select one piece of advice for the beginning and try to follow it in practice every week. Then try to go further. And most importantly, use the released time to practice what you love.

And for the most patient of readers who have reached the end, a funny picture as a prize :).

A photo: Shutterstock
comics: zen Pencils