Tips for batching your tasks
Fact: When you are a busy entrepreneur, there’s never enough time in the day!
There is a good chance that time management is something you struggle with. Time is a valuable commodity especially these days, it can be your best friend or your worst enemy depending on how you manage it!
Maximizing how much work you can get done in a typical workday can improve your productivity and help decrease your stress. When productivity is low, this can lead to owners or employees having to pick up the slack or long work weeks.
One Technique that can be used to claim back more time is known as “task batching”. This is a way to ensure that tasks are done in a more efficient manner and no, we’re not talking about cookies here! Lol
Are you asking yourself how you utilize it properly? Well, let's get right into it...
Batching is a workplace efficiency method that involves grouping similar tasks together. This enables you to complete them quickly; without time wasted with interruptions or switching to other tasks. Batching can not only improve productivity, but also increase concentration, and reduce time-consuming mistakes as well.
While multitasking can be a valuable skill and can work in some cases, but often, all that switching back and forth can take its toll. Henry Ford’s creation of manufacturing assembly lines is a concept based on batching!
When you’re batching it, you simply have to focus on completing the same or similar tasks continuously. This allows you to get into a rhythm and decreases the amount of time you spend on each individual task. It takes effort for your brain to shift between multiple different tasks. But focusing on only one task allows you to focus much more easily.
Which tasks can be batched you ask, well keep reading...we are getting there.
One of the great things about batching tasks is that as long as the tasks are similar, you can organize them into the same categories. They don’t always need to be exactly the same. The best way to implement a batching method is to make a shortlist of the main tasks that you complete each day. This list can include things like responding to emails, returning calls, or putting content on your social media pages.
Batching is most effective when you schedule your tasks for specific times throughout the day. For example, you can reserve the time slot from 9:00 am to 10:00 am to review and catch up with your emails. Creating a set schedule also helps you get into a routine, which helps train your brain to be more productive. Among the many major benefits of batching tasks is that it improves work quality, decreases wasted work hours, and reduces stress!!
If the batching list is more than 45 minutes, consider implementing the Pomodoro technique. The Pomodoro Technique is a simple yet highly effective batching method. To start, write down and prioritize the tasks you need to get done. Use the stopwatch feature on your phone or find an app and work in 25-minute intervals. For every 25 straight minutes you work, take one 3 to 5minute break. You can repeat this cycle 3 to 4 times before taking a longer 20-30 minute break. The key to using the Pomodoro Technique is making sure you spend the 25-minute work intervals completing similar tasks.
Give it a try...think about all you have to gain??
Sandra Byers