Lately I have needed to add more structure to the work portion of my day. I generally have around four hours of time each day that I can use for work. I have a few tips to make the limited hours that I have available more productive.

       Normally, finding your productive time period would be the first step. However, because of my work schedule I need to make the most of my free time. This means adjusting my schedule to my current needs rather than figuring out when I do my most productive work and saving my tasks that require more mental energy until that time. The time during the day in which my free time falls will determine which task I do first. If it is quite early in the day, for example I will do the tasks that require more mental fortitude. Otherwise, if it is later in day I will start with tasks that aren’t too mentally tasking and which I do from there depends on my energy levels.

       Start each work session with at least three to five tasks of high priority. You must identify these from some period beforehand to save you time when you begin to work. If you start knowing what your tasks are then you can begin immediately. You won’t be wondering where you left off in a project or if there was a task that needs your immediate attention.

        Another way to make these hours count is to put tasks that are similar together. General categories that work for you is the best first step. This means grouping your calls, your emails, your administration tasks, writing, taking photos or any other typical tasks together. That way if you have quite a few tasks in any one group to do then completing these tasks should be quicker.

       Breaks must also be worked into your schedule. If working for long periods of time is not something you are accustomed to then you must break more frequently. Customize not just the amount of time that you work before taking a break, but also the length of your breaks as well. This is something that can be tinkered with until it best suits your needs.

        The most important tip is to make sure that your tasks are all single items. This means that they are all one step processes. If your task requires more than one step to completion then you need to write it down, preferably in your notebook for easy reference. Not just write it down, but break it down into each component that needs to be done in order to complete the task. This way you can be more accurate in your assessment of how much time a task will require.

        These skills can go a long way to help you make better use of your time.