There’s a difference between working hard and working smart? Of course!

Working hard is what work is said to look like – long hours, barely any breaks, burnouts. As millennials, we’re also faced with the pressure of hustle culture, but grinding isn’t the secret to success: alignment is. When you work smart, you’ll be able to efficiently manage your time and increase productivity. Isn’t that what we all want? It’s so much easier to thrive when you’re not trying to survive the stress of clocking in the hours, and instead are focused on how much work you can get done.

Even when it comes to working at home, where structure is hard to maintain and distractions are everywhere (my bed has never looked this comfortable) – working smart can help you fix your focus and finish your tasks for the day without tiring yourself. Here are 3 ways you can get your work done and still have enough time for self-care:

  1. Organise your tasks by energy level
    If the underlying reason for your procrastination is actually anxiety, Dr. Courtney Tracy, better known as ‘The Truth Doctor’ on social media, shared a TikTok tip on how you can organise your tasks by how long it’ll take and how much energy it requires. This allows you to pick which task to do based on the time available, as well as your energy level.
  2. Follow the 4 Ds of time management
    A well-known method for efficiently managing your time, your tasks are divided into four categories: do it now, delay it, delegate it and drop it. You’ll be able to focus on what’s urgent and important, and if you’re running a team – you can also offload tasks to your members to maximise productivity and optimise your work schedule.
  3. Try the Pomodoro Technique
    The Pomodoro Technique was developed by Francesco Cirillo, and breaks down your tasks into 25 minutes of work followed by a 5 minute break. These short bursts will keep you fresh and focused knowing there’s a break coming up. Once you’ve done this four times, reward yourself with a longer 15 to 30 minute break.

Time management is the true key to productivity – by ensuring you have enough time to work and rest, you’ll have the energy to power through the day. Try these methods and let us know which works best for you!