How to Work Independently and Stop Wasting Time

Another day at the office, and the clock already reads 11:30. You've been there for two and a half hours, and what have you accomplished? Basically nothing. We’re sure this story sounds familiar to you too.

We know that staying focused can be challenging with so many things happening around you, especially when you're an entrepreneur.

That’s why we want to share these 10 tips to help you get more done in less time. And before you know it, you'll be spending less time working while being even more productive!

Do you think you're good at finishing tasks? Just like every good business can benefit from a website, every entrepreneur can make use of at least one of these tips.

1. Start your day by writing down at least three main tasks you want to complete. This will help you stay focused throughout the day, and when you leave the office, you’ll be able to better assess how productive you were.

2. Tackle the annoying tasks first. While it’s tempting to push unpleasant tasks to the end of the day, you’re actually more productive in the morning. Getting them done early will make the rest of your day much more enjoyable.

3. Find your peak productivity time! We all have a time of day when we work best. Plan your tasks accordingly and tackle the most demanding ones when you're at your peak.

4. Don’t try to be perfect. It may sound strange, but being too much of a perfectionist will waste a lot of time. It’s better to complete a task to the best of your ability and move on to the next. If you have extra time at the end of the day, you can always go back and refine your work.

5. Disconnect. From text messages to Instagram and Facebook, these distractions eat up a huge chunk of your day without you even realizing it.

6. You can’t do everything at once. You might think you can juggle eight different tasks while talking to a client on the phone, but the truth is, you can’t. Focus on one thing at a time to work faster and better.

7. Log out of your email. If it’s open, you’ll feel the urge to check it every five minutes. Instead, set specific times for this task—first thing in the morning, before lunch, and before leaving work.

While responding to emails is important, no message is so urgent that it can’t wait a few hours.

8. Know the two-minute rule. How does it work? If something can be done in two minutes or less, do it immediately. Don’t schedule a meeting for it. Don’t postpone it for later. Just get it done.

9. It’s okay to say no to some meetings. Before scheduling your next meeting, ask yourself if you could achieve the same results with a phone call or video chat. Be mindful of how much time you’re dedicating to each task.