Time is a precious commodity, and it is easy to fall into the trap of believing that there just isn’t enough of it. We often talk about the lack of time, but instead of taking action and making changes, we simply wait for our circumstances to change. However, the truth is that the only change we can rely on is the change we create ourselves. Smart people take charge of their lives by doing things differently and creating change that benefits them. This article will discuss four simple rules that, when implemented, can save you two hours per workday.

Rule 1: Know What You Want and Do Everything Possible to Get There

One of the most important things you can do to save time is to know what you want and do everything possible at any given moment to get there. This means having a clear vision of your goals and working deliberately toward them. Don’t let yourself be sidetracked by tasks or activities that don’t align with your objectives. Decide what is truly important to you and focus solely on those things.

Rule 2: Make a Clear Plan and Start Working Consciously

Once you know what you want, make a clear plan and start working consciously. Plan ahead, not just for the current day or week, but also for the month and year ahead. Learn to structure your day around your productive times, and schedule time for interruptions. Set clear boundaries for when people can approach you with questions or small talk.

Rule 3: Learn Smart Working Techniques

In addition to planning and conscious work, it’s also important to learn smart working techniques. One effective technique is to prioritize your tasks by urgency and importance. Another is to delegate tasks that are not essential or that can be done more efficiently by someone else. Time management tools such as productivity apps or time trackers can also help you stay on track and avoid distractions.

Rule 4: Analyze Your Working Day and Remove All That Is Not Helping You

To save time, it’s also important to analyze your working day and remove all that is not helping you. Consider outsourcing certain tasks, eliminating others altogether, or finding more efficient ways to complete them. Review your schedule regularly and identify areas where you can make changes or improvements.

Smart Working Techniques

Here are a few smart working techniques that can help you save time at work:

Plan Your Time: Learn to plan your time ahead and schedule your productive times. Make clear boundaries for when people can approach you with questions or small talk.

Interruptions: Schedule time for interruptions and educate people about when it’s appropriate to approach you with questions or matters that need your attention.

Meetings: Attend only necessary meetings and make sure you influence or change the agenda in such a way that your sections are at the beginning. Enter the meeting when it starts and leave when your points have been discussed.

Email: Process emails only once or twice per day, and close your email client when you don’t need it. Respond to emails faster by grouping your responses and including multiple people in one message.

Reading Materials: Learn speed reading techniques to save time when reading.

The Result

When these techniques are implemented consistently, the result will be two hours saved per workday. This means more free time, less stress, and increased productivity. However, it’s important to remember that simply reading this article won’t save you time – you must commit to implementing these techniques and making them a regular part of your workday.

Action Points

To start saving time, try implementing one of the four rules discussed above for at least a week. To really see significant results, implement all of the techniques and commit to making them a regular part of your workday. Remember to prioritize your goals, plan ahead, schedule interruptions, learn smart working techniques, and analyze your working day to eliminate tasks that are not helping you. By taking charge of your time in this way, you will achieve more, feel less stressed, and have more free time to enjoy outside of work.