Work Smart Not Hard – 7 Tricks To Working Smarter With Ease
Want to know how to work smart not hard? Here are 7 simple tips you need to try to make working smarter the default for you.
Let’s chat about how to work smart not hard.
There are lots of quotes that encourage us to work smarter and not just harder.
These work smart not hard quotes include:
It’s not the load that breaks you down; it’s the way you carry it – Lena Horne
Delegate – work smarter, not harder, do what you do best and drop the rest, get control of your calendar, do what you love because it will give you energy, work with people you like so your energy isn’t depleted – John C. Maxwell
Stop spending time on things that aren’t beneficial to the bottom line – Marley Mojcher
Working hard and working smart sometimes can be two different things – Bryon Dorgan
WORK SMART NOT HARD STRATEGY
Here’s the truth: most of us have a tendency to work harder, rather than smarter, when we need to get more done.
This is fine in the short-term when working hard is producing the results you are after.
A problem exists however when working harder is chosen over working in a manner that would be more efficient and smarter to do so.
Working hard just for the hell of it when there is a BETTER WAY to spend your time is energy-depleting, overwhelming and often frustrating.
It makes more sense to work smarter, because it saves time and can be applied 100% of the time going forward.
You honestly can’t consistently keep increasing the intensity or duration of your work.
There are limits. You are human and you will eventually burnout (ask me how I know!)
Trust me, if you go looking, there is usually always a way to work smarter.
Here are seven strategies I have discovered to help you work smarter instead of harder. You can test them out today.
WORK SMART NOT HARD STRATEGY 1
Focus on what is most effective.
One way of working smarter is to identify and concentrate on the tasks that are giving you the best bang or ROI (return of investment) for your time.
At any moment, you could be performing one of a variety of tasks.
Are you choosing tasks that will get you the best results QUICKER?
How certain are you that you aren’t just dilly-dallying around and that you’re spending your time in the most effective manner possible?
- We often gravitate toward tasks that are easy or comfortable. Many of us are also natural-born procrastinators. Ensure that you’re using effective criteria when deciding how to use your time. Your time is precious. Use it wisely.
WORK SMART NOT HARD STRATEGY 2
2 – Review your actions daily.
I want you to review your day every night and decide if you used the time as well as you could have. Is there any room for improvement?
How much work did you accomplish?
Did you get the most important and urgent tasks done?
Look for ways to improve.
Look for ways to waste less time.
Become just a tiny bit better each day, and the difference in your results will astound you.
WORK SMART NOT HARD STRATEGY 3
3 – Avoid the belief that grinding harder is always the solution.
This is where I have fallen short in the past – I used to have this belief that I had to work SUPER HARD, every spare moment of my day to prove I was a good business owner, good parent, a good friend, a good wife, a good family member etc.
I used to feel guilty taking time out to give myself a rest because in my head I imagined all the extra productive stuff I could be doing with that time.
Let me tell you how that story ends: NOT WELL.
Working hard and constantly is a recipe for disaster and leads to burnout.
We often associate greater success with greater effort.
But working harder isn’t always the answer.
I have found myself to be MORE PRODUCTIVE when I get the rest and breaks I need.
I feel reenergized and more creative than ever when I make self-care a priority in my life.
Sometimes it makes more sense to stop and sharpen your axe than it does to swing it harder or for more hours each day.
WORK SMART NOT HARD STRATEGY 4
4 – Review your results.
If what you’re doing isn’t working well, continuing down that path is obviously crazy.
In order to get different results, you need to do something different!
Figure out what works and what doesn’t and choose your actions accordingly.
You need to be willing to adjust your sails when necessary.
WORK SMART NOT HARD STRATEGY 5
5 – Ask yourself, “What is the logical outcome from how I spend my day?”
While you’re reviewing your day, ask yourself what would happen if you repeated that day for the next five years.
Would those actions get you to where you want to go?
Put on your forward-thinking cap and construct a day that will logically lead you to the destination you desire.
WORK SMART NOT HARD STRATEGY 6
6 – Set time limits.
One way to force yourself to work smarter is to limit how much time you give to each task in your workday.
Having a deadline encourages you to stay laser focused and strive to get more done in the same amount of time.
See if this approach works for you – I personally love it in addition to batching my work.
Remember the only way to make regular progress is to alter your approach because working harder will only get you so far.
WORK SMART NOT HARD STRATEGY 7
7 – Continue to learn.
The more you know, the smarter you can work.
What do you need to learn in order to work more efficiently?
What knowledge will allow you to do a better job without spending more time?
Ensure you’re learning tools to productivity – if there is a better approach out there you need to find it and implement it ASAP.
- Seek out the experts in your field and learn what you can from them.
- Are they outsourcing some of their work?
- Working in a different way?
- Focusing on only a few things and forgetting about everything else?
Avoid trying to figure out everything on your own.
- There’s no reason to reinvent the wheel.
- If there is a better, more efficient way to work you have nothing to lose by giving it a go.
WORK SMART NOT HARD STRATEGY SUMMARY
In a nutshell: It’s much more intelligent and efficient to learn how to work smarter.
While we may think it’s admirable to do the daily grind, it’s really not an effective long-term strategy if a SMARTER AND BETTER WAY EXISTS.
Avoid the temptation to simply lower your head and grind through the work every day without ever asking yourself if a better way exists.
Does a better way exist?
If so, why not implement it?
Once you discover a better way of completing your tasks, you can use that knowledge to get to where you want to go in life quicker.
Before You Go…
– See my EVERYTHING PAGE and grab a free gift > HERE
– Get instant access to EVERY COURSE I’ve ever created > HERE
– Listen to my INSPIRING LIFE PODCAST on Spotify or via Apple Podcasts.
– Or for biz owners, listen to LIFE COACH FOR BIZ MOMS Podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
I’m Frances Vidakovic – a mindset & action coach for quietly ambitious women who want to stop overthinking and finally take aligned action. I help women achieve their goals and follow through on what matters, without sacrificing their sanity or soul.