By Chase R Smith
Problems and difficult dilemmas are a regular part of life. Often, one is faced with several interesting, unusual decisions to make throughout the day. Reasoning through puzzling situations can be a frustrating process, and there is not always an easy answer.
There is a system of techniques and methods that directly addresses the issue of problem-solving, and solution-finding. This system is called “heuristics.” The term heuristic originates with a Greek word that means to discover, or to find.
The following is a list of common heuristics, many of which are common-sense solutions. Oftentimes, that is exactly what a heuristic really is: a solution to a problem that simply makes the most sense.
- Delete Your Problem: If there are tasks on your daily to-do list that are simply bulky, time-consuming things, scratch them off, or delete them from your calendar! Sometimes, the most effective way to clear your schedule is to off-load any excess distractions.
- Set Daily Goals: If you start off the day without knowing how you want your day to go, or what you would like to accomplish, it will be difficult to stay focused. You should decide in advance what is important to you, and stay focused on that.
- Take Care of the Worst First: By getting things out of your way that you find to be the most unpleasant, your day can only get better! Examine your tasks, and begin the day by tackling the assignments and responsibilities that you find annoying or downright horrible. Get these taken care of, and then move on to better things.
- Peak Times: Take note of when you are at your best throughout the day. Schedule your most important, critical assignments and tasks for these time periods. This will ensure that you produce your best work and take care of your most critical responsibilities.
- Solitary Confinement: There are going to be blocks of time through the day that you will need to be uninterrupted in order to concentrate. Be sure that you plan ahead for these blocks of time, scheduling your more cumbersome assignments for these solitary hours.
- Mile Markers: While working through a task, be sure you know how much you would like to have accomplished before you take a break, or move on to another task. Have a clear goal, and do not stop until you have reached that mile marker.
- Time-Boxing: Set a time limit for how long you will work on a particular task. If you think that something should take one hour, time yourself for that one hour while performing that task. Once the hour is up, move on.
- Batch It: If there are tasks that can be done while another task is being taken care of, do them together! Batch them into one assignment and knock them out faster.
- Get the Worm: As Benjamin Franklin said, “The early-bird gets the worm.” This tidbit of truth will make you productive right from the get-go. Wake up early, and get going on your most strenuous daily goals. You will most likely get more done in the first couple hours of the day than in the entire afternoon.
- Ditch the Network: If you have work to do on your computer that does not require Internet access, take your laptop to a location that does not have WiFi, and knock out your work quickly. Often, things like social networks, or e-mail can cause simple tasks to take double the time.
- Speed Up the Metronome: A metronome in music keeps the time steady that drives the speed of a song. Speed up your tempo by making a concerted effort to do everything faster. Do not do a sloppy job, or be careless; consciously work faster, walk faster, and operate at a rate that says you are serious.
- Relax: Cut down on your stress level by eliminating any distractions that might impede on your productivity. Know what kind of music will make you work faster. Clean off your desk so that it will not be cluttered. Make it a point to have the most conducive work environment that will fit your purpose-driven momentum.
- Agendas: When holding a meeting, provide clearly outlined agendas to those attending the meeting. Make it clear what you need to accomplish. It may be helpful to have a written agenda for phone calls or teleconferences as well.
- 80/20 Rule: The 80/20 rule basically states that 80% of the value of any given task comes from 20% of the effort. Find the 20% that is critical, and focus on that. Do not over-analyze the 80% that will be taken care of by your excellence in the other 20%.
- Immediate Action: After setting a goal, get started on accomplishing it. Do not wait to make sure that everything is perfect. You can make adjustments and compensations along the way. Waiting to begin only makes the goal less likely to be completed.
- One Minute: Just like Paul Revere and the Minutemen, give yourself sixty seconds to come to a decision once you have all the critical information needed to make that decision. Set a timer, and struggle with the ramifications of your decision for one minute. Once that minute is up, set your plan into action.
- Deadlines and Expiration Dates: Similar to the gallon of milk you purchased at the grocery store, give each of your tasks an expiration date. Use the deadlines to make you more focused on successfully getting each task done.
- Commitments: Let other people know what you are going to accomplish, and allow them to hold you accountable.
- Timeliness: Do not ever be late. Show up on time for everything. In fact, be early
- Read Between the Lines: Make the most of all of your time; even the down time while waiting for appointments, or standing in lines. Fill time gaps by reading articles, or helpful, informative books.
- Optimistic Outlook: Visualize what your completed task will look like. See in your mind what it will look like when you have trudged through the deep waters, and have made it through to the other side.
- Reward Yourself: When you come to a milestone, or complete a major assignment, have something at the finish line that you find relaxing, or enjoyable. Buy a bottle of wine, go see a movie, or even take a nap. Take time to recharge and unwind.
- Prioritize and Categorize: There are always tasks that are more and less urgent than others. Be sure to prioritize your assignments, and separate the negotiable activities from the pressing priorities.
- Plan and Think Ahead: Before you leave your office for the day, be sure you plan ahead for what you would like to begin with the next day. This will ensure you are focused and productive right from the get-go when you return.
- Slice and Dice: Be sure that any of your larger tasks are broken down into smaller tasks so that you are able to realize your success along the way. Do not try to eat an entire watermelon in one bite!
- Handle it Once: Begin a task and stick with it until you are done. Stay focused and do not change tasks partway through. Muscle through, and have a satisfying breath of fresh air at the end.
- Switch it Up: Do not be so predictable that you drive yourself crazy. Sometimes, you should take one of your random tasks and take care of it, out of the blue. If there is an errand you need to run, go take care of it. If you need to call and book a plane ticket, pick up the phone. Do not be afraid to keep yourself in suspense.
- Look Disaster in the Face and Smile: Do not be such a perfectionist that you hold back because you are afraid to fail. If you completely flub a first draft, know that there is always a second draft to follow. Have fun, and even laugh at your failures, with the optimism that you can only do better.
- New Habits: It takes 30 days to form a new habit. Identify something you would like to implement into your life, and focus on doing it for 30 days straight.
- Delegation: Pull your own weight, but do not be afraid to delegate responsibilities.
- Cross-Pollination: Many times, you can find inspiration for one assignment by working on another. Always be thinking of ways to optimize your performance by taking the best parts of all that you do, and combining them into other areas of your life.
- First Instinct: When you make a decision, stick with it. Your gut is usually right.
- Track Your Success: Pay attention to what drives you to success, and try to list it step by step. Find out what works for you personally, and analyze it. Implement this into other areas of you life, and find success there as well.
In conclusion, it may be helpful for you to print out the heuristic suggestions that are posted above, and focus on implementing one or two new ones into your routine each week. Do not try and utilize all of them at once; this would be more of a discouragement than a benefit. Pace yourself, and be sure to work the suggestions into your life at a rate that will make you more efficient, and help you accomplish more.
Chase R. Smith is a productivity and time management professional. For more tips & techniques to help you become more effective with managing your time and tasks visit Chase at http://www.chasingproductivity.com