Have you ever started working on a project only to get stuck. Or becomes side tracked only to realize your deadline is fast approaching and you’ve made little progress.
You may make a mad dash to complete it or you ask for more time. But the feeling of lack of progress on a project can get overwhelming at times.
At the beginning of my career as a writer working for a media company meeting deadlines use to frighten me.
Luckily after some experimentation and research I found 5 ways to optimize my workflow that I think can help you meet those deadlines.
1. Break project into steps
Worse thing you can do is doing everything all at once. Break the process apart to increase your focus.
What this will help is help you make small wins and make the project manageable.
2. Batch similar task together
I learn this from Michael Hyatt’s book free to focus. The concept is simple, group similar task on your calendar.
Work on everything in batches to increase your focus and save you time later.
For example, do all interviews on the same day. Write your peice at another time.
If you’re a designer, spend time to find all your ideas. Spend time to download all resources needed. Then sketch out all concepts then finalize them on another day.
3. Create templates and systems.
Creating templates and systems is critical to optimizing workflow.
In the book emyth Micheal Gerber emphasizes the need to be able to repeat results. If you know how to do something really well create a template or system to ensure you can get that basic result faster.
If you do something repeatedly everyday create a template. It helps you get consistent results everytime.
4. Review only when finished
There’s a chance you want to scrutinize your work on the go. Don’t do it. Make changes only when you are finished with the original idea.
Editing while you’re working will only waste time. Lengthen the time to actually finish and worse make you miss your deadline.
5. Get all the tools you need for the job
Invest in the right tools to make life easier. Don’t look at the cost upfront, look at the time you will save buying the right tools.
This could mean, software, plug-ins, physical tools, templates even people. Get what you need to get the job done.
Optimizing your workflow will take some time. Once you put the measures in place you will see your productivity improve.