How to be More Productive by Doing Less
The other day my internet went out in the middle of the workday.
It happened while we had an urgent project that my amazing teammate was handling, but he had a document he needed my input on. I also had a video meeting scheduled with a potential new client. Finally, I was supposed to be onboarding a new teammate, walking her through a shared file about how Forthright works and what our values are.
All of these activities require the internet, or at a minimum, all five bars of cell service. I had, at most, three bars…if I balanced my cell phone precariously on the edge of my desk.
When I tethered my phone to my computer, I could only open a single browser window at a time.
This meant no multitasking. It meant no video calls. It meant reviewing one document at a time, without making any sudden movements.
And you know what? It was WONDERFUL.
My world just…slowed down.
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For the past six months, we’ve all been moving at 1,000 miles an hour, required to be everything to everyone. I don’t know about you, but I find that since the pandemic began, there are fewer breaks in my day. Because there’s no face-to-face interaction, I don’t spend any down time traveling from place to place, which leaves little time to think.
So what’s a chronic multitasker to do when faced with a global pandemic? Here are some ways we can all slow down:
Set Work Blocks: I block time on my calendar to actually, ya know, do work. Sounds crazy right? But when your schedule is as packed as mine, you need time to answer emails, write deliverables and focus. As a team, we’ve found that work blocks are most productive when they are longer than an hour (though in a pinch, an hour will do). I typically go through my calendar and set my work blocks the week before so that as my calendar fills up with meetings, I still have protected work time. I treat them like real meetings and ask my team to do the same.
Close Your Email: GASP. I know, right? But if you’ve got a big project you know you need to tackle, close your email while you do it. At the very least, turn off the alerts that pop up in the corner of your screen. Interrupting your work flow by answering emails can double or triple the amount of time you spend working on a single task.
Take a Walk: My teammates like to talk. (I know, crazy, right? A PR firm staffed by people who…like to communicate with each other?) But the good part of working with a bunch of people who love to chat is that it gives us ample opportunity to do walk-and-talks. At the beginning of 1:1 check ins with our account leads, I’ll wander downstairs, throw on my tennis shoes and take them on a walk with me. Walking while talking allows me to focus on the conversation without being distracted by Slack, or worrying about my to-do list. It allows me to show up authentically for my team and bonus: get exercise. If you have meetings on your calendar that are 1:1, or better yet, meetings where you’re only required to listen and not weigh in? Good candidates for walks.
If you’re struggling to slow down, remember this: your best work is produced when you are focused and calm. Focus, weirdly, takes focus. You will show up better for those around you if you take time out of your day to work and collaborate uninterrupted.
