Have a plan for the day<\/strong><\/p>\n

Working to a plan is discussed first for a reason. No matter how efficiently you work, if you don\u2019t plan, you stand an excellent chance of failing. Some people brag about being able to being able to multitask, but multitasking is seldom efficient, and if you\u2019re suddenly faced with a number of tasks, and precious little time to do them in, you\u2019re likely to be overwhelmed.<\/p>\n

Being overwhelmed isn\u2019t fun. It\u2019s not only stressful, but your tasks don\u2019t get done well, or don\u2019t get done at all. Plan your day\u2019s work at the end of the preceding day, and see how much smoother things move along.<\/p>\n

Use Keyboard Shortcuts<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of the secrets of becoming more productive is learning how seemingly small things can add up. A keyboard shortcut may only save you a few seconds, but it you use many different ones often, the time you save rapidly adds up over the course of a workday. Keyboard shortcuts allow you to keep your hands on the keyboard, as opposed to reaching for, and fiddling with, the mouse. Try it.<\/p>\n

Standardize Naming Conventions and Assign Tags<\/strong><\/p>\n

The benefit of using standard naming conventions is so obvious, and doing so is so easy, that it\u2019s a wonder everyone doesn\u2019t use them. But many don\u2019t. Sticking to a naming convention can save you time otherwise wasted in looking for \u201clost\u201d files. Doing so can save your collaborators and developers a ton of time as well. And, don\u2019t forget to assign tags to your files. It will save time searching for solutions online.<\/p>\n

Use Time Tracking<\/strong><\/p>\n

The purpose of time tracking is not to place you under pressure. Its purpose is to provide useful information. What you learn from time tracking, particularly if you tend to procrastinate, or move away from the task you are doing, is how to become more productive; and do so relatively quickly. Businesses use time tracking information to provide more accurate estimates to their clients. You can too.<\/p>\n

Optimize Your Office Space for Speed<\/strong><\/p>\n

Design and productivity apps sometimes feature presets, the purpose of which is to make work easier when you first start using the tool. Some of these presets can be adjusted to speed up a process, or you can design your own. The more you can do with a preset, and do faster, the better off you are.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"