New Year New You: Work Smarter, Not Harder

It’s January: A time for renewal and change! But let’s not talk about hitting the gym or cutting calories (never!!).  Rather, let’s talk about how we can work smarter, not harder, in this New Year to hopefully free up some time to do more of what we want and what makes us happy.  Make time for that yoga class, to enjoy a glass of wine and catch up on your favorite shows, or even more importantly – to see family & friends who you might’ve lost touch with throughout the busy season.  It’s time to feel more accomplished and less stressed on a daily basis.

In speaking with a few of our very own New England NACE members, everyone can agree that one of the keys to daily success is your TO DO LIST!  Michelle Reid (Director of Sales & Catering at The Tavern at Quarry Hills & Granite Links Gold Club, NE NACE Past President and 2017-2018 NE NACE Treasurer) communicated, “I always make my list for the next day before I leave work each night. This allows me to leave work knowing what is on my plate the next day, which alleviates stress. It also allows me to hit the ground running each morning without having to waste time planning my work day.”  Wonderful! 

To take Michelle’s advice one step further, Jeri Solomon (Owner of Jeri Solomon Floral Design) shared a tip that she learned from Alan Berg during a training seminar at WeddingWire.  Instead of creating what feels like one never-ending TO DO LIST composed of all of your short-term and long-term projects, Jeri separates them into two:  the TO DO LIST and the “TO-DAY” list.  She says the TO-DAY LIST helps her feel amazing about checking everything off the list each day.  She keeps her TO DO LIST for more long-term items.  Some examples:
 
To-Day List:                                                              To-Do List: 
Write up & send out contracts                              Design a plan for more social media interaction
Pay bills                                                                    Redesign the website
Respond to all leads                                               Wedding Welcome Packet for booked couples
“Like” this blog post J                                            Finalize budgeting & goals for 2017
Sign up for next month’s NACE meeting            Become a NACE Board Member
 
Looking at the lists separately, they’re not so bad.  But put them together and you’ll only accomplish no more than ½ of your goals every day - definitely not something to keep you motivated or feeling great about your progress.  Jeri said “when I put those two lists together I would always feel like “I failed” at the end of the day because not everything was checked off. Now with the two lists side by side, I can keep track of the big projects.” 

When you create your lists you can keep in mind that things on your TO-DAY list can be smaller tasks that are achievable, ones that work towards your TO DO LIST goals.  You can even break down your TO DO LIST items with their own steps and move each individual task over to the TO-DAY list as you are ready.  What a great tool to get started with organizing for 2017!  These lists will help you to feel less stressed and overwhelmed on a daily basis which will improve not just your work life but your overall health and well-being.

So stop looking at Instagram, put down your phone altogether and start making your lists.  And don’t forget Michelle’s advice – at the end of each business day take a few minutes you set your list up for the next day and set yourself up for success!  You won’t be disappointed.  In fact, you’ll get a lot more “me” time while also feeling far more productive each day than you did last year.  Enjoy!
 

We at NACE would love to hear from you.  In the comments below, let me know how you’d answer, “How do you work smarter, not harder?”   Thank you for sharing!