Everybody wants to be more productive. Productivity translates to success, whether you’re a freelancer or an employee. Here are five powerful ways to make sure you’re getting the most out of your time.
Even if increased productivity didn’t bring extra income, people would still want to be productive because there’s just a confidence-building, make-you-feel-great kind of charm about knowing you can work fast, be efficient and get the job done without rushing.
As time management will obviously be a huge part in this post, you may also be interested in 5 Simple Time Management Techniques for Freelance Designers.
The first step, and the most important, is to plan out the details of your project before you start. It is absolutely amazing how much time you can save by having a clear idea of where you’re going before you start. When I’m pressed for time, I sometimes find it tempting to skip the planning stage and just get on with the work. And every single time I find that it costs me later. If you’re a designer, build those wireframes before you ever touch the computer. Developers, plan out your code with flowcharts or outlines.
The #1 rule of productivity is, ‘Be Organized’. There is something almost magical about the amount of time you can save by just writing out the steps of your project before you get started. By doing this, you can get a clearer picture of your project and see obstacles coming before you get to them. You will have a better idea of input you need from others, and you will appear more composed and professional.
We can’t remember everything, and I’m sure everybody has experienced one of those moments where your mind goes blank, leaving you thinking, “I’ve used this command a billion times. Why can’t I remember it all of a sudden?” This is where reference sheets come in. Some call them cheat sheets, but ‘cheat sheet’ paints a bad picture in most people’s minds. Referring to a source of information is not cheating, it is being efficient. No matter what you call them, they can save you a lot of time.
Of course, everybody will have a different list of commonly used tools and technologies. The important thing is to pick a few quality reference sheets that fit you and your working style, and then use them. You could even print them out, laminate them and get them bound at your copy shop. You may alr
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