Get Focused With Batching
One of the biggest time wasters is task switching – otherwise known as multi-tasking.
When we’re working on multiple things it once, it can feel like we’re getting a lot accomplished, but it’s an illusion. Things take us way longer when we’re not focused, because each time you shift between even the simplest of tasks, your brain has to take the time to move into a new way or mode of thinking. It takes up a ton of your time and energy!
The solution to staying focused is task batching. Batching means grouping similar tasks, activities or actions together, and doing them all at once.
When you batch, and you’re focused on one type of task and repeating a very specific and similar action, you get into a flow. This means you get faster and faster and faster at it (without sacrificing quality or accuracy). Your brain doesn’t have to recalibrate anything, so it can just get used to doing one thing until you’re actually doing it on auto-pilot.
How To Batch
- First, think about what types of tasks you do that you can group together. Batching works great for anything that’s routine or ongoing, so brainstorm ALL the things you’re doing on a regular basis.
Some examples to get you started:
Writing blog posts, scheduling social media, creating graphics, writing newsletters, client calls, content creation, social posting, editing photos, doing your financials, sending emails…the list is endless!
- From your brainstorm, define very specific, broken-down tasks to batch. The more specific the tasks you batch, the more you will reduce task switching or multi-tasking and get into that flow state.
For example, “record videos” is a separate batched task than “write video scripts.”
If you’re doing those at the same time, you’re task switching and reducing your flow.
- Next, create batching to-do lists so you know exactly what you’re doing while you’re This way you won’t have to stop or interrupt yourself to figure out what’s next while you’re in the flow.
It’s helpful to create batching to-do list templates.
How? Write each batching category written at the top of each list as a header (for example, “record videos” or “write video scripts”).
Under each of those headers you can then list all of the small specific tasks that are related and that you’ll complete during your batched time. For example, on the “record videos” batch list you can list every individual video you’re going to record.
- Last, mark it in your Find the time you’re least likely to be distracted and make a commitment to it. Treat it like a meeting and block off the time as unavailable.
You’ll need to decide approximately how long each task will take you to complete and the overall amount of time you’ll be batching for.
Now that you’ve made your batching to-do lists, you’ll be able to make a very good educated guess.
Batching can be done even when you only have a little bit of time – you don’t need to wait for several hours of uninterrupted time (seriously, when does that ever happen!)
Happy batching and enjoy the flow!
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