Straight forward, witty and timeless. #TellItLikeItIs, is a blog for our generation 
The importance of money has been drilled into us from a very young age. Earning money is directly related to having a job. For some, having a job means working hard to ensure you get your money at the end of the month, or every fortnight. We have also been taught if you put in the effort and work hard those higher up will see this and promote you, or reward you appropriately.
While we can’t ignore the significance of working hard we must also be aware of the value of working smart. Lately the phrase ‘work smarter not harder’ has been gaining popularity, and rightly so as there are several benefits to working smarter.
Working smarter in this sense simply means developing a strategy whereby you prioritize and stay focused while on the job. This plan of action will reduce the chances of you feeling overwhelmed and overworked. Prioritizing your tasks will help you accomplish what you need to within the given timeframe. It also cuts back on the chances of taking work home with you or leaving the office several hours after closing time.
You may be thinking: I already prioritize at work and still feel like I’m drowning, what more can I do?
Here are a few useful tips on how to work smarter to incorporate into your usual work routine and see if you notice a difference:
1. Say ‘no’ more often: this one might be tough. Who wants to say no to their boss or co-worker right? But hear me out, saying no will allow you to manage what’s on your plate and help you complete your tasks more efficiently. The lesser your workload the easier it is to prioritize the main tasks and get them done within a reasonable time.
2. Set realistic deadlines: instead of allotting the entire day to completing your tasks, set reasonable blocks of time within which to finish a specific task. Thereby you work towards that deadline and have more time for other tasks to follow.
3. Prepare for the day: this one simply requires you having the knowledge of what the following day entails and deciding how to tackle each activity. This can easily become your evening routine or your pre-work departure routine. Map out what has to be done and in what order you would handle each one. That way when you get to work you won’t waste precious time trying to figure out what there is to do and in what order to do it.
4. Note the progress made: Be sure to cross things off your to-do list as you knock off the items one by one. Seeing your progress in shortening your list will motivate you to keep going throughout the day. This method is much more encouraging as it also helps you gauge the time needed to complete these tasks in the future.
Now, I’m not saying if you implement these measures you will automatically leave work early, or never feel frustrated. I completely understand that due the dynamic nature of the work environment things can happen which will set you back, for example a faulty computer, or equipment, a customer who takes longer than usual to assist, or delays which are beyond your control. Apart from these workplace incidents try your utmost to take things in stride and work smarter not harder and enjoy being productive in the workplace.
Written by: Andrea Louis
For: Generation Y Dominica
Generation Y Dominica 