How to Batch Your Work to Increase Your Productivity & Free Up More Time?

Are you an entrepreneur or a business owner and want to increase your productivity? Are you looking for ways to complete the task in less time? 

Everyone wants to make the most of their time in a day. Someone like me will make tons of to-do lists and set reminders about the deadlines. Those monstrous to-do lists don’t work for everyone. The pile just keeps getting bigger and bigger every day. 

While trying to complete all the tasks from to-do lists, you have to constantly switch between tasks. It is hard because you are in the momentum of working on that specific task and suddenly, you have to move on to the next one. 

When you are trying to complete more than one task at once, it is easier to get distracted. As a result of these distractions, you lose the rhythm to complete the task. Hence, you fail to increase your productivity. 

Whenever you read or talk about productivity, batching is one term that you will hear over and over. You must have heard about task batching but never dared to try it. Let’s learn how to batch your work to increase your productivity and free up more time. 

What is Batching?

Batching is a time management strategy that involves completing similar tasks at the same scheduled time. 

Like going to the post office to send whole mail instead of one letter. If you would go to the post office to send an individual letter every day, you will waste money on gas and waste your time as well. 

Instead of switching between tasks, batch something that requires 3-5 hours of uninterrupted time. This way you can focus on one task for a longer time. Time batching enables you to concentrate while minimizing distractions and increasing your productivity.

How to Use Time Batching?

I have told you what batching is but how can you start batching your tasks. Time batching requires a lot of planning. Here are the simple steps to time batching:

Step 1: Create a list of tasks

The first step to gather all your tasks into one daunting to-do list. Write down even the smallest task on the list. Identify the tasks that you need to do daily, weekly, and monthly. 

You can use the time batching technique for your personal tasks as well. I recommend that you should create separate lists of business and personal tasks. 

Step 2: Combine similar tasks 

Have a look at the to-do list and choose what to batch. Find the tasks that you can do at the same scheduled time. 

For example, if you have to write a blog for a client, you can decide the topic, do research, and write a rough draft in one sitting. Once you get the approval from the client, you write the final copy, do editing and formatting in another batched time. This way, you will save time by combining those two-three tasks into one. 

Step 3: Schedule the time blocks

Time batching involves 3-5 hours devoted to one batch of tasks. You must set realistic time slots to complete the tasks. Pick a time, date, and mark it on your calendar. 

You must remove all the distractions when you start to work. I know, Instagram notifications are tempting. Try to keep social media notifications on mute. Commitment is crucial to complete the task at the scheduled time. Don’t postpone the tasks from one day to another. Stick to the schedule and increase your productivity. 

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What Should be Batched in Business?

When you create the to-do list, it can be hard to decide what should be batched. Here are some examples of tasks that should be batched in business:

Administrative Tasks:

• Emails and phone calls
• Sales pitching
• Marketing Planning
• Job applications
• Business development
• Meeting preparations

Writing Tasks:

• Social media posts
• Articles
• Updating website
• Monthly Newsletter
• Check web analytics
• Creating content for meetings with clients

Financial Tasks:

• Invoicing
• Book-keeping
• Paying taxes
• Check investments and debts

How batching helps in getting more done?

Time batching helps you to track the time spent on each task. I have listed a few benefits of batching.

• Focus: When you group similar tasks, you can stay focused for a longer period. The increased concentration helps you to complete more work in less time. 
• Save time: As you are not switching between tasks, it saves your time. You can use this time to complete other important tasks. 
• Reduces stress: When you batch your tasks, you know how many steps you need to finish one big project. You can manage your time more effectively to complete the tasks, which means no more stress of missing the deadlines.
• Know repeated tasks: Time batching helps you to identify repeated tasks. You can use a project management tool to effectively schedule the tasks that you need to do every day, every week or every month. 

Time batching versus Time Blocking

Time batching means doing similar tasks at one time. It saves your time as you are not jumping between tasks. You can stay more focused on one task for a very long period. 

For instance, planning social media posts for the whole month. You can plan the posts, create the required content, and schedule a time slot to post it on social media platforms. All these tasks can be completed in one sitting. 

Time Blocking means blocking a certain amount of time to focus on one specific project. For example, you can schedule a specific time to check and respond to emails. 

Task Batching

Task batching groups similar tasks together. It helps you save time as you don’t have to check your to-do list constantly. You don’t have to jump to another task without completing the first one. Task batching helps you to organize your day. You will achieve maximum productivity and save time. 

Are you ready to start batching to increase your productivity and free up more time?

Let’s embrace the power of batching. You can start batching on a weekly basis and see the changes. You can see what works for you. Batching is the most reliable and effective way of being productive and creative.