Improved time management and increased productivity will help you work smarter, not harder. Weekly and daily planning will also help you be more intentional with your time so you can prioritise effectively and start each day feeling focused. For example, perhaps you need to respond to customer inquiries. For the next half an hour, this is the only task you should focus on. As an individual, a collective, a business, or an organization you have only so much energy, resources, and time to get what you need to be done. Someone can spend hours churning ferociously through busy work. Whereas someone else could spend two hours devising a strategy that will pay off for the next five years. Don't be afraid to play around with apps until you find your "home." Zapier's best apps lists are a great place to find tools to tinker with. 2. Automate your apps

To start working smarter, not harder set better boundaries and eliminate distractions. Removing distractions helps you become laser-focused on your biggest priorities. Similarly, a cluttered virtual workstation (having a thousand tabs open and a desktop covered with programs and files) can cause unnecessary stress and panic. Do your research and figure out an organizational system that will help you cut the clutter from your work life and free up some mental space. 3. Take legit breaksStudying smarter rather than harder is crucial for academic success. Many students fall into the trap of believing that the more time they spend studying, the better they will perform. However, this is not always the case. Studying smarter involves using techniques and strategies that help you retain information more effectively, allowing you to get more done in less time.

Working smart is the best favor you can do for yourself. It will improve your work, your relationships and your sanity. People change, and your team members are no different: Approach your "work smarter, not harder" journey with this in mind. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to working smarter. Even when you find a process that works for you and your team, you may need to modify it over time. During times of quiet, unexpected ideas and solutions to problems have the chance to slip into mind. 7. Delegate or Ask For Help Learning to work smarter, not harder can make you more effective and productive. Working smarter also leads to increased focus and performance.

4. Stop trying to multitask

Learning to make connections when you consume information pays dividends. While you study, think of the various ways that the information you are reading, watching or listening to is connected to one another. This is called contextual learning. Try to group related information on one flashcard. 6. Set goals