This schedule trick will save you time, money and energy

This schedule trick will save you time, money and energyThis schedule trick will save you time, money and energyFeeling exhausted or overwhelmed? Before you continue to burn the candle at both ends orfrazzle outentirely, you might take a minute to see if theres a better way to design your day. If you wear a lot of hats at work, trying an A/B schedule might save you time, stress, and energy.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreHavent heard of this strategy before? Heres how it works You examine your to-do list, identify the types of tasks you have or modes you need to work in, and then group similar things together so you can stay in the same mindset or stick with the same tools. Instead of constantly switching back and forth between different types of tasks and leaving most of them unfinished, you set aside specific times or days to dedicate to similar tasks or single projects. Imagi ne heading home feeling energetic and inspired, rather than too exhausted to even decide what you want to have for dinner. It sounds glorious, and its not too good to be true. Heres what you can do to set yourself up for success.1. Scope your current schedule.Get clear on where you are right now before you start making schedule changes. Check in with yourself to take stock and make note of the tasks you tackle each day, week, and month. Next, nail down how much you work and how often you communicate. Last, look to uncover where and when you work your best, along with what stresses you, drains your energy, or causes you to go off-course.2. Set specific goals.Once youve had a chance to get real about what works and what doesnt right now, youll be in solid shape to set a fewproductivitygoals you hope you can achieve by altering your schedule. Not sure where to start? Here are a few ideasI want to save x hours of time per week You might try to save yourself from a time suck you know hap pens when you switch between different types of tasks. Get specific and see if you can save a number of hours per week by regularly sticking with the same type of work for a set block of time or a whole day.Id like to feel more energetic after work Do you head home feeling drained? If youve identified that switching hats each day makes you feel exhausted, foggy, or burnt out, try setting a goal thats aligned with feeling good when youre done with work. You can aim to have the energy for post-work social plans a few nights a week, or to hit an evening workout class youre usually too tired for.I want to feel more focused If youve been struggling to break through a creative rut, have recently experienced job boredom, or feel unable to get in the zone, your goal might be to count the number of times inspiration strikes in a day, week, or month. If calls and meetings pull your attention away, consider blocking an entire day for communication only.3. Test your new tactics.Have your goals ready to go? Awesome If you work with other people and your new schedule could affect them, let them know about your new approach and how it might change the way you collaborate. If you work solo, youre set to hit the ground running.4. Reflect on how you feel.If your schedule test goes well, youll find yourself with extra time, more energy, greater focus, feelings of inspiration, or restored creativity. Have you been able to close your computer for lunch? Are you sleeping well? Are you stressing about tasks? Do you feel exhausted? Your goal is to feel good at the end of each day, so be sure to schedule in things that keep you healthy, like short breaks, taking time for a balanced lunch, or even an on-site power nap.5. Evaluate your workThe last step on the list is to pause and reflect on your professional output. Are you producing high-quality deliverables? Do you feel like your assignments, projects, or presentations are as good as they were before, or hopefully, better? Ideally, g etting in the zone - and being able to stay there for a set amount of time - will help you produce your best work.This article originally appeared on Brit + Co.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people