晨读美文：如何给梦想留出更多时间(2)

晨读美文：如何给梦想留出更多时间

　　3. Batch Tasks Together

　　分批处理任务

　　When you're going through the workday, try to keep similar tasks together. When you switch from one thing to another, your brain takes a few minutes to catch up and settle in: constantly jumping between answering emails and writing a report and tidying up your desk just means you'll lose track of where you'd got to. You might feel like you're working super-efficiently (because your mind is buzzing all over the place), but you'll actually be wasting a lot of time.

　　工作时可以将相似的任务并在一起处理。当你从一个任务换到另一个任务时，大脑会花几分钟进行调整：同时既要回复邮件、撰写报告，又要整理办公桌，到头来你可能会手足无措。虽然这样你可能觉得自己效率超级高(因为大脑一刻没停)，但其实并没有优化利用时间。

　　If you need to answer a number of emails, do them all at once. The same goes for phone calls, filing, photocopying and other similar tasks.

　　如果要回复的邮件很多，那就一起处理掉。电话、整理文案、影印等同样如此。

　　4. Block Out Chunks of Time

　　腾出大段时间

　　Do you have some big project that you'd love to get round to? Maybe it's writing a novel, starting a business, training for a marathon, decluttering your home ... whatever your particular venture or goal, you never get around to making progress.

　　你是否有个大计划总想花时间去做?比如写小说、创业、马拉松训练或整理家务，不管个人想法或目标是什么，你就是还没时间去落实吧?

　　The best way to tackle big projects like this is to force them into your schedule. Spare time doesn't just appear from nowhere – you need to make a conscious effort to create it. Block out a weekend afternoon, for instance: tell family and friends you have another engagement that day. Then storm on ahead with that project. Trust me, you'll feel great for having made a start.

　　对付这种大计划的办法就是强行作出安排。时间就像海绵里的水，你得用心去挤才行。比如，你可以腾出一个周末下午的时间，告诉亲友自己另有安排，然后开始拿出行动吧。相信我，一旦开始你就会感到妙不可言。

　　5. Don't Multitask

　　不要一心多用

　　Although multitasking feels efficient – because it feels busy – it actually loses you time. By sticking to doing one thing at a time, you'll be much more focused and able to produce your best work: there's nothing efficient about rushing a job which you then end up having to redo.

　　虽然同时处理多个任务会使你感到很有效率(因为一直在忙)，但其实很耗时间。坚持一次只做一件事，你会更专注更有效率：与其匆忙“鬼画符”后又返工，还不如先专心做好一件事呢。

　　6. Stay Focused

　　保持专注

　　When you are working on a task, make a conscious effort to remain focused. Sure, you'll have intrusive thoughts like maybe I should check my email or this desk could really do with tidying. Just recognize that those thoughts are impulses which you don't need to give into. If you think of something while you're working on your task like I really must phone Joe, then just make a note on a bit of paper or in your diary so you don't forget – and get on with the task at hand.

　　工作时一定要努力保持专注。当然，你可能会时不时想到“该查看邮件了”或“办公桌真该整理一下了”，但请记住：这些都只是一时想法，不要陷进去。如果你工作时想到别的事情，比如“我真得打电话给乔了”，那就在纸上或记事本上写下来以免忘记，然后继续手头的工作。

　　You'll accomplish much more by working in a deliberately focused way than if you let yourself jump around from task to task as things come to mind.

　　刻意保持专注比思想散漫时的工作效率要高得多。

　　7. Finish Work On Time

　　按时完成工作

　　Finally, one of the best ways to make more time in your life is to finish your work on time! If you work for an employer, make an effort to leave the office on time – at least a couple of days each week. (I know this is difficult if your workplace has a long-hours culture).

　　最后，在生活中创造更多时间的办法就是——按时完成工作!如果你是上班族，就确保能按时下班——至少每周能有那么几天。(当然，如果你的公司有加班的习惯，这么做也不那么容易。)

　　If you work for yourself, you need to be even more self-disciplined, as your work is likely to be very easily accessible when you're at home! Some good ways to create a boundary at the end of the day are to keep your work separate from the rooms in your house where you relax. You could also schedule something social in the evening (perhaps meeting friends for a drink) so that you can't get caught up in "just one more email"...

　　如果你是为自己工作，那就得更加自律了，因为这样你在家也很方便办公!区分一天工作结束的办法就是，将办公的地方与休息的地方分开来。你也可以在晚上安排一些交际活动(比如跟朋友喝一杯)，这样你就不会为“又来了一封邮件”犯难了。