Let’s just save time and cut to the chase:
Batch working is focused and specific forms of work. It’s dividing your time, mental space, and priorities away from multitasking and into working one task at a time. Our attention span only lasts so long before we start to wonder off, mentally and physically. So creating a plan to work in increments is crucial to get more done, efficiently.
Batch working is a buzz word in the content creating world, because it works! Content creators write out their priorities for the week, schedule what's more important, and divide the work into specific times and days. Their thoughts and ideas go from their heads and onto paper. Dividing and conquering one thing at a time.
This plan could look something like this:
Monday- brain dump ideas onto paper, make a list of what needs to be done vs what is a want to be done, prioritize list, schedule what days of week it will get done
Tuesday- create and save posts for social media
Wednesday-write 3 blog posts
Thursday- brainstorm and outline 2 podcasts
Friday- Send out newsletter and blog post
Saturday- Record 2 podcasts
This is obviously just an example, but you can see the specifics of each day. So this batch work allows the creator to give their attention and creative focus to ONE project at a time. Instead of trying to post, write a blog post, reply to emails, and record a podcast all in one day. (That’s impossible by the way.)
Batch work takes them from scattered to organized. It allows mental fog to diffuse and allows the person to actually get the work done they need to instead of drowning in their long list of to dos. Batching is all about sectioning your work so it's not a jumbled mess in your head. Or starting and stopping constantly and only getting half done projects all around, that will need to be picked up later.
Am I perfect at this? Absolutely not. (Preaching to myself with this blog post)
But since implementing some of this practice, I’ve seen improvement in my priority list and time management. And time management was tough for me to nail down. My favorite part of batching? The brain dump at the beginning of the week. Clears up all the ideas I have and gives me space to truly see what is a need and what is a want.
But batch work isn’t just for content creators on Instagram.
Take content creating out and insert everyday life. See batching as organizing what you need to do in a timely way. Whether it’s cleaning your house, laundry, school work, emails, family schedules, etc. See it as helping you compartmentalize what you need to do, so it’s easier to accomplish and get done.
Batching your home life frees up your time and your mental space for other things, like playing with your kids instead of thinking of the next thing on your to do list.
Let’s get an example of batching for home cleaning going:
Monday- clean kitchen and go grocery shopping
Tuesday- clean and stock bathrooms
Wednesday- Living room cleaning and decluttering
Thursday- bedrooms and washing sheets
Friday- Clean out cars and pick up around garage
Saturday- yard work
Sunday- make grocery list
Everyday- one load of laundry (or pick a day to sort, a day to wash, and a day to fold and put away)
And another:
Monday: get school work for kids set up for week
Tuesday: reply to emails and pay bills
Wednesday: head to bank and post office
Thursday: schedule doctors and dentist appointments
Friday: declutter and organize office paperwork
See, compartmentalizing your everyday life tasks also make it easier to get it all done in a timely manner! Because otherwise (if you’re like me) you’d run around like a chicken with your head cut off trying to clean everything in a day.
Batching takes away the overwhelm.
Pro tip: Have kiddos that are old enough to help? Get them involved with you! (Can I get an amen?!)
I hope you can implement batch working in one way or another. Even if you simply start with a notebook and pen and brain dump everything you have to do in the week ahead.
As I type this, I have a piece of paper on my fridge with 3 important appointments I have coming up. Just getting that out of my head and on paper where I can see it, helped clear my worry of forgetting, and it allowed me to mentally move on from it.
Batching will look different for everyone, but it can be a practice used by everyone.
Happy Batching!
Have a question or another way to batch work? Let me know in the comments below!
xxoo,
Stephanie "your batching buddy" Diehl
