Introduction

In this article, I’ll discuss a time management technique called “batch processing” that is particularly useful for completing certain types of tasks more efficiently and saving time spent completing other tasks more efficiently. I’ll discuss what exactly batching is, why it’s a beneficial time management strategy, and finally, I’ll discuss the five steps required to successfully batch tasks.

What is batch processing?

Batch processing is a process that saves time and allows you to complete repetitive tasks more efficiently using less mental energy. In essence, this task is defined as completing a relatively small repetitive task that you would normally complete regularly over a period of time, multiple times in a row over a longer period of time.

Why is batch processing a beneficial time management technique?

By completing a small task that you would normally do several times a day, daily or weekly, multiple times over a larger period of time, you are saving time by freeing up those smaller periods of your day or week that you would normally spend completing your task processed by lots.

Completing a task multiple times in a row also makes you more efficient at completing that task. When you create a system for completing your repetitive tasks, you allow your brain to get used to completing a certain task and eventually it costs your brain, and as a result you, to complete the task at hand repetitively compared to completing the whole task. task individually repeatedly.

The repeatability of this process also means that you save mental energy in two ways. First, it takes mental energy to switch from one task to focusing your attention on completing another task. This technique allows your brain to focus on completing the same task for a longer period of time, thereby reducing the amount of cognitive or brain energy you spend switching tasks. Second, by completing a routine task ahead of time, as is the case with most tasks you can batch process, you don’t have to remember to complete it later, literally freeing up your cognitive load or the amount of space in your brain available to complete other tasks.

How do you batch a task?

There are four basic steps to batching a task. I’ll list them in order and then develop each step in more detail. First, choose a suitable task to batch process. Second, you choose and schedule a relatively large amount of time to spend completing all the repetitions of the task you are completing. Third, discover a process, routine, or system to complete your tasks in the most efficient way. Fourth, you really complete your tasks.

1. Choose an appropriate task:

To choose a suitable task for batching, you should think of something that is relatively short to complete, that you have to complete on a regular basis, and that is not urgent in nature.

For example, you don’t want to choose unless you are highly motivated and energetic, writing several academic papers in a row. This would take too long, it’s not very easy to systematize, it’s something that usually has variable and time-sensitive deadlines, and it’s not something that you normally need to finish often.

A more appropriate task would be something like laying out your work clothes for the week, it’s something you have to complete on a weekly basis, you can devise a system of picking, ironing and hanging or something similar to complete the task efficiently, and it’s a task that can be You can complete it early without affecting the benefit of completing it.

2. Choose and schedule a time period:

Most of the tasks that you batch process are those that take relatively little time to complete individually. When you first start batching jobs, you’ll want to multiply the amount of time it takes to complete the job on its own by the number of times you’ll repeat it. Then, because it will be a relatively large chunk of time, especially compared to what you’re used to spending to complete this task, you want to schedule the time on purpose to ensure you have enough time to complete the batch process and complete all the tasks. repetitions. of the task you intended to complete in order to receive the greatest benefits of batch processing.

To continue with the example of laying out your clothes for the week, if it normally takes you 20 minutes to pick out an outfit every night or morning, iron or steam it, and have everything you need for your outfit ready for the next day, and if you work five days a week, you’ll want to multiply 20 minutes by 5 reps. This would equate to 100 minutes, or approximately one hour and 40 minutes. You’ll want to pick a day where you can spare an hour and 40 minutes, or a little more when you’re just starting out, to finish laying out your laundry for the week ahead. As you become more efficient with your process, the amount of time it takes you to complete a full batch process will likely decrease by a noticeable amount.

3. Find out a Routine/Process or System:

To save time and energy with batch processing, it is essential to discover a system, process, or routine to complete your repetitive tasks. Typically, the most time-efficient form of batching involves completing the same first step for all iterations of a task, then the second step for all tasks, and so on. This isn’t always possible, but by devising a process to complete an entire task before completing the next iteration with the same process, you’ll also increase your efficiency and eventually start to save time.

For example, when laying out your clothes for the week, you might decide to choose all of your outfits first. You can then choose to pull out, or at least choose, whatever accessories you want to wear with each outfit. Then you can choose which shoes to wear for each outfit. Then you would iron or steam, if you do this as part of your clothing preparation process, one whole type of clothing first, like all the pants you’re wearing, and then another type of clothing next, like the tops you’ll be wearing. . be wearing, until each type of clothing is ready. Finally, you would hang each outfit, and for greater efficiency, you would hang them in some way that the order in which you wear them is obvious to you.

4. Complete your batch process:

The last step for batch processing is, at the pre-selected time, to complete the tasks that you have decided to batch process. Depending on the task, this may seem tedious, or it may seem like a waste of time to take a relatively large amount of time right now to complete tasks that you would normally complete later in a much shorter amount of time, but by practicing and becoming proficient at Through this process, you will begin to see the long-term benefits of this time management technique.

To complete our example of batching laundry preparation for the work week, you may feel like spending 100 minutes to finish something you’re used to easily doing in 20 minutes each day may seem counterintuitive, but in the long run it’s saving 20 minutes. of your day every other day, you’ll eventually spend less time completing your entire batch process, and you’ll start to notice less stress from not having to think about or complete choosing and preparing your work clothes each day.