Effective business people should follow a schedule (or budget) when spending their time.
As a business owner, I wish I had more time in my day. It seems like time keeps getting away from you, it happens all the time. You arrive at the office at 9 o’clock, check your voicemail and email, and then you look over your planner to see what you need to do today. Before you know it, it is time for lunch. These are my top 10 tips for putting time back in my day. I hope they work for you.
1. Recognize that you can do anything
There are only 24 hours in a 24-hour day. Time doesn’t change. We can only manage our time and what we do with it.
2. Find out what time wasters you are.
Time wasters are something we all succumb to. Do you spend too much time on the internet, reading emails, or making phone calls? These can be tracked to get a snapshot of your actual day.
3. All tasks should be given time limits
Once you’ve identified your time wasters, set a limit and stick with it.
4. Stick to your routines
These routines will make you more productive.
5. Learn how to delegate
Although delegation is difficult for many business owners, it is essential for businesses to succeed. This must be a priority if your goal is to achieve what you want and keep you sane.
6. Enjoy “down-time”
You should allow yourself some down-time between busy periods in order to review your planner and reevaluate the priorities.
7. Stay organized
Make sure to take the time to organize your inbox, emails, and desk at the end each day. Your desk will be tidy when you arrive at work each morning. This will help you to know which tasks must be completed first, and which emails to reply to.
8. Use the 80/20 Rule
“80% of your success is due to 20% of your efforts,” the 80/20 rule states. As a small business owner, you need to identify the 20% that is most profitable and then spend your majority of your time there.
9. Keep your to-do list short
You should not have more than eight items on your to-do list. This is a daily to-do list. As you complete tasks, check them off. You will feel accomplished.
10. Are you looking to hire a virtual assistant?
Partnering with a virtual assistant is my number one tip to small business owners. A VA can handle a lot of administrative tasks for you so that you can spend more time working with clients.
Wise Virtual Solutions, a leading virtual assistant company, aims to reduce stress and save busy business owners money. We provide online support as well as social media assistance.
