Finding enough time in the day is a challenge for many small business owners. There is never enough time to get everything done, especially when you’re wearing a lot of different hats and taking on many different roles. Not only is it frustrating, but it can be stressful to feel like you’re bouncing from task to task and never really crossing things off your list.
Your current approach may appear acceptable but still, maybe you could use your time more effectively and efficiently. Stuffing your schedule will not help, instead arrange your tasks priority-wise and delete useless tasks from your list. Writing errands down also helps, it saves mental energy in recalling things that need to be done, and the brain focuses more on getting them done on time. Furthermore, getting up early adds time to your daily routine, nobody needs you often and you can get on with things. Award yourself with breaks after small time intervals; refresh your mind my stretching or walking around. Some people set their timer for 25 minutes and concentrate on getting one tasks done before the beeper goes off. Try –it, it might work for you.
Could you be more efficient and effective with your time? Test yourself
- Write down the last 10 things you did at the end of your working day yesterday. Be honest J (on the left)
- Now write down the main objectives of your business. (on the right)
Here are some examples:
Activities at the end of the previous day Main Business objectives
Phoned a potential client Increase sales by 10%
Hung out the laundry Increase Social Media followers by 25%
Checked direct Facebook messages Launch new products
Ordered party dress online
Posted a blog
You should have two lists now. Place them next to each other and draw a line from the headings in first column that are helping to achieve the ones in the second column.
If they are all linked – well done! If you have some dead ends, maybe work on your time management!