Entrepreneurs and small business owners shoulder the responsibility of effective time management—a task no one else can fulfill for them. Unlike employees who follow external instructions, business owners are accountable for their productivity within a given time frame.
"Time management is the process of planning and exercising conscious control of time spent on specific activities - especially to increase effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity. It involves of various demands upon a person relating to work, social life, family, hobbies, personal interests, and commitments with the finite nature of time."
~ Wikpedia ~
Contents:
Mastering Time for Maximum Achievement
Ever caught yourself saying, “I wish I had more time…” or “I can’t find the time…”? These expressions are common, yet how often do we wonder where to find this elusive time? The truth is, we all have the same 24 hours in a day. So, why do some people accomplish more within that time frame? Success in any venture hinges on efficient time management.
Did you know the average person checks their phone about 150 times every day? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, we spend on average 5 hours a day on leisure activities, including social media, in what should be considered productive time.
Time Wasters
Time mismanagement has plagued millions for years, with distractions ranging from social media to lost documents. Even with what seems like an effective digital filing system, frustration can still arise. Common time wasters for entrepreneurs include lacking priorities, procrastination, perfectionism, over committing, and succumbing to distractions. Let’s tackle this together.
What if we could gain control over our time? My goal is to help you identify time leaks and optimize your time to get more done. As we go on this journey, we'll not only boost your productivity but mine as well because we're all works in progress and need timely reminders.
Determine How Much Time You Have
“You will never ‘find' time for anything. If you want time, you must make it.” ~ Charles Bruxton
How much of your day is spent on income-generating tasks versus non-profitable activities like tweaking your website or scrolling through social media? Tracking your time with tools like Toggl or RescueTime can be eye-opening.
Another option is to write down everything you do in a day for a week. Include the amount of time you spend on each task. For example, while working on a project, note the time you switch to Facebook or any social media platform and when you return to your project. You might be surprised at the actual time spent on social media.
RescueTime is a program that runs in the background, calculating the time you spend on your computer visiting websites and monitoring the programs you use.
Determining where you spend your time and how much could be used more effectively is the first step in taking control of your time management.
Where to Optimize Your Time to Get More Done
“Time is what we want most, but what we use worst.” ~ William Penn
Now that you know where you're spending your time, it's time to optimize for increased productivity.
How to Optimize:
- Use a Calendar or Project Management Software: Divide projects into manageable chunks using tools like Trello. Break down big projects into mini-tasks and track progress.
- Outsource Work: Free up time by outsourcing tasks that drain your energy. Whether in business or personal life, consider hiring help for tasks like lawn maintenance or graphic design.
- Clear Distractions: Close unnecessary browser tabs, log out of social media accounts, and silence notifications. Apps like StayFocusd can restrict time spent on time-wasting websites.
- Avoid Multitasking: Many people think they are good at multitasking but really, it diverts your focus into different directions. You get distracted and forget what you were doing on one project. It takes longer to get back into the flow of each project. Instead, set up specific times to do each task, say check email at a specific time, social media updates another time, working on a project at another hour. Setting times to execute specific tasks is also known as time-blocking.
How to Improve Your Schedule
You can enhance your schedule and productivity in various ways.
- Toggl: Tracks time spent on websites and applications, providing visual reports.
- Workflow: Customizes and organizes tasks, integrating with popular apps.
- 1-3-5: Organizes and prioritizes tasks by breaking them down into manageable steps.
- Evernote: Keeps track of thoughts, ideas, and more across devices.
Implementing simple changes, utilizing apps, and organizing yourself can positively impact time management. The more you optimize your time, the more productive you become.
So, what’s your answer? Is it a time management or people management challenge? I’ll let you decide.
