Time is precious for any business owner, but for the sole trader, it is even more so. As you are doing everything alone, there is only so much you can fit into your average working day. So, if you don’t want to get overwhelmed or work extended office hours, you need to get better time management strategies in place if you want to get everything done.
So, if you are looking to get more done in your working day, here are three top tips to help you get better at managing your time.
Tip #1: Plan ahead if you want to be more in control of your time
The best time management tip you can follow is to plan your day in advance. Whether you opt for planning the night before or setting aside the first 10 minutes at the start of your working day, is up to you. But if you know your priorities, you can then use time blocks to ensure you are getting those tasks completed.
Look to break big tasks down into smaller chunks, so they are easier to manage too. This helps you to accurately set aside the time needed for each chunk, rather than trying to guess how long the entire task will take you.
Tip #2: Better time management means delegating more
This should be non negotiable. You cannot do everything yourself, especially when your business starts to grow, and you get busier. Look to share the workload with someone. Pass over the mundane tasks or those you simply aren’t skilled at doing.
Delegation doesn’t just mean outsourcing to someone else. If you want better time management, you need to streamline what you do. Clear the waste, the rubbish tasks that you do that are more habit than help. Automate where possible, especially tasks that are regularly done – such as file backups, email delivery, and social media scheduling.
Tip #3: Get focused if you want better time management
This third top tip for better time management is about eliminating distractions. You cannot focus on the task at hand if you are being side-tracked by notifications and emails arriving in your inbox. Turn off automated notifications on your laptop and put your phone on silent. If you work from home, let everyone know your working hours, to minimise distractions.
If you know what your priorities are for the day (Tip #1!), get those tasks completed first. Set yourself a timer and work solely on one task at a time until the time slot is completed.
Time is precious for all business owners. If you want to get more done, you need to implement better time management strategies that work for you. The three tips above will help you, but only if you implement them. But if you do make a conscious effort to follow them, you will find yourself getting more done in your working day as well as an increase in your motivation – so it is worth the effort!
If you’re used to doing everything on your own and wondering who you can outsource tasks to, why not get in touch? I can take those smaller, mundane, and detailed tasks off your plate, so you can focus on the most important tasks in your business. So why not get in touch and let’s see how I can help support you, your team and your customers.
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