“I wish I knew that a healthy work-life balance stems from always prioritizing time management and staying organized”
-Stephanie Fatta, Founder, Beauty Brite
The Oxford Dictionary defines time management as “the ability to use one’s time effectively or productively, especially at work.”
It is known time management is vital to an efficient and constructive work experience. But for small business owners, this concept is often easier said than done.
Whether you’re just getting your business off the ground or are in the scaling stage, having a good grasp of proper time management will undoubtedly serve you well.
To help you out, here are seven pointers for effectively planning, organizing, and managing your work life.
Your business is your baby. You’ve been with it since its creation and have nurtured it into the success it is today.
It’s no wonder why sharing this responsibility is a hard thing to do. It’s also one of the most important factors of effective time management.
Being a great leader—and business owner—involves delegating responsibilities and tasks to those you work with, and having the confidence that they’ll be able to execute successful. Not only does this foster a confident team and positive work environment, but it allows your business to grow.
If you’re struggling to decide which tasks to delegate, try using the 70% method as a common rule of thumb; delegate tasks to a team member when you believe they’ll be able to accomplish it at least 70% as well as you can.
Remember, running a business isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress, and delegation helps you get there.
To-do lists have stood the test of time—for good reason. Psychologically speaking, to-do lists help us feel better about the work we’ve accomplished while easing the stress of upcoming tasks.
Checking off a completed item allows you to visualize your progress. You’re actively getting things done and can easily see what to focus on next.
We take work breaks for the same reason we sleep at night: to recharge. People are less stressed and more efficient when they allot time for breaks throughout the day.
Having good time management skills involves recognizing that breaks allow a person to be more productive, rather than less productive, which many falsely assume.
Breaks should be factored into your day-to-day. Try not to skip them.
Start by:
“Setting boundaries is vital to being
productive and making the most of working from home”
-Ahmed Mir
Founder, Sip Coffee House
Perhaps the greatest entrepreneurial fallacy is that people need to work all hours of the day to start or run a business. The reality is, setting boundaries is important to keep momentum and prevent burnout.
At-home work isn’t a bad thing. In fact, many people are doing it now and proving wildly successful.
Just remember, it’s important to set boundaries and manage your time appropriately to account for downtime and personal affairs.
How many times have you thought of a great idea or an important task and said “I’ll remember that,” only to later forget?
Probably many times—we all do it.
That being said, the fifth tip for practicing good time management is to write things down. Whether you’re an avid fan of to-do lists or enjoy journaling your thoughts, writing things down is incredibly beneficial.
It helps you:
Try investing in a digital or physical planner or notebook to help you organize and keep track of all that you have going on.
What many small business owners struggle with is first deciding what is most important.
Start by working off of due dates. Time is usually a constraint with work tasks, so when deciding what to work on first, it helps to figure out what needs to be finished first.
Another way to prioritize is based on project importance. If a large assignment isn’t due for a while, but is a significant task, it should be prioritized. (Note: this is where proper planning comes into play. Allot a little bit of time each day to chip away at it.)
Another trick is to ask yourself, “If I was only allowed to work on one of these tasks for the rest of the day, which would it be?” This will help you narrow your list down to one, two, or maybe a few items.
Lastly, remember to commit to your tasks. You’ll prove a lot more productive—and feel a larger sense of accomplishment—if you finish what you set out to complete on a given day.
This tip applies to both in and out of the office.
You’re an entrepreneur, not a one-man band. In other words, you can’t do it all alone! Making time for those you work with goes a long way. It gives you an opportunity to teach others, learn from them, and strike up a positive company culture.
Work’s more impactful with a team you enjoy working with and can confidently rely on.
Meanwhile, it’s also important to make time for people outside of work. Family and friends will surely be there through your entrepreneurial highs and lows, but they’re also there to keep you grounded.
Spending personal time with others is a crucial part of time management that will make you more relaxed and well balanced. After all, a happy entrepreneur makes for a successful small business!
For more advice on how to effectively manage your time and business, be sure to keep in touch with GoSite