Here are tips on how to manage time as a small business owner. It is important to manage time to increase productivity. Since I started the digital planner business, managing time efficiently is the most essential skill for a small business owner.
There is a lot of research on how to use time productively and efficiently. I also learn and practice time management methods, find ways that work for me, and make them a habit in my daily life. Here’s a look at how I use them and how they work.
I am not a very diligent person. I am a very introverted person who likes to sit quietly and read a book or draw a picture. However, when it comes to personal relationships or work life, there are many cases where I have to juggle my intentions and obligations. So, I studied time management with the intention of managing my time more efficiently and doing what I love in the remaining time.
There are many more ways to improve your productivity and help you make the most of your day.
In the past, we may have prioritized focused time and big goals, but these days, there is a greater focus on personal satisfaction and small, easily trackable goals.
The pursuit of productivity is not about being number one. To be happy is to use the time for yourself correctly.
There is also a new definition of productivity: “productivity is looking at doing what is best for you, not pure economic output.”
The ways of managing time to increase productivity.
1. Top 3 List
At the start of the day, go through your to-do list and choose the top 3 major tasks that have the highest priority. This will keep you satisfied with what you have done even if you spend the rest of the day doing nothing.
Make a daily schedule and write down three important to-do lists. For example, on a project to be completed by next month, write down 3 things to do today. And if you focus on those days, you will have a high level of satisfaction in having a full day.
The top-3 priority method is a reorganization of your daily to-do list based on what you learn in Eisenhower’s Time Management. (The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People)
“Important and urgent task”: I make it an “A.”
“Urgent but Less important task”: I make a “B”
“Important but Less urgent task”: I make a “C”
” Less urgent and less important tasks”: I put this list on the “not-to-do” list.
2. Time Block
Many people use this method. If you’re having trouble finding time for work, time-blocking methods are helpful. You can schedule time on your calendar to dedicate time to a specific task at the beginning of the day. This has the added benefit of reducing stress as you no longer have to worry about running out of time.
As a housewife and doing both a job and a side job, like me, you might have to deal with many specific tasks.
As an example, I set aside 30 minutes to clean the house when coming home from work. Of course, instead of cleaning the whole house, I make a checklist of the spaces to be cleaned that day and make blocks from Monday to Friday, and put them in the planner.
3. To-do list and reorganization
Our brains should be used to do things, not to remember them. Use a to-do list to write down your to-dos, or write them down on a timetable or post-it to plan your day.
However, when I make a to-do list, I often feel pressured by the growing list. So, I think of it as a master list that can do it.
I use this method mainly when planning a specific project.
For example, you want to implement a new project to renovate a kitchen. Then you have a to-do list of research and purchases of what you need, how much it will cost, and many more. Write them down on your master list as they come to mind. And sort those lists into 3-5 levels. Re-categorize the sorted list and add it to the time block by month, week, or day. And if you didn’t complete it that day, tag it as “in progress” and move it to the next day. Try not to discourage yourself, and see the picture. You will feel progress every day.
In my case, I use this method when planning and launching products for my stationery business. As a result, a new product (Creator Monthly Magazine) has been continuously released every month.
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4. Time tracking
Time is incredibly valuable. Many people think doing certain tasks takes too long, so use a timer or time tracking app to see which tasks are taking the most time.
For me, when I write a blog or come up with an idea for a stationery product, it often takes longer than planned. So, in the beginning, I kept track of my time by writing down the start and finish times on my work schedule.
5. Stop Multitasking
This depends on how focused you are on the task. Productivity experts argue that multitasking is not beneficial.
Focus on one task at a time and do your best.
It is important to keep this in mind, especially when working on important tasks or projects.
Of course, for me, the time allowed for multitasking is listening to music while cleaning the house or listening to a podcast while running the washing machine.
4. Leverage and combine productivity tools
If you use a lot of productivity tools, take a look to see if there are any integrations you can use. This will prevent you from opening 10 different apps and looking for what you need.
Among the tools I use, I use the Airtable to link Google Drive and mail.
5. Use Monthly Planner
For schedule management, record important dates, holidays, family birthdays, bill payment deadlines, and important meeting dates on the monthly calendar at the beginning of each month. By doing this, you will not miss an important day.
6. Take a break.
Working non-stop does not increase productivity. Taking breaks can improve productivity in the long run and prevent fatigue.
In the case of long-term work by applying the Pomodoro method, it is done by renting a house for 25 minutes, working, and taking a 5-minute break.
7. Set small goals
It’s important to set small, easily achievable goals throughout the day to motivate yourself and keep you motivated.
8 Take time for self-care/self-development
In addition to work, you add time for yourself to your schedule. Dedicating time to your goals outside of your current job is essential to maintaining your mental health. Set aside an hour at the beginning of the day to work on yourself.
For me, the 2 hours of 514 Morning Challenge every morning is dedicated to my self-development and mental health.
9. The 80/20 Rule
80% of your results come from 20% of your time and energy, so allocate 20% of the time you start each day to the most difficult tasks.
10. Clean your workspace
One of the biggest and most subtle things that affect productivity is your workspace. Having a clean, organized workspace keeps your brain focused and helps you find what you need quickly.
Get into the habit of tidying up your desk when you leave work. And you will focus on your work the next day.
Also, don’t forget to organize your digital space. If you’re like me, working with a lot of image files, you’ll be covering your desktop screen with tons of files. In my case, when a project is finished, I immediately organize the files and keep important files in a designated place.
Time management is a habit, not willpower.
As a business owner, tips for managing time
If you look at what people who are good at managing time have in common, you can see that they made a habit, not because they have a strong will.
Regular life, exercise, and enough sleep make cell care a habit, and use your time to be happy.
Mindsets to manage time effectively.
-Plan in the morning, and evaluate the checklist for the day before going to bed.
-Try and evaluate your new eye strategy. So, you will find the methods that are right for you.
-Make a visualization of the steps. For long-term goals, visualize the steps you can take towards the goal rather than the goal itself. This will give you a better understanding of the journey you are about to embark on and help you avoid giving up.
-Do nothing during the day. Close your eyes for about 10 minutes and do nothing. After you have time to do nothing, you can focus more on the next task.
Separate what you don’t need. Disconnect from anything that’s bad for you, for example, unused apps and unnecessary email subscriptions to harmful people and useless technology.
-Create a clear routine for what you do on a daily basis.
-Limit the amount of time you check your email to twice a day. Email is one of the most time-consuming means of communication, and our brain loves to check our email regularly. Most emails don’t require an immediate response, so you can set it up twice (e.g. 11:00 and 4:00 PM) to check and respond to everything.
-Keep a diary every day. Write down your thoughts and ideas throughout the day in a journal.
-Set yourself up for a 1% improvement every day and stick with it. James Clear’s Atomic Habits uses the 1% rule, where you choose a method that only increases by 1% per day. It’s a small enough amount that you won’t need a lot of energy every day, but it will have a big impact year-round.
-Use the planner to write down your goals and tasks for easy viewing whenever you need to add more tasks to the day.
In order to manage your time well, it is important to define what your goals are to be achieved.
If you don’t have a clear understanding of what you need, it’s not as helpful as trying out new tips.
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