For small business owners and entrepreneurs, good time management is key. It’s different from being an employee because you’re the one who must make sure you use your time well.
Making the Most of Your Time
Have you ever said, “I wish I had more time,” or “I can’t find the time”? We all say things like this, but we don’t often stop to think about it. We all have the same 24 hours each day. So, what makes some people get more done than others? It’s all about how you use your time.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that on average, people spend about 5 hours a day on fun stuff like social media, even during times they could be doing something productive.
Avoiding Time Traps
A big problem for many of us is wasting time. This can happen in many ways, like spending too much time on social media or struggling with disorganized files. Some common mistakes include not knowing what’s most important, putting things off, trying to make things perfect, taking on too much, and getting distracted. I want to help you spot these traps and use your time better, which will help me, too. We’re all learning and improving.
Figuring Out Your Time
There’s a saying by Charles Bruxton, “You will never ‘find’ time for anything. If you want time, you must make it.” Think about how you spend your day. How much time do you spend on things that make you money, and how much on other stuff, like fixing your website or checking social media? Using tools like Toggl or RescueTime, or even just writing down what you do each day for a week, can show you how you really use your time.
How to Use Your Time Better
William Penn said, “Time is what we want most, but what we use worst.” Once you know how you spend your time, you can start to use it better.
Tips for Better Time Use:
Use a Calendar or Project Tool: Break down big projects into smaller tasks with tools like Trello. This helps you keep track of what you need to do.
Get Help with Some Tasks: If there are things you don’t like doing or that take up too much time, think about getting someone else to do them. This could be work tasks or even things like yard work.
Keep Distractions Away: Close tabs you don’t need, log out of social media, and turn off notifications. Apps like StayFocusd can help you stay away from websites that waste your time.
Do One Thing at a Time: Trying to do many things at once can actually slow you down. Instead, set specific times for different tasks, like checking emails at one time and working on a project at another.
Tools to Help You Stay on Track
Here are some tools that can help you manage your time better:
Toggl: Keeps track of how long you spend on websites and apps.
Workflow: Helps organize your tasks and works with other apps you use.
1-3-5 Rule: Helps you choose and organize your tasks by importance.
Evernote: A place to keep your notes and ideas in one place.
Using these tips and tools can make a big difference in how you manage your time. In the end, it’s up to you: is it more about managing your time or managing yourself?
