As a small business owner, you know that time is one of your most valuable assets. But it can be easy to let your day get away from you, especially when you’re juggling multiple tasks and responsibilities.

That’s where time management comes in. Effective time management can help you get more done in less time, reduce stress, and improve your overall productivity.

Here are nine tips to help you manage time better as a small business owner:

Understand Your Priorities

The first step to better time management is to understand your priorities. What are the most important goals for your business? What tasks need to be completed in order to achieve those goals?

Once you know your priorities, you can start to allocate your time accordingly. Focus on the most important tasks first, and delegate or eliminate the less important ones. You may have heard the term “Eat the Frog”- it is derived from a quote by Mark Twain that said if you have to eat a frog, do it first thing in the morning and it will be the worst thing that happens to you all day. The term was later used by author Brian Tracy to create a time management technique which involves completing the biggest, most difficult task first so that nothing worse can happen for the rest of the day.

Set Clear Goals

SMART goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. When you set SMART goals, you’re more likely to achieve them because you have a clear roadmap for success.

For example, instead of setting a goal to “increase sales,” set a SMART goal to “increase sales by 10% in the next quarter.”

Create a Daily Schedule

A well-organized schedule can help you stay on track and avoid distractions. Take some time each day to create a to-do list and prioritize your tasks. 

If you work well with digital to-do lists there are many powerful apps that can help you keep track of all of your to-dos. Our team loves the app “Things” as a simple but powerful tool. Things allows you to enter items that recur as well as one time tasks. Each day your to-do list resets and allows you to easily move things around on the list in order of importance. Things easily syncs across all of your devices so your to-do list is always easily accessible.

Block off time on your calendar for focused work, and schedule breaks throughout the day to avoid burnout. 

Delegate and Outsource

Don’t be afraid to delegate tasks to your team members or outsource certain responsibilities. This can free up your time so you can focus on the most important tasks.

When delegating tasks, be sure to provide clear instructions and deadlines. And don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

If you’re looking for a way to delegate easily, consider using services like Trello, Basecamp or Asana. They are all high-powered project management tools that allow you to delegate with ease, keeping track of all of the steps of a task and allowing easy communication amongst team members.

Recognize that streamlining helps your employees productivity as well as your own. Happy employees are more productive and lead to higher success for your business. 

Embrace Technology

There are a number of time management tools and apps available that can help you streamline your business operations. These tools can help you with project management, communication, task tracking, and time tracking. In addition to the tools previously mentioned consider some of our other faves:

• Motion App – a great tool that uses AI to organize and reorganize your schedule for you as your day changes. Also has a smart scheduler to keep you from getting double booked.
• Dubsado – streamlines your proposals, contract, invoicing, and task management processes in one tool. 
• SmartPricingTables.com – Build and rebuild proposals and contracts using templates. Saves time. eSign is included.
• Calendly – no more back and forth for finding a meeting time. Also lets you create meeting time polls and group invites. Premium version syncs to multiple calendars. 
• toggl– Time tracking software to boost performance and get paid for every billable minute. An intuitive tool that makes time tracking painless for the entire team.
• QuickBooks – several premium products that can save you time including bookkeeping services and payroll. Recurring invoices saves time each month. 

Avoid Multitasking

Multitasking may seem like it’s the most efficient way to get things done, but it’s actually counterproductive. When you multitask, you’re constantly switching between tasks, which takes time and reduces your productivity.

Instead, focus on one task at a time and give it your full attention. You’ll be surprised at how much more you can get done and you will be impressed with the quality of your work. 

Regularly Review and Adjust

Your time management strategies should be fluid and adaptable. As your business grows and changes, you’ll need to adjust your time management approach accordingly.

Regularly (weekly or monthly) review your time management strategies and make adjustments as needed. This will help you stay on track and achieve your business goals.

Practice Self-Care

It’s important to take care of yourself both physically and mentally. When you’re well-rested and healthy, you’re better able to focus and be productive.

Make sure to take breaks throughout the day, get enough sleep, and eat healthy foods. And don’t forget to take some time for yourself to relax and recharge.

Always remember that you are your business’ most important asset and without your well-being you have nothing. Be sure to set healthy boundaries and have a clear work-life balance in order to avoid burnout. 

Mastering time management is an ongoing process. But by following the tips in this blog post, you can improve your time management skills and achieve your business goals. Implement the strategies discussed in this article and share your own time management tips and success stories in the comments or by reaching out via email.

If this topic is interesting to you, check out these previous blog posts:

• This blog post has lots of tools and tips relevant to this topic – https://webprogeeks.com/tips-and-tools-for-communicating-with-your-clients/
• This blog has 8 Organizational Hacks for Small Businesses – https://webprogeeks.com/from-chaos-to-clarity-8-organizational-hacks-for-small-businesses/