Time is incredibly valuable, especially for a business owner. It’s a precious commodity so we have to spend it wisely. That’s why I want to talk about some ways that I maximize my time and how you can implement these same practices into your business.
Time Blocking. The first thing you should do at the start of every workday is to sit down with your schedule and organize it in order of priority. I refer to this time management method as blocking because you are blocking out time dedicated to focusing on a specific task or set of similar tasks. If there’s something you are dragging your feet on but needs to get done, blocking out time to work on that and only that, will ensure the completion of that task in a timely manner. Focused time is more efficient than time spent bouncing around from task to task or email to email.
After years of running my own business, I’ve found that it’s best not to start the day checking my inbox. It’s far too easy to fall into a rabbit hole of emails and find that you’ve spent your whole day putting out fires rather than accomplishing tasks that are better aligned with your goals and are more urgent.
Intentionality. Part of time blocking is prioritizing. But how do you know what to prioritize? I find that having a focus word for the year helps me determine what’s most important. My focus word serves as a guiding principle for everything I do and helps me stay focused when outside forces demand my attention.
In the past, we talked about creating stretch goals. Putting your focus and intentions into your stretch goals gets you closer to your overall goal, just like an athlete has to get their muscles moving before they start playing. Otherwise, their game objective (and your goal) will be harder to achieve. We always want to work smarter, not harder.
The start to any time management method is making sure you’re focusing on what is most important. No more wasting time on tasks that don’t get you any closer to your goals. As long as you keep your focus, you’re on the right track.
Stay tuned for Part Two of Maximizing Your Time next week!