Why It’s Easier To Succeed With Time Management Than You Might Think

We all know the juggling act that comes with being an entrepreneur! Constantly buzzing from one task to another. Time management is one of those things that can make life easier by helping you to organise, prioritise and allocate your time effectively. When you consciously choose how you spend your time, you can focus on the things that matter more and kick time wasting to the curb. Developing good time management skills can help with all areas of your life but in business it’s essential to your success and the truth is, it’s easier to become the master of your time than you might think!  

When you get a handle on your time, you’ll find a myriad of benefits including greater productivity. You’ll become a master at squeezing out every second of your work time in the best possible way, becoming more focussed and putting the most important tasks at the top of your list. Having great time management skills means no more being busy for the sake of being busy. Decision making becomes easier because you have the head space and the time for it. You’ll be amazed at how much more clarity you have, when you remove the rush and give tasks the laser like focus. Stress levels drop dramatically because you have realistic timelines, and better work life balance just becomes the norm. You’ll notice your work is higher in quality and there’s greater consistency. You’ll see advancement towards your goals and your workflow will become more streamlined. The list goes on, so now you know why let’s consider how easy it is in 6 simple steps.

Plot your course 

Setting goals acts as the compass guiding you through the labyrinth of tasks and responsibilities and providing a guide for any course corrections you need along the way. When you know where you are going, you can break it down in to what you need to do to get there. By starting with the overarching goal, you can then break this down into smaller steps and then break those steps down into even smaller steps until you have daily actionable steps that you can focus on. Having these bite sized steps helps to keep you on track and prevent you from veering off into unproductive detours. They also provide a sense of accomplishment that helps you to maintain that momentum. Goals also support you to assign priorities to your tasks, by determining what tasks are most important and those that are time critical. 

Create you do-to list 

At the beginning of each day give yourself 15-20 minutes to build a ‘to do’ list and determine the order to complete each task. This gives you a visual representation of what it is you need to achieve in the day. Having this list is great for preventing overwhelm, if anything seems ‘too big’ go back and break it down further into even smaller steps. The great thing about having a ‘to do’ list is that it puts you in control of how you are spending your day and keeps you focussed while getting things out of your head and ensuring that nothing is forgotten. It’s helpful to cross reference your list with you email to do list, and your calendar to help you plan you time and meet your deadlines.  

Block your time! 

Once you have your ‘to do’ list, it’s time to slot them into your day. Time blocking is a surprisingly simple approach that has an impressive result on your ability to manage your time. It simple means segmenting your day into dedicated blocks of time in which you work on a specific task or activity. For instance, dedicate a block of time for answering emails, another for meeting and so on. Time blocking provide a sense of structure and focus that keeps you on track and focussed. The keep is to focus on just ONE task and avoid multitasking, which leads bouncing around between several tasks and either not completing anything or doing a subpar job.  

By choosing this focused immersion you can channel your energy and attention to the task at hand, resulting in heightened concentration and increased productivity. As you progress through each block, you gain insights into how long tasks genuinely take. This self-awareness aids in refining time estimates and resource allocation in the future. By incorporating flexibility, time blocking acknowledges the unpredictable nature of life. Adjustments can be made to your schedule to accommodate unexpected events or shifts in priorities. This adaptability ensures you remain in control, even in the face of change. 

Eliminate Distractions 

Now it’s time to make yourself unavailable! This is your time to get things done and it’s an opportunity to show that you take your business seriously and are committed to be productive. Distractions, whether they manifest as notifications, social media, or other interruptions, have a remarkable capacity to fragment your attention and erode your valuable time. When you consciously eliminate these intrusions, you empower yourself to channel your energy and concentration into the tasks that demand your attention. Identify common distractions in your work environment and take steps to minimise them. Turn off unnecessary notifications, close unrelated tabs, and create a clutter-free workspace. I can’t stress the importance of making your workspace clutter free, there are numerous articles available on the internet, on the impact of a cluttered work environment and its impact on productivity and stress levels.  

When distractions are eliminated, you create a focused approach that not only expedites task completion but also enhances the quality of your work. With distractions at bay, you're able to engage in deep, uninterrupted work periods, enabling you to delve into complex tasks, problem-solving, and critical thinking. The absence of distractions also minimises the need for context switching, allowing you to maintain a steady rhythm and flow as you move through your responsibilities. In the end, the act of eliminating distractions emerges as a cornerstone of effective time management, affording you the precious gift of time to allocate purposefully and ultimately contributing to your overall productivity and success. 

Delegate and Outsource 

You don’t have to do everything yourself. Identify the tasks that you can delegate to others be that someone on your team, or outsourced. Delegating tasks to team members will free up your time for more critical responsibilities, while outsourcing non-core tasks can save you time and effort. Delegating tasks within your team empowers team members and fosters a collaborative environment, ensuring that tasks are efficiently distributed and completed. When you outsource time that would have been spent on researching and learning new skills or executing tasks outside your domain is taken back, enabling you to concentrate on strategic decision-making and your core competencies. This strategic redistribution of tasks, whether through delegation or outsourcing, optimises your time allocation, enhances efficiency, and creates a harmonious synergy between your available time and your business's objectives. 

Review and Reflect 

At the end of each day or week, take a few minutes to review what you've accomplished and assess your time management. Did you meet your goals? Were there any time-wasting activities? Use this reflection to adjust and plan for better time management in the future. 

 When you incorporate these simple straightforward steps into your routine, you'll find that time management becomes much more manageable and effective. Remember, the key is consistency and a willingness to adapt and refine your approach as you learn what works best for you. That is how easy it is for you to become the master of your time.