Effective Time Management Tips for Business Owners

There’s a lot to do to keep a business running and only 24 hours in a day. If you feel as though you’re struggling to keep up, you’re definitely not the only one. But, putting effective time management strategies into place can help. Below, we’ve taken a look at some of the most effective time management tips, all of which have been chosen to help you to stay focused, organised and in control of your day.

How to Manage Your Time as a Business Owner

Take the Time to Be as Organised as Possible

Being organised sounds like an obvious tip for time management, but it’s actually something that a lot of business owners skip. Having an organised workspace and work processes can significantly boost your productivity. This doesn’t mean writing a ‘to do’ list and trying to stick to it, it means organising your workspace. A clutter-free environment reduces distractions and having a clear plan helps you to stay focused. Start by decluttering your office and organising your physical and digital files. Set realistic, clear goals for the week and break them down into manageable tasks. All of this will help you to focus on working hard.

Make the Most of Time Management Apps

Regardless of niche, sector or industry, you are bound to use technology as a business owner, which means that you have a whole host of time management apps to help. So, why aren’t you using any of them? There are a lot of apps out there that have been designed to help streamline your workflow. Apps like Wunderlist allow you to prioritise tasks, set reminders and collaborate with others, while Harvest helps you to track the amount of time spent on each project. Trello is another great tool to track tasks from start to finish, and it helps with monitoring team productivity.

Know When You’re Most Productive

Not everyone is the most productive at the same time of day, so get to know when you’re working at your best. You might be an early bird that gets the most done in the morning, jumping out of bed and straight into complex tasks. You might be someone who concentrates best at night, taking a little while to warm up throughout the day. To be effective with time management, you need to know how you function best and plan your day with this in mind. Use your most productive windows of time for your most important and urgent tasks, as this ensures you’ll get them done. Your least productive hours can be spent doing jobs that don’t require as much energy, like admin or replying to basic emails.

Know When to Delegate

As a business owner, you might feel the need to handle every task yourself, and you’re not the only one. But, delegation isn’t as scary as you might think. Whether you need help handling time consuming admin tasks or you need to outsource certain projects to experts, delegating tasks frees up a lot of your time. Evaluate which tasks can be handled by someone else and delegate carefully to ensure they are completed to a high standard.

Avoid Distractions That Aren’t Important

Distractions can put a stop to your productivity in a big way. This is why a lot of business owners end up turning off phone notifications to avoid being distracted – and let’s be honest, most can be dealt with later – and maintaining a clear boundary between work and personal time. Staying on task during work hours will help you to get more done, and you’re likely to need less time to do so.

Use the 80/20 Time Management Rule

According to the 80/20 rule, 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts. This involves identifying the small number of tasks that generate the most value for your business, and focusing on those. The rest of the tasks can be delegated or minimised, as they don’t bring in the same level of results. For example, if phone calls take up a large portion of your day, ask customers or employees to email instead. Similarly, prioritise your high impact clients, as they’re likely to be the ones spending the most with you.

Avoid Multitasking

A lot of people think that multitasking is efficient, but it’s not. Switching between tasks can cause you to lose focus and make more mistakes, meaning that multitasking usually ends up with everything taking slightly longer. Instead, focus on one task at a time and block out time for one. Set aside time for emails, then move on to meetings or phone calls. Completing each task before moving on ensures higher quality work and reduces your mental fatigue.

Make Time to Relax, Unwind and Switch Off

Running a business can feel like a 24/7 job and for a lot of people, it is. Even if that’s the case, it’s still important to schedule downtime every once in a while. Breaks allow you to recharge, which encourages creativity and enhances your problem solving abilities. These are hugely beneficial to your success at work. Doing hobbies and spending time with loved ones – or even something as simple as taking a walk – can give you the mental space needed to thrive at work. By balancing work with relaxation, you maintain high energy and fresh ideas.

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