There just are not enough hours in the day! And don’t I know it!
Time management is the driving force behind running a business efficiently. It is the process of consciously planning controls for the amount of time spent on specifics tasks or projects. These processes, combined with various tools, techniques and methods can make for a very effective, efficient and productive system, IF used appropriately.
Most think of time management as only being applicable to business. And it is most thought of in the project management arena where projects are driven by an established due date. But we also use time management in a great number of areas within the personal arena of our daily lives, such as juggling children activities and running errands.
A time management system is essential for an entrepreneur. Without it you will find yourself in a heap of a mess. Here are five solutions that having a good time management system in place can provide. And look they all begin with ‘S’.
- Staying Organized. Organization is the number one reason why you need to have a time management system. Without one you will spend valuable time trying to determine what needs to get done and when and how it will done. This system will help you maintain structure in your business. You will know what stage everything is at, whether it is starting, in progress or close to completion.
- Staying on task. Staying on task is the result of staying organized. As part of that step you will be aware of everything that needs to be done. This consolidated list will help you stay focused and mark things off as they are completed. It will also keep you from trying to perform random tasks and squeeze them in even though you know you don’t have the time. This is an area I am constantly challenged with. I’m like a kid. Show me something else shiny and sparkly and I’m off to something new. This task takes ALOT of practice.
- Setting Priorities. Establishing a time management system help you set priorities for the mountain of things you need to get done on daily basis. Putting them in some sort of systematic order ensures that the most important tasks are accomplished first. This is big when dealing with projects with deadlines because you want to be sure that the most important tasks are handled first and not overlooked.
- Safeguarding your time. Time is valuable. Once it is gone we can’t get it back. Therefore, we need to monitor it as closely as possible to ensure that we are getting the most out of each day. Utilizing a time management system will allow you to block off business and personal time separately, so as not to invade your personal space with business tasks and vice versa.
- Streamlining processes. You know those things that you must do but absolutely dread? Yes time can be allotted for those to be sure they get don’t as well. There is nothing efficient about pushing them off to a later date just because you don’t want to do them at that exact second. A solution for these tasks is to automate as much of it as you can so that you are not physically doing them. Automation can free up a lot of time as well. Time that can be focused on more pressing matters.
Which of these time management skills do you benefit from the most? How has not implementing those skills in the past affected your business?
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Time is so very important and the only thing that we never get back. I think that safeguarding your time is the best tip to take and use from this article, excellent advice!
Yes. Especially for entrepreneurs and small business owners. That line gets blurred a lot. But you have to set boundaries or you will get burnt out.