Successful people are very careful about how they spend their time.
Successful people are very careful about how they spend their time. No matter how you slice it, we all have 24 hours in a day, so the key lies in learning to use our time wisely.
Monitor how you use your time
If it seems like your day slips by all too quickly, try creating a log of your daily activities. Once you see where you spend your time, you can focus on the activities that provide the greatest returns for you personally and financially.
how much your time is worth
Time is money. Knowing how much your time is actually worth can help you make better decisions as to whether you should perform a task or outsource it. Also take the time to determine how much time a day you need to spend on billable activities to make your desired profit. I try to spend 1.5 hours a day on money-making projects.
Create a daily schedule
Don’t start your day without a to-do list. Make a list of tasks and categorize them into business building activities, client activities, and personal items. Then break bigger unmanageable projects into smaller chunks so they are less intimidating and are easier to accomplish.
Prioritize
Have more to do than hours in the day? By prioritizing your tasks, you’ll make sure that you are tackling the items that matter most. Create a system that works for you. One standard way of prioritizing is to mark items with A, B, and C. Ask yourself these key questions: What items must be done today? Which items can be rescheduled or delegated? Which tasks match my goals? Which items can be eliminated?
Learn to say no
You are in control of your time. Be strong and uphold your personal boundaries. When you are well rested and treat yourself and your family to the time off you deserve, you’ll feel happier and more productive when it’s time to go back to work. Before you say yes, ask yourself these questions:
- Do you really have the time or energy to do that extra task?
- Will it be profitable?
- Does it invade on your personal time?
- Does it involve doing something you enjoy?
- Does it fit in with your list of priorities and goals?
Remove time sucks
Time sucks lurk like viruses. Think about which activities are eating up your time. For me personally, these items include e-mail, social calls, and telemarketers. I “conquer” the e-mail demon by shutting down my e-mail when I am working. When a family member calls during work time, I politely ask if I can call them back during the afternoon and remind them of my work hours. Caller ID valiantly saves me from the “would-be” telemarketer time thieves. With one glance, I can quickly differentiate telemarketers from important client calls.
Stick to the plan
Try not to get sidetracked from your plan. One of my friends has a motto: “A lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency for me.” It’s a smart one to live by. Unless it’s a true emergency, or you are being paid “rush” time, you probably don’t need to squeeze a last minute request in today.
Choose an inspiring place and time
We are all built differently. Do the tasks which take your most brain power when you are at your prime. Are you a morning person or do you work best burning the midnight oils?
Bundle like tasks together
As you work through your daily list, try to chunk your tasks into like activities. By creating a separate chunk of time for answering e-mail, invoicing, making return phone calls, you’ll save time and mental energy.
Avoid interruptions
Trying to do the same thing over and over again with interruptions can be maddening. Once you start a task, try to finish it to the end. If something comes up that you need to remember or do, unless it’s urgent, simply add it to your list and continue on with your current project.
Be organized
When things are tidy, it saves you time and frees you to focus on the task at hand. Why wait for success when you can literally schedule it! By mastering your time, you can accomplish much more with less effort. Be choosey about how you spend your time. Focus on activities that most closely match your goals. By taking time to monitor, measure, and manage your time, you will enjoy an abundance of success and happiness.
Kristie Tamsevicius, America’s favorite small business success story, is a leading expert in the areas of home based business, Internet marketing, and web development. She is the author of three books including her newest release, I Love My Life: A Mom’s Guide to Working from Home. Reach her at 847-244-8450 or email kristie@brandingonthenet.com .
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