3 Ways to Achieve Optimal Time Management
Entrepreneurs learn quickly that time management skills are essential in ensuring the stability and growth of their small businesses. Without proper apportionment of your time, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the multitude of details that beset you daily. Here are some tips to help you maintain control and manage your time effectively to optimize productivity.
Prioritize Your Goals
When you’re faced with a multitude of tasks to perform, create a checklist according to the priority of the work. If you’re running a for-profit business, high on the list should be projects for which you get paid the most. Do not put quick easy tasks at the top of the list. Instead, target the most important job you have, no matter how difficult or time-consuming it seems. Accomplishing a task like this gives you a great sense of satisfaction. Making checklists and prioritizing also helps you set aside blocks of time to accomplish potentially time-wasting activities such as answering emails, checking social media sites, and conducting internet searches. Multitasking destroys concentration, so finish one task at a time.
Set Deadlines
When you know what tasks you have to perform, set hard deadlines for their accomplishment. Realizing that you have only a limited time to accomplish an important task gives you focus and makes you more productive. Make the deadlines strict so that they challenge you to work at your top capability. However, if you realize that you have created too constricted a time-frame to do optimum work, don’t hesitate to reset your schedule. As you apportion your time, be sure to fit in periods of rest and relaxation, as down time helps you renew your strength so you can accomplish more.
Work in Increments
When major projects appear too daunting, break them down into smaller increments, and focus upon one segment at a time. This gives you a feeling of accomplishment as you finish each part and a further boost when you finish the entire task. Dividing up large projects also makes it easier for you to delegate portions of the work to your employees so you don’t have to do it all yourself.
For more advice on time management, contact Prime Start Capital.