A small business owner knows that time is one of their best assets. After all, they might be limited in funds and personnel, but time is something they have in common with large companies. However, time cannot come back, so you have to learn to make the most of it.
If you’re looking towards protecting your time in the best manner, read on below. We’ve got some useful tips to help you out!
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1. Make A Time Logging Routine
The first step you should take for managing your time is to complete one full day logging in your time. This could be frustrating at first, but it’s necessary in order to take the next steps. Don’t worry; it gets easier as you progress!
You can log your time manually on paper, but this task will be more efficient with excel timesheets and time tracker that you can find out here. Start logging in the tasks you do and the time it takes to complete them.
Begin from the minute you open your eyes to the point where you finally go to sleep at night. Track your bathroom breaks, the amount of time you use your phone, and even your snack breaks.
Don’t change anything about your usual routine. You have to be honest so you can streamline your time better. All you need to do is measure your typical workday as you go.
2. Identify The Wasters
After you get the hang of time logging, you can see where your time wasters are. Total the time of working and see what activities are demanding the most hours. You might want to divide certain tasks into categories for this. These include errands, meetings, phone calls, email, etc.
So for instance, you might see that your meetings are becoming too frequent and too long. Try cutting down on these. You might opt for impromptu gatherings or even group emails to save time instead of a proper sit-down meeting every time there’s something to discuss.
3. Use The Pomodoro Technique
With your time logging sheets, you can also go ahead with the Pomodoro method. This basically involves setting 25 minutes on the timer for one task, then taking 5 minutes (timed again) off for a break. This will refresh you while helping you get ready for the next task.
You can use the Pomodoro technique according to the tasks you have at hand. The time logging activity will let you know just how much you have to spend on every activity. Each work segment counts as one Pomodoro, so you may set a goal of working a certain number of them per week or per day.
4. Learn To Delegate Tasks
A small business owner needs to delegate from time to time, but this doesn’t mean simply relying on your employee.
You have to train employees, prepare them for the task at hand, and then go ahead with delegating. Put in the time and effort it requires to hire good, qualified people, and then put in a little more into training them.
5. Practice The 80/20 Rule
The 80/20 rule is an effective method for determining where you need to put in more time. This will help you know what to prioritize on your to-do list. This rule states that around 80% of all results are from 20% of the efforts you put into your company.
What you need to do is enhance the results by putting in more effort where it counts. See which area of your operations is the most productive and promises the most return.
For instance, you might see an employee doing much better when they’re given a bit of training. Put more effort into training, and you may have a solid, loyal, and highly productive individual on your side.