Running a small business can be a taxing job, especially by yourself. Oftentimes it feels like there's not enough hours in the day to get everything done. Between speaking to customers, marketing, managing a storefront or website, stocking products, and shipping products, life can be hectic and confusing.
This is why time management is so important for any small business owner. These seven tips can help you to have a more successful business and lead a less stressful life.
1) Prioritize
Creating a daily to-do list is important in making sure you get your tasks done, but take it one step further. Know which tasks are the most important day-to-day. Those orders you need to ship? Get them packed up first. Those products you need to stock? Get them done straight afterward. Those important emails you need to answer? Don't wait until the end of the day.
Putting your priorities in order will allow you to get the most important aspects out of the way each day and keep you running a customer-friendly and satisfactory business.
2) Plan According to Your Strengths
Everybody has a different work ethic and different motivations. Some people wake in the early morning and are bright-eyed and bushy-tailed after a cup of coffee. If you're one of these, get the toughest work out of the way first and save the easy things for later. If it takes a while for you to wake up, do the easiest aspects in the morning and the tougher ones after you're more motivated.
3) Manage Interruptions
Interruptions are the worst part of a day. They can take you completely out of a moment and keep you from progressing with the tasks you need to do. If your phone rings while you're in the middle of something, let it go to voicemail unless it's an important call. Try to finish one task before moving on to another. Focus all of your energy into one aspect of your business without distractions, as this will help you to move forward faster than attempting to multitask.
4) Know When It's Time to Work and Time to Play
Particularly if your business is run chiefly on the web, it can be easy to distract yourself. Checking social networking sites while you're supposed to be working will waste time and keep you from moving forward with your day. Close out of chats with friends, social networking sites, gaming sites... save those for a break. Instead, do your best to focus on the tasks at hand. You'll have time to relax later.
5) Schedule Breaks
Your breaks are a great time to pull up the aforementioned distracting websites so that you can relax and wind down. If you spend hours working, you'll stress yourself beyond the point of endurance. Scheduling a morning and afternoon break will ensure you have time to eat and keep from becoming too overwhelmed. And try getting up and stretching every half hour or so. Make sure you're eating balanced meals with healthy snacks in between to keep your energy up.
6) Consolidate Errands
Doing several errands at once will save gas money and time. Your personal errands can be bundled in with your work errands. If you need to go to the bank or the post office, consider stopping at the grocery store as well. Get all of your needs out of the way in as few trips as possible so that you have more time and energy to focus on work at home.
7) Allow for Down Time
You always need time to relax, no matter how busy you are. Taking a half hour or so to listen to music or catch up on a TV show is an excellent way to wind down and get your mind off the business. Constantly thinking about your tasks for the day will overwhelm you, so make sure you have time for yourself as well.
Contributed by Centel Media Management. Questions or comments? Email contact@centelmedia.com.
This is why time management is so important for any small business owner. These seven tips can help you to have a more successful business and lead a less stressful life.
1) Prioritize
Creating a daily to-do list is important in making sure you get your tasks done, but take it one step further. Know which tasks are the most important day-to-day. Those orders you need to ship? Get them packed up first. Those products you need to stock? Get them done straight afterward. Those important emails you need to answer? Don't wait until the end of the day.
Putting your priorities in order will allow you to get the most important aspects out of the way each day and keep you running a customer-friendly and satisfactory business.
2) Plan According to Your Strengths
Everybody has a different work ethic and different motivations. Some people wake in the early morning and are bright-eyed and bushy-tailed after a cup of coffee. If you're one of these, get the toughest work out of the way first and save the easy things for later. If it takes a while for you to wake up, do the easiest aspects in the morning and the tougher ones after you're more motivated.
3) Manage Interruptions
Interruptions are the worst part of a day. They can take you completely out of a moment and keep you from progressing with the tasks you need to do. If your phone rings while you're in the middle of something, let it go to voicemail unless it's an important call. Try to finish one task before moving on to another. Focus all of your energy into one aspect of your business without distractions, as this will help you to move forward faster than attempting to multitask.
4) Know When It's Time to Work and Time to Play
Particularly if your business is run chiefly on the web, it can be easy to distract yourself. Checking social networking sites while you're supposed to be working will waste time and keep you from moving forward with your day. Close out of chats with friends, social networking sites, gaming sites... save those for a break. Instead, do your best to focus on the tasks at hand. You'll have time to relax later.
5) Schedule Breaks
Your breaks are a great time to pull up the aforementioned distracting websites so that you can relax and wind down. If you spend hours working, you'll stress yourself beyond the point of endurance. Scheduling a morning and afternoon break will ensure you have time to eat and keep from becoming too overwhelmed. And try getting up and stretching every half hour or so. Make sure you're eating balanced meals with healthy snacks in between to keep your energy up.
6) Consolidate Errands
Doing several errands at once will save gas money and time. Your personal errands can be bundled in with your work errands. If you need to go to the bank or the post office, consider stopping at the grocery store as well. Get all of your needs out of the way in as few trips as possible so that you have more time and energy to focus on work at home.
7) Allow for Down Time
You always need time to relax, no matter how busy you are. Taking a half hour or so to listen to music or catch up on a TV show is an excellent way to wind down and get your mind off the business. Constantly thinking about your tasks for the day will overwhelm you, so make sure you have time for yourself as well.
Contributed by Centel Media Management. Questions or comments? Email contact@centelmedia.com.
