Being an entrepreneur can take all your time especially If you aren’t constantly trying to improve your productivity.
It’s only a matter of time before all those balls come crashing down. Here are tips for improving your productivity as a busy entrepreneur.
Implement Accountability
It’s amazing how public accountability can motivate us. Set goals, even if it’s just your to-do list for the day/week. Then, share them with a coworker, friend, or your team. Knowing that you’ll have to report back and answer for not meeting those goals might add the extra motivation you need to see them through.
Don’t multitask
Your days are inexplicably busy. When possible, though, avoid multitasking and hone your focus on the job at hand. When you’re being pulled in a hundred directions daily, it’s easy to bounce from task to task. However, this is inefficient — jobs are left open and incomplete, or mistakes are made due to simple oversight. Staying focused on one task until completion ensures that they’re crossed off and done to the fullest potential.
Unplug
To avoid mental burnout as an entrepreneur, you should force yourself to unplug sometimes. This may mean turning off your phone each evening, ignoring weekend emails, or taking a long vacation every year.
Remove distractions
This is easier said than done but try cutting unnecessary distractions throughout the day–like social media browsing. This may mean putting your cell phone across the room or even installing a productivity-boosting “blocker” on your computer.
Learn the power of no
Only allocate your time to the most worthwhile tasks, which help you meet your goals. Sometimes, this may mean saying “No” to new projects, clients, or responsibilities that won’t grow you in the direction you want.
Make Lists
There’s something incredibly gratifying about crossing off tasks on a big, yellow legal pad, or deleted an item from the notes section on your smartphone. More than that, though, lists can help you stay on track. If tasks are written down in front of you, you decrease the chances of them being overlooked or forgotten.
Delegate
You know where your strengths lie (and what you do that grows your business), but you’re only one person. If there are menial tasks that are eating up your valuable time, hire them out. Hire a part-time assistant or help from a freelancer site to cross them off.
Use time blocks
If you struggle with focusing on or prioritizing tasks, time blocks may be the answer. These are mini-blocks of scheduled time throughout your day (ie: Answer emails, 9:10 – 9:30 am). During each block, you focus on one very specific task and ignore everything else. This allows for maximum efficiency and ensures that you cross off all the priority items for the day.
1 Comment
Entrepreneurs need to get the most out of their day and the only way to do that is through using productivity tips like the ones mentioned here.