April 12, 2019 | By Mason Roberts
As a small business owner, your tasks may be stacking up against you. Day in and day out, chances are you're adding more and more responsibilities to your plate as you go. This happens to entrepreneurs across the globe every day. They all seem to think the same thing: “There are just not enough hours in the day”. As it just seem to be getting crazier and crazier, it may seem hopeless to get your workload in order. The good news is, there are tips to follow that will significantly help you avoid leading the life of the stressed-out small business owner.
Getting More Done in Your Small Business
Getting more business done in a day is an attainable goal, and might be a lot simpler than you thought possible. You, just like everyone else in the business world, are likely working towards being more time-efficient and productive in your usual day to days. Follow these easy steps, and you'll be well on your way to a productive and stress-free workday in no time!1. Complete The Hardest, Most Time-Consuming Tasks First
Starting your workday off with the toughest task of the bunch will set a great tone for your day, especially as a boss. Getting the hardest task out of the way early means you won't have the nagging concern in the back of your head all day telling you that you need to work on this project. Working on something of most importance, or something you know will take you days, if not weeks, for a little while each morning will help keep you distressed and distracted, which could keep you more at ease throughout the day. Being distracted with things that need to be done will only make your mind jumbled, making it impossible to actually complete any of the tasks to your full potential.
2. Do Similar Tasks Together
If nothing else, this tip is a great time-saver. It will definitely help you just from one task to the next without missing a beat. You are already in the mindset to complete these duties, whereas if you jump from one extreme to the next, you will lose some of your drive and flow. Grouping your tasks this way is a great way to keep everything that must be done in order and efficiently, which helps you out immensely.
3. Track the Time It Takes to Do Everything on Your List
First, planning out your day hour by hour is a great way to stay on a schedule that works for you. Writing it down and checking it off daily is a great way to hold yourself accountable for the things that you are responsible for completing. There can be a host of problems with this, however, if you do not know the length of time each task actually takes, or at least a roundabout number. You don't want to be taking a shot in the dark with timing when planning your day; planning it accurately and effectively is the only real thing that truly makes it all work in your favor, so you must keep track of it. Let's take, for example, your inventory. If you take inventory every Tuesday night, start keeping track of how long it actually takes you, and pencil it into your schedule accordingly. If you're the boss, it's easy to get caught up in the things you must accomplish during the day because you don't have anyone to guide you and help you. That means you have to be your own boss and hold yourself responsible daily!
4. Don't Underestimate What a Good Break Can Do
Many businesses have a misconception when it comes to breaks. The truth is that everyone needs a break, though, especially when you're working all hours for months on end. That's why it's important to give your mind and body time to recuperate. If you work harder and harder, you're also getting more and more tired every day, and if you don't take the time to take care of yourself, this could lead to serious burnout. It happens to even the most motivated and hard-working people all over the world. So, to avoid entrepreneurial burnout, you need to give your body time to catch up with your mind. Ultimately, your small business doesn't stand a chance if its owner isn't in the best health, both mentally and physically. Now, no one is saying to go on a 3-hour break for every 8-hour shift you work. But, at the absolute least, give yourself 10-15 minutes to boost your energy between accomplishing your daily tasks. Maybe you could go grab a bite to eat or a cup of water a few times throughout the day. You owe yourself the time you need to calm your mind and get your head back in the game.
5. Focus on One Thing at a Time
As a busy small business owner, it's easy to fall into the habit of dividing our attention across many different tasks at once. While this may seem like it is working for you, the truth is that it may be slowing you down and/or cutting into your efficiency. Giving half of your attention to everything you are responsible for will only make for half-results, definitely not your best work or your full potential. Focusing on only one thing at a time could help you ensure the best possible results. Getting the best results in small business means bringing in more customers, raking in more money, and achieving more growth for your establishment. Only good things can come of this!
6. Keep Making Lists
At the end of each day, too. You will not get more done as a business owner if you don't write it down and make it a priority. It might seem like a minor task, but writing things down has a much greater impact than you may think. It reinforces your memory, which not only helps you think about the execution of your plan in finer detail but also helps you remember to get it done at all to begin with! In other words, it is like setting it in stone. Making a list habit a permanent fixture of your day gives you the direction you need to make it happen. It's a lot easier to get things done when you know what you need to do and how to do it from the get-go, instead of getting caught up in your own excuses for why you can do it later.
How Will You Get More Done in Your Small Business?
Owning a business is no doubt hectic to say the least. You are constantly confronted with different issues, piling on top of the tasks you had to complete that day. It can get to be stressful, and may start to think it is impossible. If this sounds like the case for you, following these steps will surprising help you in a significant way.
