Hi guys, it’s Androulla here and I just want to share one word with you, OVERWHELM. Does that resonate with you? You may be feeling this right now or perhaps you’ve felt it over the last couple of days. Well, you’re not alone. Time management for business owners is one of the biggest challenges I see when overwhelm starts creeping in.
There are so many business owners out there who are feeling overwhelmed by all the tasks they need to do, all the bits and pieces they need to stay on top of, and for some of you, the projects you are trying to complete as well. But you are not alone, and I want to share with you how you can start to overcome this.
I’m on a mission to help all business owners become more productive with their time, get more done and grow their business.
You see, every minute and every second counts. You would probably think I’m crazy if you saw my calendar. I could tell you what I was doing on a specific day two, three, or even four years ago. That might be a bit much, but let me share one technique you can start using in your business to help reduce overwhelm and improve your time management skills.
A Practical Time Management Strategy for Business Owners
First, grab a piece of paper, or if you use a written calendar or diary, grab that. Turn to today’s date, and what I want you to do is write down the TOP 3 things you want to achieve today. Write them down, and if it helps, write down how long you think each task will take.
Now, as you’re doing this, you are probably thinking, “Oh gosh Androulla, there are so many other things I need to do.”
That’s okay.
What we need to do with those other tasks is put them into your calendar. Write them down, maybe turn the page and allocate them to another date. What you are doing is a brain dump. You are getting those tasks out of your head and putting them in a safe place. This simple method is powerful for time management for business owners who feel pulled in multiple directions.
Yes, you are acknowledging that they are there, but you are not going to address them right now, and that is the key. Once you have taken them out of your head, you can let go of that mental load and focus on the things you need to do today.
Another thing I want you to do is this: as you move through the day, grab a green highlighter and highlight the tasks you have completed. One thing we sometimes forget to do is reflect.
So at the end of the day, I want you to look back and ask yourself, how did the day go? How much did I accomplish? And if I didn’t achieve what I wanted to, what got in my way?
Be mindful of that, and then approach the next day differently if you need to.
Take this on board for yourself, and let me know how you go. I would love to hear your wins and also what challenged you.
Because guess what, overwhelm is going to happen for many of us. It is just how we choose to deal with it that makes all the difference.
Let’s make every minute count. Start writing, start getting things done and then celebrate at the end of the day. Consistent time management is what turns busy days into productive growth.
EmpowerBeyond – Business Performance Solutions, focusing on people, process, products, and services and improving productivity and cash flow.