Twenty-four hours. We all have the same amount of time each day and yet it seems some are able to achieve much more than others. If there was ever a time in life when a few extra hours in the day were needed, it’s when you’re starting a new business. As an entrepreneur, you need to be a multi-tasking machine, so the question is – how can you do it all? Check out our top time-saving tips.
1 Become a morning person
Rise and shine. There’s actually an easy way to get a few more hours in your day, and that’s to get up early. One common attribute of successful business owners is they get up early and they start their day with intention. That’s right, no more hitting snooze on the alarm clock. Get up, get ready, and go!
2 Write it down
Before you grab a piece of toast and run out the door, take stock of your tasks for the day. Write out a plan, whether it’s on actual paper or your phone or laptop, and decide out what you need to achieve. This will help you stay focussed instead of getting sidetracked when ad hoc tasks pop up during the day.
3 Outsource tasks
Time equals money and your time is valuable. As soon as you can, take stock of your tasks and figure out what has to be completed by you and what can be delegated to someone else. Make it a priority to find reliable people who can help you build your business.
4 Make the most of your commute
Long commute to and from work? Don’t waste it. If you take public transport, use this time to check your emails or start researching tasks. If you drive your car to work, find an informative podcast series or get hold of an audio book so you can learn along the way. You’ll be surprised how much time you’ll save that would otherwise be wasted.
5 Schedule time for your emails
Most business owners are receiving emails at every hour of the day. It can quickly become overwhelming as you’re constantly interrupted by each one. Try scheduling in time during the day to actually sit down and check your emails, and set aside that time in your calendar.
6 Invest in the people around you
It may seem counterintuitive, but taking time to invest in the people around you could actually be one of the best time-saving tips. Developing leaders and people you trust within your business will save you time in the long run. When the time comes to take a well-deserved break, you’ll have people on board who can help out.
7 Buy time-saving apps
Sometimes you have to pay to save time but it’s worth it. These days you have incredible technology at your fingertips, and if you use it well, it could save you big time. Research the best time-saving apps and load up your phone. Organise your projects using Trello, use Buffer to schedule your social media and download QuickBooks to help organise your expenses and invoice on the go.