It’s Summertime!

With summer upon us once again, time has decided to fly by faster than it did a few months ago. Between the kids being out of school, vacations, and spending some much needed time outdoors, summer always seems to go by too quickly. To make the most of your time, we recommend devoting this month to developing and honing your time management skills.  

In addition to making your time at work more productive, these skills can help you to develop a better work/life balance. A good balance enables you to feel more in control of your work life and leads to increased productivity, less stress, and a more positive outlook on your overall situation. Being relaxed helps you anticipate and recognize changes in your work and home environments enabling you to respond positively and effectively.

Here are three key time management tips:

1. Take the first fifteen to thirty minutes every day to plan and prioritize. Once your list is prioritized, complete the most important tasks first. By focusing on the items that HAVE to be done versus those that can be done later, your days can always start with a success.
   (Pro tip: Effectiveness guru David Allen reminds us, “You can do anything, but not everything.”)
   
   
2. Audit your time. What do you spend the most time on during your average day? Are there non-essentials you can identify? Whenever possible, limit, eliminate or delegate those things. If everything you do is absolutely essential, then make sure you create an organizing system to help you stay on schedule.
   (Pro tip: block out time for non-urgent but important things such as business building strategies, acquiring new professional skills and knowledge, and building and nurturing important relationships.)
   
   
3. Take care of yourself. One of the most important things you can do is invest time in yourself. Things like getting plenty of sleep and exercise, taking 5 minute breaks throughout the day, learning to say “no” when you have more than you can handle – all of these will help you to manage your time better. No one can do it all – especially if you are overly tired, stressed or sick from pushing yourself too hard.
   (Pro tip: Find something you really enjoy and can do for short periods of time. Treat yourself to these breaks at least three times each day.)

Everyone gets the same 24 hours, so why not work on becoming the type of person who can get more done in less time? By working smarter – not harder – you can improve your ability to function more effectively, even when the pressure to complete tasks is high. Time management is about organizing and planning how much time you devote to specific activities.

At Waypoint, we offer our own Business Owner Time Management System, which allows business owners to transform how they spend their time. Click the button below to get more details and start using your time wisely today!