7 Simple Time Management Tips For Business Owners

As a business owner, I know it sometimes feels like there is so little time and too much to do. In fact, I’m sure you’re more familiar with that feeling than you’d like. But what if I told you there’s a way to make those 24 hours each day seem like plenty? And no, sadly, I don’t have a time machine. I’m talking about the wonderful art of time management.

What Is Time Management?

In a nutshell, time management is the process of organizing, planning and strategically controlling the time you spend on specific tasks. When done effectively, time management enables you to get more done in less time, even when you have tight deadlines and an endless to-do list.

Here are just some of the benefits of managing your time well as a business owner:

• Boost your performance and confidence.

• Enjoy work and get better results.

• Meet deadlines and deliver on time.

• Less stress and anxiety.

Top Time Management Tips For Business Owners

1. Find your golden time.

Do you know when you’re most productive in the day? Are you an early bird, a night owl or somewhere in between? Time management is all about understanding how you function best and setting up your day in harmony.

Save your most productive windows of time for your most important and urgent tasks. Your least productive hours can be spent doing jobs like admin that don’t require as much energy.

2. Use the Covey Time Management Matrix.

The Covey Time Management Matrix was created by Steven Covey — author of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People — and this is the time management model I use and recommend to all my clients.

It’s built on four simple quadrants:

1. Urgent and important tasks.

2. Not urgent but important tasks.

3. Urgent but not important tasks.

4. Not urgent and not important tasks.

Sort all your tasks each week into these four quadrants. Tackle anything in quadrant one first, followed by quadrant two, and so on. This is the best way to prioritize tasks and can be incredibly helpful if you’re always spinning multiple plates (i.e., any business owner who has ever walked the planet).

3. Have a plan.

If you don’t yet own a diary or use a calendar app, now is the time to start. You could even go as simple as using a blank sheet of paper — but whatever you choose, make sure it’s easily accessible to you at all times.

Planning out your days for the week ahead is a brilliant way to organize your time efficiently and ensure you’re prioritizing your most important tasks.

Begin by plotting any upcoming deadlines and your most important tasks, and let your less urgent tasks come second. And don’t forget to plan in breaks and buffers — you’re a human being, not a machine.

4. Quit multitasking and focus on one thing.

Newsflash: Multitasking is a myth. I repeat, multitasking is a myth.

Yes, you read that right. Your brain can only handle doing one thing at a time. So, if you try to do more, you’ll only end up constantly switching your focus and taking even more time to complete both tasks.

The solution? Focus your attention on one task at a time. When it’s complete, then you can move on to the next thing. Give it a try and see how efficient and enjoyable it is.

5. Eliminate distractions.

We’ve all had a day (or many) when we find ourselves wildly distracted from whatever it is we’re trying to focus on at work.

Even if a deadline is looming and you really want to get this darn thing done, it’s just not happening. The first step in reducing distractions is to figure out what tends to distract you.

Your phone buzzing on your desk? Employees chattering around you? Kids screaming in the background? YouTube videos of panda bears flying down a slide?

Once you know your triggers, you can then take action to reduce them. For example:

• Turn your internet off and work offline.

• Put your phone on airplane mode or out of sight.

• Use headphones to drown out background noise.

Chances are you already know what to do to help yourself, so in the words of Nike, “just do it.”

6. Get some rest. 

You may ask yourself how you can get rest when there are countless things to do? I hear you, and I know how easy it is to let your business take over your entire life. Yes, you need to work hard, but you also need to take care of yourself.

If you let your physical and mental health slide, you won’t be able to show up as your best self in your business or any other area of your life. Although it may seem counterintuitive, you and your business will benefit from you getting enough rest and taking time to recharge.

So be sure to break up your day with five to 10 minute windows of off-time every hour. Get enough sleep each night. Give yourself permission to take a day off now and then. Trust me; your business will be okay.

7. Stick to what works for you

When it comes to time management, the most important thing is to do what works for you because we’re all different. Take and leave whatever you like from this list.

Start by implementing one of these strategies, and see how you get on. If something just isn’t gelling for you, let it go. When you’ve found the right tools and strategies, be sure to commit to them and consistently implement them in your day.

Start Small For Big Impact

Start today by applying one of these tips. Be OK with starting small. Stay focused, and add a tip a day. Before you know it, you’ll never say “I don’t have enough time” again.

Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?