To get more out of life you have to manage your time effectively and efficiently.
· Do you feel absolutely exhausted because you are running around like the proverbial "headless chicken" and getting absolutely nowhere?
· Do you start things and not see them through to their conclusion because you run out of time?
· Are you thinking that there is something you haven't done but can't for the life of you think what it is?
It’s Time now to be more constructive with the Time available to you!
5 Tips For Better Time Management
Here are some top tips for planning your time so that life can be more fulfilling and ultimately less stressful.
· Keep a Diary
· Create a "To Do" List
· Say "No"
· Use Technology
· Prioritise and Delegate
1. Write a diary over the next week and honestly record what you do every day. This exercise can be quite an eye opener for some as well as painful. You may be surprised about how much time you actually spend on attending network meetings, social media updates, surfing the net and writing content for your business as well as time spent on household chores, shopping or even watching television. Think about how you can free up more time so that you can focus on the tasks in hand.
2. Create a "To Do" List which involves how much time you will spend on a certain assignment. This will help you prioritise and also give you a realistic appraisal of how long everything takes. You really do need to know this as although it sounds obvious, it's no good allowing an hour for a job when it’s going to take a minimum of two!
3. Learn how to say "No"! It's natural not to want to let people down particularly when you start a new business. However, if you do take on a job that won’t fit into your time constraints you will inevitably end up rushing the task in hand and perhaps not doing the job well or not doing it at all which ultimately leads to letting the client down. Discuss with the client when you will be able to do the work and at a time when you know you will have the time to do the job properly. The client will be impressed that you are busy and have an organised diary.
4. Let technology be your friend. We spoke earlier about time saving devices so let your computer do some of your organising. Use the various software programmes to organise your diary and create "To Do" lists. Set up your own database comprising names, email addresses and telephone numbers. If you are unsure of the best way to maximise usage of this technology, book onto some courses or have some individual tuition from an expert. This will be money well spent!
5. Delegate or let the experts work for you. There will be people out there who are better at doing some tasks than you. Let a Bookkeeper organise your receipts, get a Social Media expert to plan a strategy for you, use a virtual PA for your office procedures and I know, you've guessed it, get a Copy Writer to provide content for you.
Now, reward yourself!
You now have a diary, created a "To Do" list with a realistic timeframe, you are doing work for clients when there is time in your diary, your database is being regularly updated and experts in their fields are working on a freelance basis for you.
Phew, diary says, time for a meal out with family or friends!
It is so important to prioritise and set achievable goals. Working hard isn't always the key to success and being busy isn't productive if it is mindless and without planning and a timescale.
The key is to work smarter and not necessarily harder
Writing and Blogging creates time for businesses so that you can spend your valuable time doing what you are really good at and that's running your business. If you would like any help with creating content for your blogs or newsletters, please call Writing and Blogging on 07742 321513 or email annie@writingandblogging.co.uk