As a business owner, executive or manager, do you find that there are never enough hours in your day? Do you get to the end of the day and wonder where the time went? You found yourself very busy, doing lots of important things, but you are not sure that you accomplished what you needed to.
You are not alone….this is the battle cry for many business owners. They started a business with the idea that as an owner they could control their time. It is a wonderful concept, but for many making it happen is another story. The problem is you have to wear many hats as an owner, executive and manager and it is tough to make decisions about what takes precedence. Everything feels like a priority.
Taking 15 minutes daily can save you hours in your work week…sounds crazy, but it is true. Planning and focus are the keys to getting control of your time. Taking time daily to create a plan for the day makes all the difference in your ability to accomplish your important tasks. Some people prefer to make their list in the evening for the next day, while others prefer making the list in the morning for that day. You should decide for yourself which works better for you and your schedule.
How does making the list in advance save you time?
• Allows you to set priorities
• Makes it easier to see what is in front of you and plan your time to accomplish the important items
• Makes accomplishing long-term goals more likely, as related tasks can be included in the daily list
• Can be a reminder when something takes you off task of what you plan to accomplish
We all want to be more effective and more efficient…is there any better feeling at the end of the day than knowing that you took care of all the things that were important to you for the day? Can you imagine how much better you will sleep at night without outstanding “to do” items on your mind? And, if you sleep better at night, won’t you wake up feeling better and more energized? And, if you wake up feeling good and energized, won’t that lead to you being even more productive and efficient?
Does that sound good? Give it a try and review your results over a week. Did you save time and get the important things you wanted to accomplish completed? Did you have more time for your non-work activities? It only gets better and better, the more you do it. But, don’t take my word for it, try it yourself to see the results.
