6 Funky Time Management Ideas How To Have A Stress Free Working Existence
Firstly, before you consider how you are going to save some of that precious commodity; your personal time, you have to consider/ponder/dream about WHY you want to save time.
Ask yourself this question right now: What are you really living for???
You will never have the desire to work less and have more of a life if you don't ask yourself that question, answer it truthfully and then begin to live by it. This includes creating (or re-creating) your business around this concept from the ground up.
If you really think that you will hit 80 and look back and say “I really do wish I’d spent more time at work/on that business” then please go ahead and rack up another 60 hour week. If not, quit behaving like the sheep we know that we all are and start re-creating your own working rules.
I know time management is easier said than done but by all means it is entirely possible to achieve a happy working existence that is balanced well with the lifestyle that you choose. The choice is entirely yours.
Close earlier, open later. In the long run does it really matter? Actually right now, does it really matter if you change your hours of operation to include some more you time? Create what it is that makes you happy, not what makes everybody happy.
Let’s look at the quickest ways for you to save some time so that you can have more time relaxing/ doing what you love/not thinking about work….
Funky Time Management Tip Number 1
As boring as this is going to sound, sticking to a repetitive system; daily/weekly/monthly will allow you to spend less time procrastinating and more time doing what has to be done.
If you create the pattern, you will automatically find yourself working within your own regime that includes all of the necessities that are a must when it comes to running your business. Make a list of everything that has to be done every day/week/month and create certain times that they must be done it. Now practice sticking to those times and repeating the necessary jobs until it becomes a solid habit that you become incredibly fast at doing.
Funky Time Management Tip Number 2
Set Goals diligently using your business and marketing plan every month/3 months and meticulously work through those goals ticking off as you complete.
If you don't do this, you will find that most of your wonderful ideas spend their time swirling around in your very cluttered and very busy mind. They never come to fruition because you again, procrastinated. Stick up a huge whiteboard with your Business Goals for the next month plastered down one side of it. Tick off with a big red pen every time you complete and I guarantee you will not only sleep better but you will become more productive and proactive in your business. Better yet, you will be saving time thinking about it and actually just doing it instead.
Funky Time Management Tip Number 3
Phone and Email: They are dreaded time wasters!
Emails are generally brain wind (that is the nicest way I can put it)… You think of something that you decide is extremely important and you must tell everyone in your address book about it. You email everyone wasting your time and you then waste theirs as they have to open, read, file or delete that brain fart. You know the drill. Set aside a very strict time to email and stick to it. Nothing is so urgent that it has to be answered right now!
Calls; Use your message bank or screen your calls. Sometimes this is unavoidable but most of us could call and answer less. You could also consider a virtual assistant/phone answering service as an excellent and professional way to have your calls answered and screened.
Funky Time Management Tip Number 4
Verbally communicate your boundaries with others. If you are Mr Yes Man or a true martyr then people will soon begin to realise that you always say yes and will soon begin to take advantage of your helpful nature. In all areas of your life, start to say no a little more often and communicate very clearly your personal and professional boundaries with everybody and watch the extra hours in your week begin to pile up.
Funky Time Management Tip Number 5
Outsource Your Life! If you have not read the 4 Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferris then you must grab it right now. This book and Tim’s strategies are drastic but they will give you an insight and enough encouragement to begin to realise what areas of your business can be leveraged by using services or products that can do it better and faster then you can. If you truly value your time you will make a list of three things that you can outsource right now and begin to focus entirely on only the areas of your business and your life that truly deserve your attention.
Funky Time Management Tip Number 6
This is something I designated a whole chapter to in my Ebooks; The 80/20 Marketing and Life Rule…. Better known as Paretos Law. If you are not applying it then you are definitely wasting hours of your precious time every week.
It goes hand in hand with outsourcing. You only focus your energy on where 80% of your business revenue comes from. You only focus your energy on the 20% of people/services who provide your business with the 80% of its income. You focus 80% of your energy and time on the 20% of things in your life that provide you with 80% of enjoyment. You keep applying this law with every area of your life. This is a natural universal law. Start using it in your business, your marketing and your personal life. Not only will you have more time you will be 100% (maybe 80%) less stressed then you are right now!
My Own Personal Final Tip:
I give you 100% permission to stop making your bed! I know how great it looks when it’s all tight and smooth and neat but seriously give yourself a week off and spend that time doing something you love…
I can give your business an honest appraisal for free and help you save oodles of time with a proven success system.
Contact BusiWizard today for help with business time management, outsourcing and applying the 80/20 Marketing Rule.
Ronis White
BusiWizard
