When running your own small business, it can seem like there’s a mountain of tasks to get through each day. With an overwhelming schedule and endless distractions, it isn’t hard to lose motivation or concentration.
Productivity is one of the biggest things a small business owner struggles with, so today I’ll be delving into the most effective ways you can stay on-track and get everything done.
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Ways to improve your productivity
Schedule time for distractions
Do you know those endless distractions that seem to come up every day? Whether it’s suddenly remembering that you forgot to hang the washing or remembering a non-business-related phone call that you forgot to make; all of these things are simply distractions to your productivity.
Whenever a distraction like this arises, write it down as a memo instead. This way, you can act on it once your important business tasks have been completed, or even during your lunch break.
Set daily and weekly tasks
Rather than having one long to-do list, it’s important that you break your tasks down into what you have to do on a daily or weekly basis. That way, you’re less likely to feel overwhelmed. The best way to do this is to sit down on a Sunday and plan all of the things you want to accomplish that week with your business.
What major goals or tasks should be completed by the close of business on Friday? How can you break these down into smaller tasks to accomplish each day? This is a great way to not only boost your productivity but to check in with your goals on a daily and weekly basis.
Learn to delegate and outsource
Whether you have a team of employees working with you, or not, you can still delegate and outsource tasks you either don’t have the time or skills for. This helps to boost your productivity by freeing up time for the important tasks you can handle yourself.
Otherwise, you may find yourself taking hours to complete something that should only take minutes, or worst, putting the necessary task off altogether.
Schedule ’email time’
Did you know the average person checks their email 15 times per day? Unless it is time dedicated to reading and responding to your business emails, that’s 15 daily distractions that you don’t need. Instead of checking your emails whenever you feel like it (i.e. to procrastinate), set aside a small block of time each morning and afternoon to dedicate to this task.
This way, you’re more likely to do what you need to do, before moving on to more important tasks with greater concentration. Plus, unless an email is super important, it doesn’t have to be replied to this very second.
Reward good productivity
Rewarding good behavior doesn’t just work for children and pets. It’s also a great way to reinforce productive behavior on a daily or weekly basis. If you’ve crossed off all of your to-do list tasks, why not reward yourself with something special?
This can also further motivate you to finish everything you need to for the day or week, as you’ll look forward to the reward that comes with it.
Invest in the right tools and technology
When it comes to the various components of running your business, you can almost be certain there’s an app, tool, or software to help you out. This is why it’s vital to do your research and see what technology you could be using on a regular basis to help your business run more smoothly.
You can even use tools to help you boost your productivity, such as ones that track how long you spend on a particular task, or ones that manage your to-do list.
Keep an organized workspace
This last tip might seem like a no-brainer, but it’s certainly important. If your workspace is messy and chaotic, so too will your productivity. You want a neat and clean space to work where everything is organized and in its correct place.
No one wants to waste time looking for important documents or materials, nor should their workspace feel like somewhere they don’t want to be. This is why it’s important that you clean your space regularly, even if it’s just setting aside 10 minutes each day.
There you have it, several easy tips to help you boost your productivity today! By following these tips for small business owners, you’re sure to start smashing your business goals.
