Growing a small business is hard work. It’s even harder when you’re doing it on your own. If you had employees, you could at least delegate certain tasks. That’s not possible when you’re a solopreneur.

Thus, it’s essential to optimize your time management skills. By using your time as efficiently and productively as possible, you’ll maintain steady growth, even when you’re the one handling every task related to your business. These five tips will help:

 

Prioritize Goals

Creating a to-do list helps you stay focused. When you have your goals written down in an organized list, you can spend less time trying to determine what you need to do in a given day, and more time actually getting the work done.

However, it’s also important to prioritize the items on your list. You want to make sure you’re focusing on high-value tasks first, before moving on to less important work.

 

Determine When You’re Most Productive

Your motivation levels probably won’t remain consistent throughout the day. And if you work out of a coffee shop or coworking space, there may be certain distractions that keep you from being at your most productive throughout the day. You may find you’re more enthusiastic and focused in the morning, while in the afternoon, you’re less motivated to get work done.

Pay attention to these patterns. Once you find out which hours of the day are the most productive for you, you’ll know you should spend these hours focusing on the most important tasks on your to-do list.

 

Pay Attention to Current Time Management Habits

You can’t improve your time management habits if you don’t know how you currently waste your time. That’s why it’s a smart idea to use a tool which tracks how you spend the hours in a day. There are numerous apps and products which can tell you how much time you spend checking emails, making phone calls, on social media, and more. Use one to determine where you need to make changes.

 

Commit to a System

Solopreneurs also have access to various time management tools which help them schedule their days and weeks. Experiment with a few options until you find one that meets your needs. Once you do, commit to using it. After all, strong time management is a habit. Adhering to your chosen system is key to reaping the full benefits it offers.

 

Don’t Neglect Your Health

Too often, solopreneurs feel they need to sacrifice sleep in order to get work done. Don’t fall into this trap. In the long run, getting enough sleep actually boosts your productivity. It’s also important to take regular breaks during the day to guard against burnout.

Growing your own business without the help of others doesn’t need to be a struggle. In fact, it can be an extremely rewarding experience. You’ll be much more likely to enjoy the thrill of running your own business if you focus on managing your time as effectively as possible.

 

Rae Steinbach

Rae Steinbach

Contributor

Rae is a graduate of Tufts University with a combined International Relations and Chinese degree. After spending time living and working abroad in China, she returned to NYC to pursue her career and continue curating quality content. Rae is passionate about travel, food, and writing, of course.

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