Staying focused and blocking out distractions is easier said than done. In addition to the myriad of requests, messages and tasks that have to be handled each day, you also have to fight against your own bad habits and tendencies. Figuring out what works for you can be a process of trial and error, OR you can adopt strategies that are tried and true.
Following are 3 valuable tips on how to replace time-wasting activities with new habits that will empower you to be more productive, more focused and more effective during your work day:
| 1. | Find your most productive time of day.Many small business owners fail to know their most productive time of day. That is the time when you think clearly and sharply. You’re in a “zone” that enables you get twice as much work done. You really need to honor such moments instead filling that time with non-revenue generating tasks such as:
Be sure to avoid all time-stealing activities. Find that sweet spot in your day and make it sacred. Cut out everything that will distract you. Get into your zone each day and pulverize the important tasks that will help you to strengthen your business. (You already know what these tasks are. Just do them!) Use your “in the zone” time or sweet spot for things that must get completed. |
| 2. | Trick yourself into working when you don’t want to.Another name for not working when you know you should is “procrastination.” A few reasons for this are:
These are manageable if you address them. For example, attack those intimidating tasks head on when you have a good amount of energy. If you find a part of every project boring, then outsource it to someone who finds it to be her favorite part. If you really hate what you are doing, find your passion and pursue it! A good strategy for dealing with procrastination is to trick yourself. Try this out…
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| 3. | Set realistic expectations.Many busy entrepreneurs want to do too much in one day. We adopt the custom of miscounting the time that is involved with answering the phone, responding to emails, finding “lost” information and other small things that adds hours to a project. That can cause you to beat yourself up when your tasks are incomplete.Pre-planning will reduce these mountainous expectations to a normal level – particularly if you combine that with time tracking. (Use a simple time clock program such as Toggl to do this easily.) Try to focus on completing one major priority for work each day. |
The three strategies mentioned above will empower you to focus and stay the course with income generating activities. They will also train you to minimize time-wasting activities that lead to procrastination and incomplete tasks.
Be sure to find your most productive work time during the day and honor that time. Trick yourself to eliminate procrastination and set realistic expectations for yourself. Then you will be able to save time, save effort and work less.
Your Action Steps:
- Analyze your day and determine which hours allow you to be “in the zone” for productivity.
- Mark that time on your calendar and make it a special time of day where you do your most important (especially income generating) activities.
- Find rewards for overcoming procrastination and use them!
- Plan your work schedule the day before, so that you can wake up energized to tackle what you need to accomplish.
Kate L. Williams says
Yeah! Pep talk! I am the one who needs more realistic expectations and someone else to find “lost” information. That’s a rabbit hole to avoid whenever possible! LOL
Thanks for the great article to keep us focused, Sydni.
Donna Kozik says
Great ideas! I also like setting a timer and playing “beat the clock” to get those “must” tasks done.
Sydni Craig-Hart says
Thanks for then note Donna! That is one of my favorite tips. I’ve learned that tasks will take as long as we allow them to. If we set a specific time and stick to it… it’s amazing how much we can get done. (Like the whirlwind of activity we create when we’re about to go on vacation!