time management tips

3 Tips for Gaining More Time in Your Day

Our clients often bemoan the fact that their to-do lists are miles long and they wish they had more time in the day to get all their tasks done. Add in the number of clients they have to serve during the week and the stress can become overbearing. Even though we all have only 24 hours in each day, here are 3 tips for gaining for time in your day.

  1. Use the Time Blocking Method on Your Calendar

I use this one all of the time. Time blocking simply means assigning a block of time to one particular client, project, or task. For instance, if you have back to back coaching calls, block that time off on your calendar and focus on those calls. If you need time to write your signature product, block off 2-3 hours on your calendar. If you’re a visual learner, use Google Calendar to make colorful time blocks, such as a different color for each client. If you love digital planners I highly recommend Artful Agenda, this is how I keep track of everything going on in my business now. They have beautiful covers to choose from, fun stickers you can use, and it syncs directly with your Google Calendar! It has been a lifesaver, use my code RA15733 for 10% off your first payment.

  1. Track Your Hours and Tasks to Determine Your Distractions

Distractions are everywhere, especially if you work in a home office, hello Netflix! and Facebook. and Instagram. and laundry….you get the point. Even necessary tasks, like social media posts, can become a distraction if you start to meander through your newsfeed, take silly quizzes, or watch funny TikTok videos. If you’re not sure where you’re losing time or what your distractions are, try tracking your hours. Toggl is a great tool or use a paper log just for 3-5 days to see where your time sucks are happening. Here’s how it should work, start the timer at the beginning of each task and at the end to see how long it takes you to complete. Even if your mom calls during the day, start the timer. You can see at the end of the day what you accomplished and how much time you spent on these tasks. Then you can tell your mom not to call during business hours and you can save your social media distractions for the evening hours, too. That “10-minute” task that wasn’t measured before could actually end up being a 30 or 45-minute task once you see it on paper.

  1. Don’t Overestimate How Much You Can Do in One Day

It’s hard not to think we can barrel through our lengthy to-do list in one day. We just want it done so we can start the next day with a clean slate. But we still only have 24 hours in a day so instead of becoming stressed about the tasks, try implementing the 1-3-5 rule. Choose 1 large task and get started on that first thing in the morning. Choose 3 medium sized tasks and 5 small tasks. As you finish each one, cross it off your list for a visual representation of your productivity. Try melding this method with the time block method for ultimate productivity. These combinations will drive your productivity (and your business) forward rather than allowing yourself to be constantly pulled in 20 different directions throughout the day.

BONUS! One More Time-Gaining Solution: Hire a Team

Delegating your small, mundane, behind-the-scenes-of-your-business tasks to an assistant is another way to gain more time in your day. You can focus on the bigger, money-making tasks while she focuses on the smaller tasks. If you’re not sure you’re ready to hire someone, you can check out my blogs about hiring here and here. These will give you keen insight on how to ensure you hire the right person the first time.

Time management is something every one of us can get better at and these 3 tips for gaining more time in your day will give you a great start on figuring out where your time is going, how to manage it better, and how to prevent stress by not piling too much on your plate all at once. Want more 1:1 support to take your business or next launch to the next level? Schedule a free consultation call with me here. I would love to help you prioritize your days or take some of the load off of your plate so you can focus on what you do best.

Screen Shot 2021-06-04 at 7.58.16 AM
Im-amy (1)

I help service-based business owners looking to move away from overwhelm in your online business and toward the fun and freedom that clear strategy and scaling provide.

categories

work with me