Time management is a struggle for most of us. There are so many things pulling for our attention, distractions everywhere we look, and often an unrealistic number of things on our to-do list. It’s impossible to do it all, but these time management tips will definitely help you make the most of your time.
#1: Track Your Time
The first step to implementing any time management strategy is to know how you’re currently spending your time. Track your time with LOTS of detail for the next week. If you’re like a lot of our clients, then you’ll be amazed at how you’re spending your time.
#2: Identify YOUR Time Wasters
As you track your time, be mindful of how you waste time. It could be through emails, social media, watching TV, talking on the phone, house cleaning, running errands, trying to get everything perfect, etc. Don’t confuse a time waster with intentional downtime. Intentional downtime is a scheduled part of your plan and is vital to your health and wellbeing. A time waster on the other hand is anything that distracts you from the most important thing you need to be doing.
#3: Create an Ideal Schedule
An ideal schedule is a lot like a financial budget. It’s your opportunity to tell your time where to go BEFORE you actually use it. An ideal schedule is what will allow you to invest your time in what is most important for you. Your ideal schedule should include personal things (like exercise, date nights, meal prep, me time, quiet time, lunch with friends, family time, etc.) and business things (like 1:1 appointments, parties, networking events, marketing, projects, prospecting, email/social media, meetings, etc.). To learn more about creating an ideal schedule, watch this video.
#4: Schedule Non-Negotiable Appointments with Yourself
It can be so easy to fill our time with other people’s needs or appointments, so make sure that your Ideal Schedule includes non-negotiable appointments with yourself. This appointment is as important as a meeting with someone you greatly admire. Often this appointment with yourself is something that will allow you to work on your business growth. If this appointment isn’t scheduled, then it will rarely happen and it’s one that is key to your growth.
#5: Anticipate Interruptions
Life happens. Whether it’s illness, death, your website crashing, an important document not saving, an urgent email, someone else missing their deadline, etc. Anticipate that there will be interruptions. Don’t jam pack your schedule, so that there is no time for interruptions. Create intentional white space in your schedule, so that you’re not thrown off by the unexpected.
#6: Plan Your Week
Set aside a non-negotiable appointment with yourself at the end of each week to review the past week and prepare for the upcoming week.
Identify your goals for the upcoming week. What will make the week a success? Schedule non-negotiable appointments with yourself to work on the necessary projects. Use your iBloom Planner to brainstorm project tasks and then identify what day you’ll complete each to-do.
#7: Estimate
Estimate how long each project will take to complete. For instance, if you have a blog to write. Estimate how long you think it will take to complete the blog- writing, editing, creating the graphic, posting, and promoting it. Write your estimate for each project next to the to-do in your iBloom Planner. We often underestimate how long it will take to complete something, so this is a key time management step.
#8: Use a Timer
Get a cheap kitchen timer or use the timer on your phone to track how long it actually takes you to complete each project. I like to play a game with myself where I try to beat the clock by finishing the task before the timer buzzes, then I do something fun to reward myself.
#9: Evaluate
Once you track how long it actually takes you to complete each task, go back to your to-do list in your iBloom Planner and compare it to your estimated time. Be sure to write the actual time next to the estimate. This information will be helpful as you’re planning future weeks. You’ll have a better understanding of how long it actually takes to complete specific projects which will allow you to better estimate your time.
#10: Minimize Distractions
I used to pride myself on the fact that I was great at multi-tasking. However, the reality is, I’m not. Yes, I can do it, but it’s not my BEST work. My best work comes when I eliminate distractions {turn off email, silence my phone, close all unneeded computer windows, etc.} and get laser focused on the task at hand. I intentionally schedule a couple of 60-minute Blitz’s throughout my day where I eliminate distractions and laser focus on that particular project or task. It’s amazing what I’m able to accomplish in those uninterrupted blocks of time.
Although it’s not possible to do it all, these time management tips have helped me intentionally focus my time. Following these strategies is what allows me to mark off most of the things on my to-do list each week.
I’d love to learn from you! What time management tip would you give a busy woman?
DerekGig says
free online go: fdating login – singles matching
Jimmypoeve says
prednisone buy: https://prednisone1st.store/# prednisone for sale in canada
Larrynok says
order generic mobic pill where buy generic mobic without a prescription how to get cheap mobic without insurance
CharlesWaicy says
Some trends of drugs.
canada pharmacy canadian pharmacy cheap
Read information now.
Brentdiert says
buying amoxicillin in mexico where can i buy amoxicillin over the counter uk – amoxicillin brand name
ClaudeTah says
recommended canadian pharmacies canada rx pharmacy
ScottPum says
amoxicillin 250 mg capsule purchase amoxicillin online – where to buy amoxicillin 500mg without prescription
Larrynok says
generic propecia without insurance buy propecia without a prescription
Charlestoore says
buy propecia prices generic propecia for sale
Daryldiz says
http://cheapestedpills.com/# top ed drugs
CharlesWaicy says
What side effects can this medication cause?
cost propecia buying propecia tablets
All trends of medicament.
ClaudeTah says
ed pills comparison: ed drugs list – buying ed pills online
ScottPum says
how to buy generic mobic pill: where to buy mobic without a prescription – order mobic tablets
Samuelvar says
amoxicillin 250 mg capsule: https://amoxicillins.com/# amoxicillin 500 tablet
Larrynok says
generic for amoxicillin: buy amoxicillin generic amoxicillin 500mg
Brentdiert says
how to buy amoxycillin amoxicillin 500 mg cost – cheap amoxicillin 500mg
JamesDox says
best ed pills non prescription top ed drugs ed pills that work
Daryldiz says
https://propecia1st.science/# buy cheap propecia no prescription
ScottPum says
where can i get amoxicillin 500 mg cost of amoxicillin 30 capsules – buy amoxicillin 500mg canada
ClaudeTah says
amoxicillin 500 amoxicillin online pharmacy – order amoxicillin online
Edwarddot says
https://certifiedcanadapharm.store/# canada drug pharmacy
Lorenwah says
world pharmacy india best online pharmacy india or online shopping pharmacy india
http://charlesfernald.com/__media__/js/netsoltrademark.php?d=indiamedicine.world canadian pharmacy india
pharmacy website india online pharmacy india and world pharmacy india п»їlegitimate online pharmacies india
Joshuanaf says
canadian pharmacy canadian pharmacy online or canadian pharmacy online store
http://www.cellularoneusa.net/__media__/js/netsoltrademark.php?d=certifiedcanadapharm.store canada drugs online reviews
canadadrugpharmacy com best rated canadian pharmacy and online canadian pharmacy canadian neighbor pharmacy
FreddyPhory says
recommended canadian pharmacies: legitimate canadian pharmacies – legitimate canadian online pharmacies
GeorgeFoomi says
top 10 online pharmacy in india online shopping pharmacy india or india pharmacy mail order
http://borrowerrequest.com/__media__/js/netsoltrademark.php?d=indiamedicine.world online pharmacy india
mail order pharmacy india indianpharmacy com and indian pharmacy online best india pharmacy
RobertEntef says
http://mexpharmacy.sbs/# mexico drug stores pharmacies
Joshuanaf says
cheap canadian pharmacy best canadian pharmacy to buy from or canadian pharmacy ltd
http://www.pegasusglobalinc.biz/__media__/js/netsoltrademark.php?d=certifiedcanadapharm.store best canadian online pharmacy
trusted canadian pharmacy best canadian online pharmacy and canadian discount pharmacy canadian pharmacy 24h com
FreddyPhory says
mexico pharmacies prescription drugs: buying from online mexican pharmacy – mexico pharmacies prescription drugs
RobertEntef says
https://certifiedcanadapharm.store/# canadian pharmacy 365
GeorgeFoomi says
reputable indian pharmacies online pharmacy india or п»їlegitimate online pharmacies india
http://earthminder.biz/__media__/js/netsoltrademark.php?d=indiamedicine.world india pharmacy
indian pharmacy paypal reputable indian online pharmacy and indian pharmacies safe reputable indian online pharmacy
Edwarddot says
https://indiamedicine.world/# buy medicines online in india
FreddyPhory says
pharmacy canadian superstore: ordering drugs from canada – canada drug pharmacy
Lorenwah says
best india pharmacy best online pharmacy india or indian pharmacy
http://usalocalgovinfo.com/__media__/js/netsoltrademark.php?d=indiamedicine.world mail order pharmacy india
world pharmacy india world pharmacy india and india pharmacy mail order indian pharmacy online
Edwarddot says
http://indiamedicine.world/# reputable indian pharmacies
RobertEntef says
https://mexpharmacy.sbs/# pharmacies in mexico that ship to usa