Missing!

Did you know that business owners spend just 32% of their time working on the business? Assuming a 5-day workweek, they lose about 3.4 days on tasks that neither grow the business nor generate revenue. Common time stealers include emails, staff issues, difficult customers, social media, and bookkeeping. Reflect on your recent weeks – does this sound familiar?

Try my top tips for increasing productivity and let me know how much time you gain.

1. Manage your energy, not just your time: Identify your most productive time of the day and use it wisely. Ensure you eat well, take breaks, and stay hydrated.

   
   

2. Remove distractions: Distractions, like emails and social media, not only take time to address but also require up to 25 minutes to refocus. Eliminate these interruptions to boost efficiency.

   
   

3. Delegate non-value tasks: Review your to-do list and remove tasks that don't add value. Highlight tasks you can't, won't, or shouldn't do, and delegate or outsource them.

   
   

4. Avoid multitasking:  Our brains struggle with multitasking, reducing productivity by 40%. Focus on one task at a time for better efficiency.

   
   

5. Weekly review and planning: Spend time each Friday assessing your week and planning the next. Evaluate whether you achieved your goals, attended necessary meetings, and optimised your time effectively.

   
   

6. Build a better to-do list:  Write down everything, batch similar tasks, and set reminders. Be realistic about daily achievements and keep it simple. Researchers suggest prioritising no more than nine tasks at a time.

   
   

7. Do the hardest thing first: Start with the toughest task. Completing it sets a positive tone for the day. If procrastination hits, begin with just 5 minutes and build from there. Finally, remember to reward yourself once you get that difficult task done.

   
   

8. Let go of perfectionism: The quest for perfection often leads to paralysis or endless tweaking. Set deadlines to overcome the urge to perfect everything.