Do you have something you really want to do, but you just can’t find the time? Perhaps you want to create a product to sell – but does your to-do list never end? Do you ever wonder how some people seem to achieve so much, when we all have the same number of hours in the day?
If so, this should help.
Libby Knight is a business consultant helping busy people to build and grow a profitable business, without being overwhelmed.
She’s shared with us some practical tips on how to launch your product, move forward with your business (or anything else), all while maintaining a positive life work balance.
In the spirit of being productive and saving time, we’ve kept these short and snappy!
1. Accept that we all have the same number of hours in a week (168 to be precise)
The first thing to do is realise that you can’t make more time – we have what we have and we need to stop battling it, or worrying about it and start being realistic. It’s all about what you choose to do with your time that counts.
Decide what you want to achieve each day, only do what’s necessary and keep it simple.
If you decide something’s a priority you need to work it around your other responsibilities.
If you keep making excuses, it’s possibly not the right thing, or the right time.
2. Are you aware of your time? Do you know where you lose and waste time?
All you need to claim back is an hour a week to get an extra 52 hours a year to work on something that’s important to you.
We all have things that suck our times (checking our phones is a big one). If you can identify where you’re losing, or wasting time, it’s the first step in breaking habits and creating new, more productive ones
3. Always have a plan
Always know how much time you have each day (ideally when you have that time available) and how you want to use it.
4. Write it down
It’s a simple one – but it makes it much more likely to happen.
5. Try the Pomodoro method
Set a timer for 25 minutes and work on a single task, without any distractions.
When the time goes off, spend 5 minutes walking around outside, getting some fresh air and exercise. Don’t look at any screens during this time.
Repeat as needed.
6. Eat your frog
Do the most tricky thing first! It’s off your list and out of your head
7. Make your environment as distraction free as possible.
Switch off all notifications and put your phone on silent or move it to a different room. If you share your working space, or you work from home, try and find a quiet room and ask that you’re left alone. Easier said than done if you have children, but always worth a try!
8. Work out a schedule that works for you.
Could you get up a bit early to make time in the morning, stay up a little later, or work while young children are napping?
It’s all about finding pockets of time, that work for you, while still ensuring you get time to rest and re-charge.
9. Never have more than 6 things on your list for the day and put them in order of priority
You don’t need to put absolutely everything on your list. It needs to be relevant and focused. Only include things that will have a benefit to you, your family, or your business.
These might be work-related tasks, or might be family or home related.
If something keeps getting pushed to the next day (and the next) perhaps it isn’t important and shouldn’t be there.
You will (and should never) get to the end of your to-do list as you, and your life will evolve.
10. Keep things simple
Possibly the most important thing!
If it can be done in 2minutes or less do it now. Don’t add it to your list!
Only learn what you need for the next step you’ll be taking.
Don’t try and do everything at once. You can launch one product now, and expand later (as an example), rather than trying to launch 5 in one go.
