Wouldn’t you love to have more free time? It’s a common wish for a majority of adults and certainly most business owners. There’s so much to accomplish in a day and it’d be nice to have a little free time to relax. The good news is that with a little planning and effort you can get more done in less time. Here’s how:
Systems
Systems are procedures that you can repeat and that achieve consistent results. Sorting the mail is a system. You get the mail. You sort it and give your attention to any immediate needs. Systems bring order to otherwise disorderly tasks and lives. They save time. Take a look at the tasks you perform on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.
Make a list of all the tasks, from the largest to the smallest. Put a check next to the tasks that take up a lot of time. Those are the tasks that need systems, or more efficient systems. How can you streamline each task or process to make it simple and repeatable? Consider how you can use technology, resources, and people to help.
Outsource
Speaking of people to help with your systems, people can also help you get more done in less time. There are a number of ways that you can embrace the concept of outsourcing. You might hire a virtual assistant to manage your business. You could also hire someone to clean your home. Consider how much time you’d save if you outsourced a few tasks. And also imagine what you could do with that time.
For example, if you hire someone to clean your home each week, you not only gain the benefit of an immaculate home – you also may free up two to three hours a week. You can use that time to focus on your business and make money. You can also use that time to unwind and relax. That’s good for business and it’s good for you.
Automate
Technology is a wonderful thing. It can help you streamline your life. For example, Gmail makes it possible to filter emails from your inbox. If you’re like many and you receive hundreds of emails a day, this simple function helps you sort out and focus on the important messages. You can automate many important elements of your business, from email messages to social networking. You can automate your blog backups and your analytics.
Spend some time reviewing your current tasks and habits. What can you eliminate or outsource? What can you streamline? What can you automate? It’s possible, with a little bit of planning and attention, to free up several hours a day and get more accomplished in less time.
Further Reading
How to Work Smarter, Not Harder: 101 Strategies to Make the Most of Your Working Hours and Become More Efficient and Productive
