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As a small business owner, chances are that there are a lot of demands on your time and resources. Keeping track of a to-do list that never seems to get any shorter is no easy task, so how do you stay organised?
Here are some tips that we hope will help!
Set Boundaries
“You can do ANYTHING, but not EVERYTHING” – David Allen, Productivity Expert
Be protective of your time and energy. It’s important to know your limits and to communicate your needs clearly, so that you can prioritise effectively. Setting clear boundaries around timing and resources allocated to tasks means that you can plan ahead, and remember to keep your “time off” sacred – try setting your phone to “Do Not Disturb” during evenings and weekends. Some business owners even schedule down time in their calendar so that meetings can’t be added.
Keep Your Calendar Current
“Never let anyone own your schedule” – Lou Gerstner, Former CEO, IBM
On the subject of calendars, it’s important that you have one that you stay faithful to, whether physical or digital. Make sure that you update it regularly, and make it accessible to key stakeholders if you feel comfortable, so that you can be transparent with your time. Block out time for certain high-priority tasks so that you can’t forget them and have enough breathing space to get them done. Apps like Asana have team calendars that are helpful for campaigns or projects.
Tidy Space, Tidy Mind
“I’m a very visual person, so my environment is important to me. If my environment is messy, I can’t think clearly” – Alexa Von Tobel, CEO, LearnVest
Clutter in your workspace can be distracting - it’s hard to focus on the finer details of a launch when you have a pile of old invoices staring at you on your desk!
Get your storage sorted so that papers stay out of sight, and keep your desk clear and tidy so that you can focus on the tasks at hand.
Plan in Advance
“Plan your next move because every step contributes to your goal” – Sukant Ratnaker, Management Consultant
The best way to set yourself up for success is to plan in advance. This means that you have more time and space to think, and get all moving parts aligned. When it comes to social media, apps like Later and Buffer help to plot future posts into a calendar and even auto-publish them, and marketing calendars can help to break down campaigns into timelines for each team or project.
Less is More
De-cluttering should extend to your devices too. Make sure to delete unneeded files, archive old records, and keep bookmarks relevant. You should also make sure to delete any unnecessary apps and remove any notifications that you don’t need. This not only saves on memory, but avoids distractions that aren’t essential.
Finding a rhythm that works for you is essential to staying organised. Experiment with different methods, routines and apps to find what fits with your business.
Have any additional tips? Let us know in the comments!
About the Author: Stephanie Weekes
Stephanie is a Freelance Social Media Manager and Marketing Consultant. With almost 10 years of experience working in-house with global brands and agencies, she has an in-depth understanding of multi-channel marketing and brand management.
IG: @stephgetssocial
LinkedIn: LinkedIn