As a small business owner, I have many things to learn; from taxes to production to eCommerce. It is fantastic to be your own boss, but having to do everything can be overwhelming.
Recently I have been having trouble managing my time effectively and figuring out what is most important. So I have come up with some new plans to keep my productivity up.
3 things that I have found to work:
1) Finding your Productive Space.
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Working from home can be distracting; you have the TV, your dirty laundry to finish, bills you forgot to pay. I often find myself working one minute and then cleaning up the bathroom the next. So here is what I have found to work for me. Finding a place in your home that is solely dedicated to work can repel other distractions of home. Dedicate a work only zone, and decorate that space with work inspirations. If you really can’t focus at home, try finding a coffee shop or even a library to go to. Leaving the home and going to “work” (aka coffee shop), can mentally prepare you for a day of productive work.
2) Set definite work hours
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When your headquarter is in your garage. Balancing work and
home can be difficult. The line between home time and work time can be
easily crossed. So set a definite schedule. Monday through
Friday 10am to 5pm only do things that is beneficial to the
company. Get up at a certain hour and get to your productive space by the start of your work time. Having a start and stop time can help set deadlines for that day.
3) STOP multitasking
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People are always saying you must multi-task. I say BULL! Multi-tasking is distracting and can slow progress. Focus on the most important thing and do that first. Make a to-do list starting with the most important. A harvard study from 2010 shows multitasking can increase stress, drop IQ and lead to 40% drop in productivity. So stop multitasking.
To all the small business owners out there, I would love to hear your stories of struggles and success!