5 Ways to Work Smarter Not Harder
As business owners we have the tendency to "do it all". We dove in and started the business so we roll our sleeves up and do all the tasks required to see growth and success.
Photo by Paico Oficial on Unsplash
But are you doing what's best, in the best way possible?
It's OK if you're not yet to a place to hire help. However, spinning your wheels and wasting your time isn't going to help get you where you want to be. So lets see what you can implement TODAY that will help you work smarter, not harder.
Time-saving Tips:
Put your passwords in LastPass - I feel like this one isn't just a suggestion but a MUST-DO! Stop wasting time trying to remember passwords or worse yet, resetting them all the time. They have a Chrome extension, an app extension for Mac and even an app for your phone or tablet! Password headaches no more!
Create folders on your desktop - if you work with clients or need to access the same documents frequently, make folders to organize them. Since I work with clients I have a main folder named "Clients" and then inside I have subfolders with each client's name. This makes it quick and easy to access what I need depending on what I'm working on.
Say goodbye to multitasking - seriously... focus on one thing at a time. You can make a much bigger dent on your work if you just stay on one task at a time. If focus is hard you can set a timer for 15, 30, or even 60 minutes to make sure you stay on task and make progress.
Keep up with tasks you like the least - I know we all have something we don't like doing. This may be the very first thing you hire out. But until you get to that place, make sure you buckle down and do it anyways. For me, it's keeping up with taxes. First, I have a system in place to make the process less painful. Then I put it on my calendar and once a month I go through and enter my expenses. It saves my sanity and time at the end of the year when it's time to send it all to my accountant.
Plan out your week before it starts - know what goals you have for the upcoming week. This will help you stay on track and make progress. We aren't going for perfection here but as they say if you fail to plan, plan to fail. Make sure that your goals aren't just about your clients. Leave some room for your own business too!
These are quick and easy systems you can implement right now! Doing so will make a difference in the amount of time you spend on the mundane tasks we all have in our business-owning lives. Here's to more productive days ahead and growth beyond your wildest dreams.