If you’re running any type of home-based business, you probably spend lots of time running around like a chicken without a head. It can be hard in the beginning, but it’s supposed get easier over time. If not, you might have to make some changes. Here are some tips to help you manage your time.
1. Separate Your Life into Key Areas
Instead of getting bogged down with minute tasks, narrow down the most important areas of your life and organize around those. They should be broad categories that cover major aspects of your life that define who you are and who you aspire to be. Examples of this might include personal development, entertainment, family, and work. If you want to break them down differently, that’s fine. They’re just examples.
For example, depending on what you like to read and why, it could fall under entertainment or personal development. The same goes for your social life, which you could include under either entertainment or family, if most of your socializing involves family. The idea is to create a more personalized way of organizing the activities in your life without having to struggle with such a long list.
2. Determine Which Areas Need the Most Attention
Since you’re reading this article, it’s fair to say that you feel at least one of these areas is being neglected. For many, work has a way of coming first, with their family and social lives taking a back seat. If you’re not very family-oriented or social, or maybe you’re just more interested in your goals, this might not resonate with you. But if you have kids or a relationship you’re trying to nurture, you’ll have to find a way to make time for these things without neglecting your career obligations.
Note that this is easier for some than others. It may be more difficult for those who have a home-based business or have to take their work home with them, since it can lead to resentment from partners or family members. You’ll have to get creative about budgeting your time if this applies to you.
If you work at home, you might consider using a timer to schedule regular breaks. If it helps, don’t think of it so much as a schedule keeper, but rather a reminder of when to put your work down and do something else. Let’s face it, when you’re busy, it’s easy to get carried away and lose track of time. Before you know it, it’s late and you either never got in that workout or you lost the chance to spend time with a loved one and ask them about their day.
You can use a timer to help with all sorts of things. Is there a hobby you’d like to start or a book you’d like to finish reading? Wouldn’t 15 or 30 minutes of dedicated time be better than nothing? It won’t take up too much of one particular day, but over time, you’ll notice that it adds up when done on a regular basis. After a couple days, you’ll have a better idea whether you’ve allotted enough time for these activities or not. The point is that you have to start somewhere.
3. Set Goals
Just as you have goals for your business, you should also have goals for other areas of your life. If it seems silly to set goals that are not related to business, you might want to rethink how important it is, because anything worth pursuing should be worth attaching a target to and tracking your progress.
Suppose you’d like to write your first book, but you’ve been so busy you’re unable to make any progress. As these things go, people tend to focus more when there’s a timetable attached to the goal. This gives it a sense of urgency and helps you to break it down into manageable blocks of time.
Also, make sure those goals are realistic and attainable. If you work 80 hours per week, you probably shouldn’t expect to finish that book in less than 6 months. If writing is new territory for you, you might want to give yourself a due date of one year. Then break it down into regular blocks of time that fit into your schedule.
Remember that the busier you are, the smaller these time blocks might be. Don’t be surprised if all you can afford is a half-hour for each of the things you’re trying to squeeze in. Believe it or not, there are lots of busy people out there who learn to play instruments by taking just two or three half-hour lessons each week. That’s the reality of a busy person’s schedule and it’s the reason you have to make each minute count.
4. Prioritize
Once you know what your goals are in each area, it’s important to tackle them in the order of their importance. The best way to accomplish this is to start with the most critical ones at the start of the day, as in the morning. Depending on what sort of tasks you’re dealing with, you may have to strike a balance between the ones that require the most work and the ones that are most important, since they won’t always be the same.
Generally, it’s best to get the important tasks out of the way first, so as to ensure that they get done, even if nothing else does. If these tasks tend to cause you a great deal of stress, you’re likely to feel some relief by getting them out of the way.
It’s also important to note that your energy levels will likely be at their highest in the morning, as well. For this reason, it’s just as important to consider the tasks that may not necessarily be the most important, but will require lots of work on your part. It’s up to you to decide how you’re going to prioritize these tasks, but the point is to not waste your time tackling less-important or easy tasks while your energy and willpower are at their highest levels.
Trust me, you won’t feel the same all day long and you will eventually regret not using the time wisely. If that’s what you’ve been doing, keep in mind that by starting your day with such easy tasks, you’re creating an expectation of continued ease for the rest of the day. That’s when you start creating excuses for why you don’t have enough time or energy for those important things you’ve actually been avoiding.
5. Delegate and/or Outsource
Where it concerns your business, remember is that it’s impossible to do everything yourself and continue to grow. There are certain things you can do better than others, but that doesn’t mean you can do everything better. Keep in mind that time and energy are limited resources and you need to be more careful how and where you apply them.
At some point, it makes sense to hire someone to do the simpler things that are likely to tie you up. This would free you up to focus more intently on the most important and complicated tasks. Your job should be to apply whatever talents or skills you have to the areas that provide the greatest impact and leave the rest to someone else.
For example, if the greatest impact you can make in your business is through blogging, then that’s where your energies should be focused. It would be better to spend your time coming up with content for your website than chasing down clients who haven’t updated their payment information. You can always hire someone to take care of those matters, while devoting your time to creating good content.
Keep in mind that you might be able to do this without adding anyone to your payroll. In today’s world, there are apps and programs designed to help automate many of the tasks that slow you down. So if the best you can do in the beginning is to incorporate programs that function as virtual assistants, that’s still better than spending hours struggling with it.
If you prefer a human touch, you can always find contractors and freelancers who are willing to do this sort of work from a distance. The obvious advantage is that this costs much less than you would have to pay an employee. This approach allows you to decide when you need their services, as opposed to having an employee that will show up every day and expect to get paid, whether you need them that day or not. Contractors and freelancers work on an as-needed basis and are paid accordingly.
6. Tweak Your Schedule
Chances are, you’ve probably noticed that your energy comes and goes at certain times of the day. Some people start out with more energy in the morning, while others take a bit longer to get it together. There are also those who are at their best in the evening. It’s in your best interest to take as much advantage of these patterns as you can.
The reason new entrepreneurs tend to overlook this probably has something to do with coming from an employee background. It’s no secret that most bosses couldn’t care less when you have the most energy. You’re expected to show up at 8 a.m., whether it works with your circadian rhythms or not.
The reason this is so is because you’re not the only employee there and it’s unlikely that the company would be able to cater to everyone’s rhythms. Obviously, if left to decide for themselves, a large number of people would rather sleep in. When you’re not the boss, it’s not up to you to hold everything up for your own convenience.
However, if you are the boss or are working in some type of freelance capacity, where you have more control of your schedule, it makes sense to do the most difficult work when you have the most energy for it. If you start most days off with a bang, then those tasks should probably be handled right away. If you’re more of a late starter, it might be a good idea to “warm up” with something simpler, until your energy and alertness reach their peak.
For example, I tend to write better late at night. There are other things I do better in the mornings, including budgeting. Even though it involves numbers, it’s easier than finding the right words to convey what I’m trying to say and convert that into interesting content. No matter how quiet the room is, I’m just not very good at deep thinking in the morning. Fortunately, I’m in a position where I can decide when to do certain tasks and I’ve learned to take full advantage of that, because there’s no sense in making anything harder than it has to be.
7. Avoid Overanalysis
Remember not to drive yourself crazy over-analyzing things. No matter what you’re dealing with or working on, the best results require an uncluttered mind. If you’re truly focused on the task at hand, solutions will come to you. At that point, your job is to pick the best one and allow it to play itself out, rather than obsessing over whether you made the right decision or not.
Try as you might, you’ll never achieve perfection. I’m not saying you shouldn’t aim high, because you certainly should. But rather that you shouldn’t allow the pursuit of perfection to blind you to the extent that you miss good opportunities or develop a negative attitude that will hurt you in the long run.
The best tools in your arsenal are a strong sense of commitment to the task and a positive attitude. Certain things are under your control, whereas others are not. If in the midst of the chaos, things begin to fall apart, keep your eyes open for any lessons to be learned. Keep in mind that the only true failures occur when we choose to beat ourselves up, rather than learning from our mistakes.
Remember that time is your most valuable asset, both as an entrepreneur and as a human being. It allows you to make money, manage your life, and enjoy the fruits of your labor. So if you’re going to apply that much effort into accomplishing these things, you should probably find the smartest way to do it.
Firstly, let me thank you for putting together, such an informative and helpful article. I’m especially thankful because I found it at the right time, a time when I need it the most.
I know the importance of organizing the different aspects of my life. The problem is, I usually end up getting lost in the process as a result of getting overwhelmed by the overall idea. But you should know that these tips clearly simplifies the process.
I’m truly glad you shared.
Thanks, Lyke! Glad you found it helpful. And thanks for stopping by!
Mark
What a great article on a subject dear to my heart, I am all about working smarter, rather than harder so anything that centres on better time management I am all ways happy to read to see if I can sharpen up my techniques and routines.
I was particularly interested by the last paragraph as I quite literally a shocker when it comes to analysis in excess of what might be considered healthy.
I like many people have to guard against the paralysis of analysis and sometimes just insert a circuit breaker by making a decision to act.
I really enjoyed this post thanks
Hamish
Glad you enjoyed it, Hamish! Thanks for stopping by!
Mark
Before I started my business I had no idea how valuable time actually was. I realize now. How important is to be it is to be productive With your time to make everyday count. It’s all about your habits. I’ve gradually change my habits to just automatically do the things I Need to be doing for my business. I make sure I get lots of time in for my guitar practices.
That’s awesome, Jake! Yes, the habits certainly do matter. If you have the wrong ones, they can be hard to change. Thanks for stopping by!
Mark
Whatever is not measured has no basis for accessment, hence often lacks direction and focus which are key elements to speed of accomplishment. A life not examined is not worth living. For these reasons i find your concepts so appealing and i wanna say Thank you for sharing. Really to be the boss, there must be a workable system in place and regularly updated to catch up with the ever changing trends in life. Time Management could also be refered to as life management and that is the number one challenge every entrepreneur starting or running a home business must solve for great success. Best guide ever! Shalom
Glad you enjoyed it! You make a great point about how it really is essentially life management, especially when you consider how much of our time we devote to working. Without a doubt, it has an effect on the other areas of our lives. Thanks so much for stopping by!
Mark
Managing one’s time can be a challenging task, that’s for sure, especially when it comes to running a home business. Making changes to a plan is much better than giving up altogether, and I appreciate the encouragement you have provided here with these 7 tips. Sometimes I must admit that I tend to over-analyze things. There are so many numbers out there and so much data that it can really make your head spin. I totally agree that time is the most valuable asset. Outsourcing also is a great reminder that we don’t have to everything on our own and there are outlets out there by way of freelancers and contractors. This is really sound advice and I will save your post as I look forward to referencing it and reading more, well done!
Glad you enjoyed it! Yes, time management is definitely one of the most challenging aspects of running a home business. Fortunately, there are ways to make sense of it all. Best wishes to you!
Mark
When I thought of managing my time it never occurred to me that that also included family or free time. I always related it to work time. The first lines of your article really made me stop and re-think a lot of things. I think I have let personal development slide in the last months … and I noticed this in the last two weeks. This article serves as another reminder for me …
I’ve set goals for my personal business, and for achieving some things on my land, but I haven’t set any personal development goals, and I think I should really do that, especially since the last years have been challenging.
It is true that most people have more energy in the morning. I actually work best early in the morning or late at night. I am a writer and I write the most in the early mornings. Late at night I get creative with writing, but also with many other things.
Thank you for reminding me not to over-analyze. I tend to do that sometimes, and I often stop myself and tell myself to just let it go. It’s not always easy to do, but I pay attention to it. I am glad I found your article today. I am going to work on some personal goals now. I will write them down.
That’s awesome, Christine! Yes, I have a similar habit of writing more either in the early morning or late evening. It’s so much easier without all the noise of the day competing for attention. Thanks for stopping by and best of luck to you!
Mark
You just have it all nailed to the truth. It has never been easy reaching my daily goals. I keep watching the hand of the clock ticking while nothing is being done because of distractions. However, with the seven tips that are discussed in this article, time management becomes very easy. I know from now onward I should be able to have my daily goals achieved. Thank you for this amazing review.
Glad you enjoyed it, my friend! Thanks for stopping by!
Mark
Thanks Mark, I really needed the information on this post. I write everything I have to do in the day in a list and wonder why it’s not working. Now I know I have to Separate the chores on my list into key areas, decide which areas I want to spend more time on, then prioritise the areas according to the goals I am trying to achieve. I should have more productive days ahead!
I totally understand, because I used to do that myself. I’ve since lived and learned, finding this to be a much more organized approach to time management. Thanks for stopping by, Juliet!
Mark
Thank you very much for sharing this informative article with us about the 7 Tips for Managing Time. We waste our precious time inadvertently for no reason, We should be more careful about time management. I have learned a lot by this article about how to manage time. The 7 tips is really effective fo time manage….
Thanks Again for this informative article…
Anytime, Abir! So glad you found it useful.
Mark
This is sound advice. I like the ideal of being proactive in your purpose and life’s work. This list will help you organize in a way that will allow to best utilize your time. I think you are right about over analyzing, it can be paralyzing and counter productive, Clearly following your advice in this post will help create better and more productive habits.
Thanks, Lee! Glad you enjoyed reading it and thanks for stopping by!
Mark
The popular saying that time is money is very accurate so if one wants to make money, and good money, one will need to learn how to manage time and do it appropriately. I personally did not know anything about time management before starting my owmline business but I learnt that there is so much to it than I knew along the line. I think from your point, setting goals and prioritising are very important issues for anyone. I have to apply what I have learnt in my daily routine. Happy to have read your post Mark.
I can totally relate, my friend. I’m glad you found the post useful and thought-provoking. Best wishes to you!
Mark
I have always had difficulties with time management. But as years have been going by I have begun to improve. But there is still a way to go. As I read your post I identified my two main problems. They are separating my life into key areas and delegating-outsourcing. Thank you very much for this post!
That’s awesome, Ann! Glad you found the post useful.
Mark
Many thanks to you for sharing such an excellent article with us .Time is a very important thing to improve in life so if time can be handled properly then life can be improved.I spend a lot of time in my life for no reason.And if I spend the time on the right path, maybe I can improve my life.I love that you gave me seven powerful tips to manage your registration time and would like to follow these tips.I want to do this home-based business so if I have a home-based business I can spend time with my family and be with family all the time.And I will follow 7 powerful tips for managing your registration time and I will share with you new experiences.
Thank you very much! Glad you appreciated it and best wishes!
Mark
Hey, I enjoy a lot while reading your guide on powerful tips for managing our time. I find it very useful for everyone. A life not examined is not worth living. For these reasons i find your concepts so appealing and i wanna say Thank you for sharing. Really to be the boss, there must be a workable system in place and regularly updated to catch up with the ever changing trends in life. Thanks for such awesome guide.
Glad you enjoyed reading it, Parveen! Thanks for stopping by!
Mark
I currently work from home as a freelance writer and affiliate marketer and the freedom to do whatever I want whenever I want is great, but I do think I’m wasting a lot of my time on things like social media and watching videos on YouTube. A short break from work and I turn on a 10 minute video which rabbit holes into a 1 hour time wasting video marathon.
I like the idea of using a timer to sort of keep yourself in order. I could set the timer to 10 minutes and after the timer goes off I’m back to work no matter what. Could also set a timer for other things like cranking out a workout session, walking the dog, buying groceries, etc. Thanks for the great tips.
I can totally relate, Son. I still write freelance and used to have the same problem. In a sense, it’s a consequence of being self-employed. When you don’t have a boss hovering over you, you have to put the pressure on yourself somehow. A timer can help for many different things, by giving you a sense of urgency. Glad you enjoyed the post!
Mark
What an extraordinary post that is! I really enjoyed article. I found that it is full of information and also educative. You have posted about 7 powerful tips for managing time. It is said that Time and Tide Wait for None. So It is a really helpful post about time.
You have mentioned about 7 steps. They truly useful. Yes they had helped me a lot. They can help people. So should make use of their time properly. So for maintaining time we should follow these rules. It can help us in the office, home and also anywhere.
I think other people enjoy and get some knowledge while reading the article. So I am going to share the post with others.
Yes, please do share! Thank you very much and I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Thanks for stopping by!
Mark
This post will be very helpful to me. I could not manage my time properly. After your post I clearly understand how to manage time. And how to share the tasks.Thank you so much for sharing this different article with us.I believe that by following your tips I will be successful in managing time.
Glad you found it useful, Alam. Best wishes to you and thanks for stopping by!
Mark
Thanks for all these useful time management tips. I especially like your tip #2 when you mentioned using a timer. In the morning, I work a couple of hours on my website and I really want to squeeze in a few minutes of Yoga before heading out to work at noon. Using a timer, as simple as it is, would help me achieve that. Thanks, and Happy Easter
Sonny
Glad to hear the timer works for you! I consider it an indispensable tool. Hope you had a Happy Easter, as well!
Mark
Time is indeed THE BOSS to us all, no man irrespective of your knowledge or money can afford a second a time passed, one can only plan on how to judiciously use his or her time that is yet t come and not the passed time and that is where this article tends to come in by open on to you seven tips you can use to manage your time to get the best of it.
Running an online business from your home can be tiring considering the fact that you may have other obligations you need to meet up to either as a mum or as a dad, to acquire this you must put in practice these seven tips to help you accomplish your goals
Absolutely, my friend. Thanks for stopping by!
Mark
Awesome post Mark, u know time is priceless, it is one of the most valued commodity, once Time is lost it can never be regained, so if mismanaged it can never come back, that is why this article is great, i bet if most people manage their time very well, they will go far in life and probably not be where they are today, some times we do many things at a time and end up not doing much, thanks for these tips on how to manage time, it is really helpful.
Glad you enjoyed reading it, Alexy. Best wishes to you and thanks for stopping by!
Mark
In whatever field or situation one finds himself in, it’s always important to know how to manage one’s time properly. I’ve fell at the foul side of this many times and I know how costly it could be. However, the tips given in this post are very helpful and I’ll look to inculcate them into my lifestyle. Setting goals and priorities should be easy for me. The only problem I might have is outsourcing as I’m somewhat of a hoarder.
I know what you mean, EliteCarol, lol. I find it hard to let anyone take care of anything I’m used to handling. While the old saying about how “If you want it done right, do it yourself” is certainly valid, there’s a point of diminishing returns there. You can only do so much yourself, especially when growing your business. If you try to do it all, you’ll fail miserably in a few areas, hopefully not critical ones. But if you outsource the less critical stuff to people who are at least 90 percent likely to get it right, it’s way better than the tremendous failings that might await otherwise.
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Mark
I agree that time management is very important and that people should do what works best for them. I like a lot of other people have a lot to do and not enough time to get it done. I think that it is best to divide your time wisely. It is possible for me people to do a lot efficiently
Absolutely, my friend. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Best wishes for you!
Mark
Hello Dear, thanks for sharing this amazing article on tips for time management. A time lost can never be recovered. So it’s very Paramount that time is always utilized. These tips are really useful tips for time management, I so much Fancy the goal setting ideas it’s very very important. Setting a goal is cool but alongside measure should be taken to ensure that such goals are achieved. Nice article, I will surely visit your site again.
Absolutely, Sheddy! Glad to hear you could relate. Thanks for stopping by!
Mark
Time management. What an excellent topic. By nature, earlier in my youth, I had never been an organized person. To me, organized was a swear word. But as I grow older, and entered the workforce, I had to learn quickly how to become organized, and how to manage time. It meant the difference between earning a paycheck or collecting unemployment. IIn time I got much better. I managed to develop in 6 of the 7 areas listed on your website, my nemesis was, and still is overanalyzing. I tend to get distracted or focus too long on one thing. Overthinking it, until, I realize that I have been vegetating, and that’s when I shake myself a demand of myself to get back on track. I’m still a work in progress. But aren’t we all. So, I say all this to say, the information you provided on your site will definitely help people or anyone who will stand still long enough to listen. It is strong and valuable information, that can and will prove to be beneficial to the wise listener.
Yes! I can totally relate to hating that as a kid, lol. In fact, for many years, I even hated it as an adult. But at some point, you evolve into someone who wants more out of life and the notion that you’re going to have to put some effort into it eventually sinks in. The thing is, it has to be effective effort, not just beating your head against a wall. It must be efficient and that’s why this can sometimes seem like a science. You’re right that we’re all works in progress. It’s a continuous effort that we can’t afford to give up – most especially during these trying times we are in right now. Thanks so much for stopping by!
Mark
Hi Mark, very good sharing of time management tips for home based biz owners. I shared the same life sentiments too. Having the right balance between work and personal life is no easy feat. It was a common struggle for me, trying to making good use of time to fulfill my responsibilities in life as much as possible. Within 24 hours after deducting the resting and meal times. I read many books about managing time effectively. I fully agreed your point of prioritising, delegating and not putting too much on the plate. And be realistic with the expectations. That is what i lack while working in the service and sales profession. Getting organise and manage time well become very important especially during busy times. Being young and energetic, i used to think that i can do many tasks at one time. Until burnt out set in. It is too late. So i learnt the hard way.
To manage time well, what i did is to allocate ample time based on the complexities of the tasks involve. And do the important tasks in the morning and follow out on the rest in the afternoon. Spending 2 to 3 hours for more difficult tasks. Not more than 1 hour minor tasks and give allowance for unexpected delays. Make full use of gadgets to speed up the process. Spreading out in duration of weekly, monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly and yearly. Well, time is a commodity and precious. There is a need to beware of time stealers. Like tv time, distraction, procrastination etc….
To your success,
Absolutely, David! Glad you’re making it work for you, my friend. Thanks for stopping by!
Mark
Wow! You inspired me with this great article in your website. Time management has indeed been a challenge to me as I have to do all things to make sure everything is right and orderly patterned for myself and family. The seven points you gave here is worth it. My life has to take a new turn. And I need to become more conscious about how I use my time.
Thanks for sharing.
That’s the only way to fly, my friend. I think we all need to think more about how we’re using our time. Even when we think we’ve got it figured out, there’s usually some wasted time in there somewhere. Best wishes to you!
Mark
Hey nice article you have there. Thanks for putting effort to write about the most important element of life, your thoughts are indeed invaluable. Everyone on planet Earth needs a proper management of time, as it cannot be recovered when misused. An effective planning of our time is very important as it can help to determine one’s success
Absolutely, my friend! Glad you could relate. Thanks for stopping by!
Mark
Hello there ,This is an amazing article that you have got here. I enjoyed going through the seven powerful tips for managing time. You did great putting together this beautiful article. It has helped me understand the damage that can be done by over anlysing situation. Thanks for the advice to stay focus on the task at hand and avoid cluttered mind.
Glad you enjoyed reading it! Thanks so much for stopping by.
Mark
I always find myself not getting that many things done in a day just because I do not have enough time. I feel like there are many things to do especially when I am trying to build traffic to my site. I agree prioritizing and setting goal aree probably the most important for me. I also find that setting a routine is also good for me as well as I am more productive. I wish I can afford to outsource but that will be soon! Thanks for the sharing the tips.
Anytime! And don’t worry, you’ll get there. Once you start outsourcing, you won’t have to use up so much of your own time. Thanks for stopping by!
Mark
I like this post because it is something that I have incorporated into my every day life. I am that very busy person and I had to make a lot of changes when I started working from home in 2012. I still find myself tweaking my schedule years later because priorities have changed and I found myself, this year spending too much time on projects and not enough time on my marriage, and other equally important projects. I had to implement a daily schedule whereas I would break up my day into 1 hr time slots so that I could give time to everything per day. Really good subject. 🙂
I like the idea of 1 hr time blocks! It seems like it’s doable for just about everything and it’s a great way to spread your time around. Thanks so much for stopping by, Derrick!
Mark
time they say waits for no man, once it’s gone it is gone it can never be replenished..Time is indeed THE BOSS to us all, no man irrespective of your knowledge or money can afford a second a time passed, one can only plan on how to judiciously use his or her time that is yet t come and not the passed time and that is where this article tends to come in by open on to you seven tips you can use to manage your time to get the best of it….
thanks a lot for sharing I look forward to share it have a great day and stay safe
Anytime! And yes, feel free to share wherever you like. Thanks for stopping by!
Mark
Hi Mark,
as you mentioned, Time Managing is very important, and even if we all have 24 hours a day, they seem to be never enough. The tips that you provided are really very useful, especially the one about delegating or outsourcing, when it is possible, it can be a very good option.
Furthermore, being able to manage our time makes us more effective, and usually, in our jobs, this is a huge advantage.
Thanks for sharing,
Andrea
Yes, absolutely! It tends to carry over into the other areas of our lives. Thanks for stopping by!
Mark