Beginning the journey of starting your own business is exciting. Getting to do something you have a true passion for, being your own boss, and finding success in the world of business are incredible goals. Success though, as everyone knows, doesn’t happen overnight.
If you speak to the world’s most successful entrepreneurs, they will tell you there is no magic secret. It takes a lot of work and hours to get a company off the ground and to the stage where it thrives. Luckily there are some methods you can follow that can help you to manage the extra work that is sure to be coming your way if it has not already arrived.
Below we will discuss how to become more efficient daily. There are always mistakes in a new business, but hopefully, this can alleviate some of them.
Time block your day
You are going to wear multiple hats as the founder of a startup. Trying to do too many things at once may mean things get missed, the quality of the work is subpar, or you spread yourself too thin. According to a meta-analysis done by PLoS One, correct time management can enhance job performance and wellbeing, which is vital to the health of your business. Time blocking can be a great way to accomplish this. Whether you like to block your Outlook calendar online, set timers on your phone, or old school write down your blocks on paper, the process of doing this each day can have profound effects.
For example, you can give yourself two hours to work on shipping logistics for your products, an hour to read through marketing material or meet with a supplier about pricing. By placing your energy intently on one thing at a time, you are bound to get more accomplished by the end of the day. This also can help avoid procrastination by establishing a set start and end time for a task each day.
Take breaks throughout the day
We know it can seem like this is the opposite of what you need to do when you have a million things on your plate to accomplish, but there is evidence to back this up. Psychology Today found several benefits for taking breaks, including helping to prevent “decision fatigue,” restoring motivation when working on long projects and improving memory formation.
As important as the break itself is what you do on the break. Instead of diving into the news or scrolling social media, get up and go for a walk and connect with nature or any change of environment. A healthy snack or lunch away from your desk is ideal, even a quick nap if you are among the lucky ones who can successfully power nap.
Take your breaks, but remember to schedule them into your time blocking!
The beginning stages of founding a company are exciting, stressful, and seemingly non-stop. It is a lot of work and a lot of hours. By utilizing time blocking and taking breaks throughout your day, you can maximize your productivity, lessen your risk of burnout and move forward faster through the multitude of things on your to-do list.