Simple Ways To "Create" More Time

Fall often marks the start of the busy season. School and activities are back in session, holidays are approaching, and schedules are filling up fast. While outdoor temperatures drop, people move inside and get down to business. How can you do more with the time you have? Below are strategies you can easily implement to "add" precious minutes to your day. Work smarter and you'll have more time to play at the end of your work day!

• Use your high productivity time to accomplish the must-do’s for the day. My new favorite line is “do first things first.” I repeat that to myself when I find I am getting distracted from what I really need to be working on. When is your brain most alive? Use this time wisely and you'll accomplish more.
  
• Schedule like-minded activities together.  Take the time to plan the order you perform your tasks. This can lead to higher productivity, take the guesswork out of what you should be doing next, and can save you time and gas when it comes to running errands. Also consider how and when you serve your clients. Would moving a regular client appointment to a different day make things more efficient for you? Is that client flexible? If so, why not make the change?
  
• Consider the rest of the world. If possible, avoid doing what everyone else is doing at the same time. If everyone else is driving to work at 7am and you can avoid that rush hour, then by all means do. If you must go to the post office, try to avoid the Noon to 2pm timeframe when everyone else is there. Banks are typically most busy on Fridays so get your banking done early in the week. This kind of advance planning can save hours in a week.
  
• Use your calendar and task list to prioritize your days so you stay focused on your highest priorities. It’s easy to get sidetracked by day to day activities and interruptions. However, if you’ve got your schedule and tasks laid out, it’s much easier to reel your attention back in where it’s most needed.
• Limit distractions such as your email and phone to times when you won’t need to concentrate. Every time your mind must switch gears, you are wasting precious minutes.
  
• Give yourself a break. Believe it or not, allowing yourself to take a break will increase your productivity (assuming you make it back to continue your work). Do more with the minutes you have by making sure your mind and body are refreshed. Something as easy as a brisk walk, or a 10 minute cat nap can do wonders. If you find yourself working in circles or doing mundane, non-productive tasks, that is a good indication that you need a short break.
  
• Ask for and accept help! None of us can survive in a vacuum, and we certainly cannot create a successful, fulfilling business without a little help now and then. Think about those in your family and network willing to help you. Make the space within yourself to accept that help graciously. You’ll be doing them and yourself a great favor. It feels good to help others! Let those willing to be in service be of service to you.

While we may not have the power to move the clock back, the power to use our time wisely is at our disposal each and every day. Implement a few key strategies and then practice them until they become habit. You'll find yourself getting more done, feeling less stress and enjoying life a whole lot more.