As single parents, we know that time is money, and we have to make the most of both when we have it.
Just when you thought single parenting couldn’t get any busier, you decided to start your own business. From one entrepreneur to another — congratulations and get ready to work!
A lot of people will tell me how much time they’d save being self-employed and my reply is always a swift, “Yeah, right!”
Between caring for a three-year-old, running my own business, managing clients and still having time for me, I feel I’m booked solid for the next 16 years. But, I’m always searching for ways to make the most out of my time, and possibly take my sentence down to — oh — 14 years?
Here are a few tips I use daily to make sure I’m using my time to the absolute fullest!
Have A Clear Agenda
Knowing what you have on your plate is half the battle. How often have we gotten halfway through the day only to remember what we forgot earlier? If you don’t already keep an agenda, either on paper or with the help of a smartphone or tablet, now is the time to start! Keep it updated and follow it like a map! Life is much easier when you know what you’re doing.
Prioritize Tasks
Sometimes, you have so much to do that you don’t even know where to start. Before starting on anything, make a list of which tasks are the lowest and highest priority. If you say that all your tasks are high priority, you’re not doing yourself any favors! Start yourself off on the right foot by doing your best to rank tasks and then work to complete them right down the list.
Utilize Technology
As mentioned earlier, I live and die by my smartphone and tablet. Without them, I’d be a confused, bumbling mess on a daily basis. I also rely on Office Reminders to help me get to appointments on time, cloud computing and Google Docs to sync information between all my gadgets, email marketing software to keep clients updated and mint.com to help me manage all my budgets!
Focus On One Task At A Time
Once an avid multi-tasker, I’ve come to learn the importance of taking tasks one a time. I’ve found that I can focus much more easily and get more done in a smaller amount of time when I pour all my attention into one task. If you’re the type to bounce back and forth between tasks, you’d be surprised just how much time that bouncing is costing you. Do your best to have tunnel vision on a task until it’s complete!
Think Big Picture
Lastly, try to stay focused on the larger picture. It’s easy to get bogged down in small details and spend hours, or even an entire day, worrying about stressors that aren’t truly worth your time. If you ever find yourself stuck on minute decisions and tasks, take a step back, breathe deeply and think larger. Work with a renewed sense of focus and vision; you’ll be able to work with a fresh mind and get more done.
Hopefully these few simple steps for saving time will help you shave seconds and hours in every way possible! As single parents, we know that time is money, and we have to make the most of both when we have it.
