Do you find yourself saying “I don’t have enough time for that”? Increase your productivity this year and find time for your business. You’ll be surprised by how many hours appear in your day!

The night before

Every night before bed, write down what needs to be done tomorrow. Start with most important items. Be sure to include items that you know you need to do in order for growing your business. Include items that you may have been procrastinating. Procrastination is often associated with fear. Maybe it’s a task that you don’t know much about—like taxes—and you are afraid of messing up or not doing them properly. This fear can hold you back from accomplishing necessary tasks for growing your business. Recognizing that fear is affecting productivity is the first step to tackling those procrastinated to-dos.

complete difficult tasks first

Difficult tasks should be tackled first. Many people check off the easier tasks first. This may work for some people, but if you are constantly running out of time to do the big tasks because you are spending your day doing the easier ones, what is the point? Often times difficult tasks are ones that are essential to your business.

If the larger tasks are daunting, break them down into smaller steps. Attach an estimated time frame to each task. This allows you to plan your day in a realistic manner. It also can provide insight into how much time is actually spent on the task. You may be surprised by how fast the project will get done! Be sure to check off your tasks. You’ll reiterate a sense of accomplishment with yourself.

personal, maintenance, growth

Identify tasks by placing them into three categories—personal, maintenance, and growth. Personal tasks are ones that you may not do on a daily basis but that need to get done, such as grocery shopping. Try to limit your personal tasks to one a day to avoid running errands all day.

Maintenance tasks are probably the reason you aren’t experiencing growth in your business. Maintenance tasks take up time. You spend energy and feel like you’re working hard and accomplishing goals. The reality is that maintenance tasks are just that—maintaining your current state. If you want growth in your business then 70% of your tasks should be focused on growth, not maintaining. Maintenance tasks can include continuously checking stats or perusing social media. These activities that are helpful but keep you where you are. If you aren’t seeing success, this is probably because you’re stuck in personal and maintenance. You fell like you did a full day’s work but actually didn’t get any closer to your goal.

The majority of your day should be completing growth tasks. These tasks get you one step closer to putting money in the bank. These tasks are creating content, driving traffic, and sales. We often put off these tasks because they seem hard, but the more you practice, the easier they will get.

Have any tips for how to find time for your business? Let us know!

Aaron Boerger

President and founder of DVI, Aaron Boerger realized early in life that he had a unique combination of x-ray vision and business acumen for seeing the weaknesses that held businesses back – and the ability to define the right tools, technology and strategy to make them stronger.

From founding a successful technology support business in his early teens, to serving as Chief Operating Officer for several companies in the financial, technology and marketing industries, Aaron has developed a reputation for reinventing technology implementation tactics – and the willingness to tell people not what they want to hear, but what they need to hear, in order to achieve success without overwhelm.

Aaron will always go the extra mile to provide the accountability and support his clients need to achieve their goals, yet isn’t afraid to tell them when they are doing something wrong.

www.dvi360.com