Ah time, it’s the one thing you never have enough of when running a business – and it’s your most valuable resource.
Every second you waste is a second you’re losing out on money, after all.
That’s why, if someone could invent a machine that miraculously added five extra hours to every working day, they’d quickly become the richest person in the world.
Whilst modern science can do lots of things, creating additional minutes and hours sadly isn’t one of them.
That’s not to say there aren’t other solutions and tricks out there for managing your time more effectively. They just involve a little less sci-fi magic and a lot more effort to implement.
Here’s our pick of five top time-saving tips that’ll revolutionise the way you work. Take a look.
#1: reduce admin time
Your office is disappearing under a constantly growing pile of admin work and even all-nighters chained to your desk don’t make a dent in it – you’re clearly in desperate need of a more efficient system.
There are plenty of solutions to streamline your demanding HR responsibilities and reduce your amount of admin time. Look to a company like SD Worx, which offers a complete range of payroll and pension software designed to lighten your workload.
#2: cut down meetings
Unless you keep a tight hold of agendas and discussion, meetings can quickly get out of control, eating up an entire afternoon that would be better spent taking care of more important business.
To reduce the number of wasteful team briefings needed in your office, install collaborative software (like good old Google Docs) and communication tools (like Slack) that help everyone work together more effectively and efficiently.
#3: work on your organisational skills
It’s not exactly a secret, but it’s simple and effective – to save yourself some valuable time, you need to be better organised. Download Evernote and use it to keep track of all the varying projects and tasks you’re dealing with.
Then you’ll able to prioritise the things you need to address immediately, identify the jobs that can be postponed and figure out what duties can be delegated to other team members.
#4: bring procrastination to an end
Be honest, how often do you sign into Facebook for a quick peek, only to find yourself still snooping through your newsfeed 45-minutes later?
Social media has made procrastination far too easy, so if you’re partial to a little online stalking, you need to install an app like SelfControl or StayFocused. They let you block access to your favourite websites for set periods of time, leaving you free to concentrate on your work.
#5: take evenings and weekends off
Save time by taking time off? Sounds counterproductive, if not downright ridiculous, we know, but it’s actually the best thing you can do.
Regular breaks, relaxation and allowing yourself to mentally switch off mean you’ll work much more productively when you’re in the office. As hard as it is to wind down for the night when you’re busy, looking after yourself should be top of your priorities if you want your business to last.
Do you have any other top tips for business owners looking to manage their time more effectively? Leave a comment and let us know.