Darshak Shah
Darshak is Evource Co-Founder and an Australian CPA, who has experience of working in over 8 different industries including with employers like NAB & Cancer Council. He has a great eye for process streamlining, improvement, change management, and transitions.
Running a business is full on. Your attention can be pulled in all directions and you’re needed in several places at once. Time can quickly disappear as you go about your regular working day. To reduce that load you can follow these 8 effective time saving tips:
1. Delegate
It’s an oldie but a goodie. Assign responsibilities that you aren’t passionate about so that you can focus on the areas in which you really shine. Outsourcing components of your workload to dedicated specialists will free up your time and give you more confidence in your business.
2. Automate
We live in a world which is providing us with increasingly useful tools to get those mundane tasks completed. While we can’t rely on computer-generated automation for everything, you will save a lot of time by automating the tasks that can be automated. This task can take some time to invest in, but the outcome is worth it. Make the most of it by engaging someone who knows the ins and outs of what technology could help your business. Get them to implement the systems and train you in how to use them. Don’t waste time trying to muddle it out for yourself.
3. Eliminate
Everyone has tasks on their to do list that don’t actually need to be done. They are tasks that have been added because they kind of seemed like a good idea, or you wanted to expand. Really though, they’re just a waste of time or more of a burden than a help. Spend a few minutes assessing which tasks you can eliminate and you will save time and stress without any further thought.
4. Prioritise
Take the time to properly assess and prioritise your tasks so that you’re not simply jumping at every task that comes your way. When you spend more time on the tasks that matter most to your business you will actually find yourself spending less time putting out fires and catching up. Target areas that could become a mess if they’re skipped over, knowing that investing in those tasks now will mean you save time later.
5. Breathe
Sometimes when we are being pulled in all directions we forget to take the time to just breathe. We are so overwhelmed that we waste time jumping from task to task without properly completing them. Focus on allowing yourself to breathe between tasks. Remind yourself that there is rarely anything urgent enough that you can’t take two minutes to properly finish what you’re doing before you start the next task.
Clear your head and refocus. The clearer you are, the more efficiently you will be able to work.
6. Be Satisfied
Not every task is so important that it needs to be done perfectly. If there is a task that has to be done, but it’s not the most vital task for your business, let yourself be satisfied with a rush job. Enough to get it done and check it off your list so that you can focus on the more important tasks.
Those important jobs that do need to be done ‘perfectly’- be satisfied with them too. Perfection brings the risk of over-analysis and wasteful repetitiveness. Definitely take the extra time to really make sure they are right, but don’t keep second-guessing yourself or you’ll find yourself spending hours mulling over something that you should be satisfied with. If this is a particular area of difficulty for you, have someone who you trust to give you a second opinion on when it’s time to accept the final product.
7. Plan
The final time saving tip is the one that encompasses them all. Ensure you begin each day by planning. Taking the time to plan will help you do all of the above in the most useful way possible. Disorganisation will lead to wasting time and double handling. Just leave room for contingencies!
8. Set Your Schedule
Don’t allow yourself to work endlessly. Have a time to finish and go home, and stick to it. Knowing that you have a limited amount of time in the day to get through your workload will help you focus and prioritise. It will also help reduce your risk of burnout!
Create realistic deadlines for your tasks so you don’t feel rushed to get everything done immediately. While some new tasks may require immediate attention, most tasks can be allocated a time when you can properly focus on them. The more organised you become, the more efficiently you will manage your time.