As each day passes, and more and more things need to get done with your business, you may find yourself alittle overwhelmed with how much is left to be done. This is nothing new, and a problem that almost every home business owner encounters.
There are too many things to do, and such little time! So how does one get all of these things done without interfering with family and friends time? The answer is simple enough, but not very easy to do. It's called Time Management. Managing your time to make your time spent during "business hours" the most productive it can be.
There are many distractions when running an online business that many people easily become victims of. Some at home examples are things that consist of your everyday. Things like the chores that need tending to, eager kids simply wanting your attention, the television blaring, dogs barking, errands that need to be ran, and on down the line.
Some classic examples of distractions that occur online are not as easy to identify, but can consume many hours if you're not aware of this. A good example includes just "surfing" for something, and you get sidetracked and end up reading something that you weren't even looking for to begin with! Another classic example is how many times you check your email a day, or how much time has passed before you last checked it. How much time do you spend visiting discussion boards or online communities? What about the emails you respond to? How much of your time is consumed by that? These are all examples of distractions that can get in the way of your businesses productivity.
It all boils down to time management. Listed below are some good things to consider when using your time online for business.
1) Make A List
You've probably heard this before and with good reason! Write the things you need to do with your business down on a piece of paper. List in order the things by two factors. One is the importance, and the second is which of the things you least would like to do.
Once you have your list, put them in order of the things most important and are you're least favorite at the very top of the list. This way, the more important things that need to be done will get done first, and you won't procrastinate because it's written down. As you progress with your list, you'll find that the last things you need to do will go by very quickly because you'll enjoy doing it.
2) Set a time Limit
Let's say you spend on average 2 hours browsing forums and discussion boards on a daily basis. Is this really necessary? I mean, there are alot of good resources out the on forums, and you get to interact with like-minded individuals.. but is this helping your business?
The best way to stick to a plan is by giving yourself a specific amount of elotted time for each activity you conduct online. If you normally spend 2 hours in forums, and think this is simply taking too much away from your business, set a limit on how much you do it. Say to yourself, "Ok Jason, I will participate in forums for no more than 45 minutes. From exactly 12:15 to 1:00 today, I will spend this time browsing forums and being an active member." And stick with it!
3) Give Yourself A Break!
This may sound a little contradictory, but it's very true. If you have been working consistently for a few hours online, and find yourself to be slipping into the "dull glare" mode, give yourself a break. Step away from your computer for 30 mintues, and move around. Go to the fridge and grab a nice cold drink, and relax a bit. When you get done, you will feel more fresh and will be more focused on your list that you've already made to complete your daily business tasks.
4) Punish Yourself For Not Sticking With It.
This may seem a little weird, but it will work if you give it a chance to. For example, let's say that you need to get something done by a certain date and you don't. To make things more productive for you, punish yourself for not getting it done! I personally love those Little Debbie "Star Crunch" cakes. I usually have one every day. One time I told myself, I said, "Self, if I can't eat a Star Crunch unless I get these webpages uploaded by 5:20 today!". And when 5:20 came, I didn't have it done. So I punished myself for not completing the task by the time I set. I didn't eat one that day.
Let's say you have a favorite TV show you absolutely love watching. You must complete 3 things on your list before you can watch it. And stick with it! Believe it or not, it actually works! But only if you stick with it.
Having many distractions can make things a bit more difficult with productivity when spending your time online. The first things to do to solve the time management problem is to identify what things are keeping you from being productive in your online business. The next step is to avoid these things at all costs. The hardest part is identifing these distractions. But after you do, more than half the battle is already over! I wish you much success with your businss and all your on and offline goals!
Article written by Jason Gazaway, webmaster and owner of http://www.homebasedbusinessindex.com and publisher of the "HBBI Newsletter".
whole house cleaning Deerfield ..If you can regularly ask yourself "Am I regularly and... Read More
We are constantly inundated with routine (often boring!) tasks around... Read More
When I sit down with a client to work on... Read More
Too much to do, too little time, constant stress. Most... Read More
It is common knowledge that creating and living according to... Read More
Partnering with the University of Pennsylvania Law School and the... Read More
Riding the subway home yesterday, my typically silent car was... Read More
How much time do you spend on Mastering Your Time?... Read More
The Internet is increasingly becoming a major time killer for... Read More
The ability to be able to set priorities and deal... Read More
"If you control your time, you control your life" -... Read More
What would be your reaction if someone said to you... Read More
People always seem to be in such a hurry, everywhere... Read More
Does it ever feel like there is never enough time... Read More
Want to improve your time management?Edward W. Smith, motivational speaker,... Read More
How do you manage your time? Or is the more... Read More
"Slaves to the clock" was the cover story in the... Read More
Q. I have several projects going at once -- but... Read More
When do you want to make time for a networking... Read More
According to a Miller Heiman 2003 Sales Effectiveness Study, over... Read More
Setting goals is the easy part -- but sticking with... Read More
Yesterday, I'd just gotten comfortable at my favorite table in... Read More
Why Read?It's been said that there are three kinds of... Read More
Do you manage your time or does your time manage... Read More
I keep a fossil on my desk at all times.... Read More
home cleaning services Des Plaines ..A common remedy for improving your time management is to... Read More
In this world there is something more precious than gold.... Read More
As a home-based, self-employed woman, mundane tasks can be as... Read More
Fitting an education into a busy lifestyleMany people have aspirations... Read More
An appointment is simply a mutual agreement to meet with... Read More
Time management is absolute crucial nowadays where business decisions have... Read More
A year and a half ago I was introduced to... Read More
Would you like to know how to get 10 times... Read More
A new client recently admitted to me sheepishly that she... Read More
Too much to do, too little time, constant stress. Most... Read More
Any habit of mind or body that interferes with taking... Read More
Most of us know how to manage our time. It... Read More
We all get overwhelmed from time to time, and sometimes... Read More
Are you a worrier? Do you frequently spend time and... Read More
Determine Your Procrastination PersonalityBrook Noel is the author of The... Read More
Here's some time management tips to try:1) Set strict office... Read More
Women's health issues often are focused on goals to reach:... Read More
All requests are not equal; all customers or clients are... Read More
My husband and I recently returned from a trip to... Read More
Here's a smart system for doubling or tripling your daily... Read More
TIME MANAGEMENTWith the creation of the universe, God gave humankind... Read More
When I sit down with a client to work on... Read More
Whether you're a new business owner or if you have... Read More
Why waste your precious time working on tasks, which are... Read More
In this fast and crazy world, we want to multi-task... Read More
Time Management |