Time-Saving Tips for Small Business Owners

Let’s face it: running a business is no small task! Overseeing a company takes commitment, lots of hard work, and of course, time; something that most business owners never seem to have enough of. With the never-ending to-do lists, and loads of work that quickly piles up, time is one thing that’s often in short supply.

One recent survey found that 19 percent of business owners put in 60+ hours per week. Business owners regularly burn the midnight oil –despite the fact that research indicates that working more than 40 hours a week can actually be counterproductive, not to mention –bad for your health.

For business owners who are looking to maximize their time, though, the good news is that help is available. Much of this help comes in the form of tools and software that can streamline many mundane, once time-consuming tasks –freeing business owners up to focus on other things.

Whether you’re hoping to cut back on the time that you’re spending at work, or just looking for tips to improve your efficiency, here’s a look at some time-saving tips and strategies that will help you to reduce the number of hours that you’re putting in, allowing you to reclaim some of your time,

Focus on Growing Your Business

It can be tempting to take matters into your own hands when it comes to getting things done. But attempting to do everything yourself will only lead to frustration and eventual burnout. Instead of trying to do it all, it’s far better to focus primarily on tasks that require your attention and ones that are necessary for the growth and development of your company. Try to delegate or outsource the other time-consuming tasks.

Prioritize

Organizing your day costs nothing, but it can help you to regain control of your time. Taking the time to prioritize and schedule out your day will help you accomplish more, and ensure that those important things don’t get forgotten. Prioritize your tasks by importance and urgency, and assign time blocks to things so that you can keep yourself accountable, and ensure that short jobs don’t turn into long, never-ending projects.

Learn to Let Go

For business owners, it’s important for you to be able to see the big picture; something that you won’t be able to do if you’re busying yourself with other things. As CEO and author Ray Zinn puts it, it’s important to learn to let go. By obsessing over unimportant details, you’re constantly distracted. “You cannot get your head out of the weeds long enough to see that the grass needs mowing,” Zin says. If you notice a mistake or something that’s amiss, take steps to correct it –and then move on.

Take Advantage of Technology

While it is true that technology can waste time –social media anyone? It can also help you to maximize your efficiency. There’s a wealth of tools available online today, in the form of apps and software that make it easier to do many mundane, time-consuming tasks. From tracking your employees’ time, to managing payroll, to using mobile calendars to manage meetings and appointments, there’s no shortage of tools that can enable you to work as efficiently as possible.

Set Aside Time to Work on Your Company

Finally, as a business owner, it’s where you spend your time that counts. While it’s no secret that you’ll have to put in the hours and hard work to get your company off the ground –especially in the beginning, you’ll want to ensure that you’re putting time into helping your company grow. Spend some time each day strategizing, as well as creating and executing plans to scale your company. As your company grows, you’ll be able to outsource more, gaining more freedom.

By taking advantage of these easy, time saving tips, you can get back to running your business –instead of letting it run you! And will be able to reap the benefits that come from having a growing, thriving company that’s able to run independently of you –allowing you to reclaim even more of your valuable time.