Time is your most valuable resource, but managing it effectively can be a real challenge. As a business owner, you probably wear a lot of hats, juggle various tasks, and sometimes feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day. I believe you can revolutionize your approach to time by understanding priority management. With a few mindset shifts, a simple system, and some fun tools, you’ll have everything you need to take control of your time, set the right priorities, and finish each day feeling accomplished.
Mindset: The Foundation of Time Management
Let’s start with a mindset shift. Time is finite. We all have the same 24 hours in a day, and no matter how much we hustle, we can’t buy more time. Once you realize this, you’ll see that how you choose to spend those hours matters more than ever.
Now, this is where the mindset shift comes in. Instead of thinking about your tasks as a list of “have-to’s,” start seeing them as “get-to’s.” This simple change in language can have a huge impact on how you approach your work. If you’re focusing on what you get to do, it instantly turns a chore into an opportunity. For example, instead of saying “I have to create content,” think “I get to create content that will grow my business.” It sounds small, but it’s powerful. When you operate from a “get-to” mindset, you’re more motivated, more productive, and a lot less stressed.
Here’s an actionable tip: Take a moment today to review your to-do list. Are you seeing it as a “have-to” list or a “get-to” list? If it’s the first, try rewriting it with a “get-to” attitude and see how your mindset changes.
FUNdamentals: The Empowered Life System
As a business owner we have to master our systems, and how you manage your time is probably one of your most crucial systems. Each person is unique, so to tell you there is a one-size-fits-all solution would be misguided. But I can tell you that your system must not solely focus on managing that time and make sure instead you’re focusing on the right priorities. For me, I have created my own system which I call The Empowered Life System. You can grab a copy of my template from Canva to make your own version at the end of this article. It helps me break down my big goals into actionable, bite-sized steps. It’s all about intentionality and consistency, which is the key to getting things done without getting overwhelmed.
Here’s how it works:
- Weekly Planning: At the start of every week, take 15-30 minutes to set clear goals for the week. This helps you stay focused on what matters most. What are the main “get-to’s.” you will accomplish to move your business forward?
- Daily Priorities: Every day, identify your top 5 priorities. I call them the FUNdamental 5 and you can learn more about this concept in my book The FUNdamentals of Business Success. These are your “get-to” tasks—the things that will help you make progress toward your goals.
- Reflection: At the end of each day, take a few minutes to reflect on your progress. Did you hit your goals? What worked well, and what didn’t? Reflecting daily helps you stay focused, and it prevents the “I didn’t get anything done today” feeling from sneaking in.
A system that at minimum includes those things encourages both intentionality and focus. It helps you look at your time as an investment rather than a drain.
The other crucial piece of your system should be a clear emphasis on your reason or why you started your business as well as the goal or goals that are in alignment with that. Have an easy-to-access business vision nearby and use it to make choices about the priority projects you are choosing. If you need help aligning your business to why you started it to begin with, sign up for our no-charge SVP Business Alignment Assessment and Strategy Call at OSG.link/svp.
Wellness: Reduce Overwhelm with WheelOfNames
If you’re anything like me, sometimes the hardest part about managing time is making decisions. What should I tackle first? What’s the most important thing to do right now? Decision fatigue can hit hard, and before you know it, you’re wasting time spinning your wheels, unsure of where to start.
That’s where WheelOfNames.com comes in. This fun tool lets you create a wheel with all your tasks or decisions listed. Then, you spin the wheel, and whatever task it lands on becomes your next focus. It’s a playful way to eliminate the stress of decision-making and get to work quickly.
Let’s say you’re facing a big to-do list—emails, content creation, client calls, social media, etc. Set up a Wheel of Names with all your options, and spin it to decide what to work on next. It might sound silly, but it works! It can turn a seemingly overwhelming day into one filled with fun and productivity. Our brains love that gamification of our list so utilize this brain hack to get even more accomplished each day.
Additional Strategies to Master Your Time
As you work on getting better with time management, here are a few extra strategies to help you stay on track:
- Break Big Goals into Small Steps: We all have big goals, but if you break them into smaller tasks, they become more manageable. Set specific, measurable goals, and focus on hitting small milestones every day.
- Don’t Forget Self-Care: Your business can’t thrive if you don’t. Make sure to schedule time for yourself—whether it’s exercise, a hobby, or just a break to relax. Burnout is real, and you can’t pour from an empty cup. Take care of your body and mind so that you have the energy to tackle your business goals.
- Set Clear Boundaries: As a small business owner, it’s easy to let work bleed into personal time. Set clear boundaries for when your workday starts and ends. Respect your personal time just as much as your business time.
Mastering your time isn’t about finding more hours in the day—it’s about making the most of the ones you already have. By shifting your mindset, planning with intention, and using fun tools and different ways of thinking about your time, you can stay focused and productive without feeling overwhelmed.
Start using these strategies today, and download your free Empowered Life System template to begin organizing your life clarity and purpose. When you control your time, you control your success.
Also, check out a recent Small Business Saturday Episode where we covered these ideas and went through the Empowered Life System so you can see how I use it. Check it out on our YouTube Channel.
What’s your biggest time management struggle? Drop a comment.