Everyone is different, just as every business is different so planning your day is different for every business owner. However planning is essential to productivity, keeping stress levels low and achieving your goals. If you are wondering ‘How do you plan and schedule your day in your business’ here are my top tips
Make a list of all your tasks
The first thing to do is to create a comprehensive list of all the Tasks you need to achieve in your day. There will be Tasks that are repeated every day, plus weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual tasks. There will also be ad hoc tasks which do not repeat, but you have to allow time for. At ActionCOACH we find the easiest way to do this is to carry out a Time Audit…keep a record of everything you do, every day for two weeks – this will give you a REAL record of your Tasks.
Map your day to assess productivity and mood
Some people are early risers and others are night owls. For some creativity is highest after lunch and for others this may be a time when a nice nap seems in order. Take a close look at your mood throughout the day to decide when you are most productive, most creative, most chatty etc. At ActionCOACH we call this your Time Focus…assessing what is important and what is urgent – often the two are easily confused and urgent tasks take the place of important tasks.
Now assign tasks to the best time of day
There is no point trying to get your cold calling done first thing if you are quiet as a mouse before you’ve had your first couple of coffees. Equally if energy dips in the afternoon then focusing on a creative task won’t be easy either. Set tasks at times which best suit your mood. At ActionCOACH we call this your Default Diary – it ensures all your Tasks get the right priority at the right time and you are not distracted by urgent, but less important tasks.
Join the NoLimits Business Community
Are you a business owner looking to take your business to the next level? Join our innovative community of like-minded professionals and gain access to a wealth of valuable resources, including a community portal to chat with other business owners, ebooks, business development software, and growth events that will transform the way you do business. Best of all, these resources are completely free and will be available to you forever.
But the benefits of joining our NoLimits business community don’t stop there. By becoming part of our community, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with other business owners, share insights and ideas, and build valuable relationships that will help your business thrive. Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to supercharge your business and join us today!
Ad-hoc tasks
It can be more difficult to assign ad-hoc tasks to a specific day or time, but you could assign them more broadly. For instance only book 1-2-1’s on Wednesdays and Thursdays between 10am and 2pm. Structuring your time in this way will ensure that you are not hopping from one activity to another.
Travel and preparation
Remember to factor in travel time between in-person meetings, running late is stressful and looks unprofessional. It is also essential to factor in preparation time before certain appointments. I allow at least half an hour before each coaching session to review what we did in the last session and documents my client has sent me for our upcoming session.
Personal time
Many business owners fail to factor personal time into their day…leaving friends and family feeling abandoned. Ensure you have factored in any personal appointments or commitments.
Downtime
Last, but certainly not least give yourself some downtime. Whatever you like to do to unwind, from a glass of wine, to a good book or a dog walk ensure you have diarised time out.
Eat the Frog
At ActionCOACH we also employ a Daily Action Diary, which many of our clients have nicknamed ‘The Frog Sheet’.
At the end of every day you take 15 minutes to reflect on the day that has just gone scoring your focus, time discipline, level of activity and Time ON vs Time IN the business. And rewarding yourself for Outstanding Work and Top Learnings.
Then take 15 minutes to plan the next day including Tasks that contribute to your Quarter Goals, Any Follow Up Calls or Emails, Tasks you can Delegate, who you have to BE to get it done and the Frog you have to Eat – usually a Task that you are not looking forward to, which you will get done first.
Many of our clients say this simple activity is the KEY to their success!
I hope these tips will help you as a business owner plan your day and be more effective and successful. If you have a great tip for scheduling tasks in your day why not share it in our member’s Feed!
By Duncan McKechnie
Join the NoLimits Business Community
Are you a business owner looking to take your business to the next level? Join our innovative community of like-minded professionals and gain access to a wealth of valuable resources, including a community portal to chat with other business owners, ebooks, business development software, and growth events that will transform the way you do business. Best of all, these resources are completely free and will be available to you forever.
But the benefits of joining our NoLimits business community don’t stop there. By becoming part of our community, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with other business owners, share insights and ideas, and build valuable relationships that will help your business thrive. Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to supercharge your business and join us today!