Tips To Help Business Owners Increase Their Daily Productivity
Being an owner of a small business means that your daily life is full of plenty of responsibilities that impact both your own financial situation and livelihood. If you are wanting to become more productive and consequently create a more successful future for both yourself and your business here are some important things to take into consideration.
Establish A Morning Routine
Research shows that waking up at the same time everyday makes you more productive. By waking up at the same time every morning your body is able to maintain its biorhythm. By performing small, ritual tasks such as opening your blinds as soon as you wake up, your body and mind will know that it’s time to begin your day’s work. After waking up you should also take a couple of minutes to stretch before getting ready, and then make your bed. These may seem like mundane and basic tasks, but they set the tone for remaining productive throughout the day.
Furthermore, in a similar fashion to waking up, it is also important to have a bedtime routine. Designate a time to start winding down. Take a shower, read a book, watch a peaceful show, or listen to some music. An hour before bed, lower the temperature and use soft lighting to ease into a good night's rest.
Create To-Do Lists Everyday
By deciding to make a list of things to do every day, you will have a better chance at keeping organised and on track to achieve your goals. Some people prefer to make their to-do lists first thing in the morning, some people like to do them each night to prepare for the day ahead. Either way helps you to keep on track and to manage your time and workload efficiently.
It is also a good idea to Schedule a regular time in your day that is dedicated to answering emails and organizing meetings will help you from getting overwhelmed. At the end of the day, take ten minutes to organize emails into folders such as To-Do, or Hold for Now, and make sure your inbox has been cleared. This will help you to keep a healthy work-life balance during a time when the lines can be easily blurred.
The world’s richest man Elon Musk has a rule where whenever he has a task to complete if it will take less than two minutes to complete, he gets it done straight away. This is an excellent habit to follow as it means you won’t waste time procrastinating or delay completing anything that seems straightforward.
Take Strategic Breaks to Rejuvenate Yourself
Whatever projects you are working on doesn't have to sap you of every ounce of energy you have. It is important to strategically take breaks at the same time each day, even if just for ten minutes. By taking a short break you will be able to come back to your work clear-headed and happier, leading to greater productivity than if you’d just barreled through.
It might also be a good idea to take fifteen to twenty minutes of your day to work on learning something new. That could include an activity such as watching a video, listening to a podcast, reading an article or chapter in a book, or studying a new skill or language. You don't have to become an expert overnight on it, or even at all, but stimulating your brain will keep you sharp.
Do Some Regular Journaling
Writing down and putting your thoughts into words can help you to track and achieve goals. You should always write down a list of your accomplishments, no matter how small, to help motivate you to keep going. In your journal, you can also track the progress of your bigger goals and make note of the smaller tasks you can accomplish to achieve them. This strategy will help you to reflect and has proven to help your brain function and improve your memory.
