We often associate success with hard work and long hours. The CEO of a major Fortune 500 company, for example, is most likely revered for his 70-hour workweeks.
But is spending the majority of your time in a lonely office—and not in the home you work so hard to have—really what being successful means to you? Probably not.
With this in mind, here are a few tips to help you spend less time at the office and more time doing what matters most.
1. Prioritize!
Whether you run a small business or a major corporation, your to-do list can often feel overwhelming.
It’s important to remind yourself that:
a) Those pesky tasks aren’t going anywhere;
b) As soon as you complete one, five more will appear; and
c) You’ll get them done eventually. (This one’s vital to your success and sanity.)
Map out when each task is due and when you’ll complete it, and then put it out of your mind.
2. Delegate Tasks or Outsource Work
We all know the saying “If you want something done right, do it yourself.” This is your business, and you want everything done exactly how you imagined it. But if you do it all yourself you’ll get overloaded, overwhelmed, and overworked, and it probably won’t get done right.
Don’t underestimate the importance of delegating tasks, whether it’s to an employee or outside help like a virtual assistant. Remember the to-do list you so skillfully prioritized? Great! Now look at that list and find five tasks that you can to give to someone else.
Taking the time to train someone to take care of all those seemingly never-ending tasks (like that constantly overflowing email inbox) will greatly decrease your time in the office.
3. Schedule Your Time
Scheduling your time is a fantastic way to stay organized and ensure that you work when you’re the most efficient. Many business owners struggle with poor time management: you get so absorbed in a project that before you know it, the day has ended, your work isn’t done, and you’re late getting home to your family.
Scheduling out your time is a must when balancing your work and personal life.
Running your business is a huge part of your life, but it shouldn’t be your whole life. Get organized, get help, and get home. Stay tuned for Part 2!
Danielle LeBaron | Virtual Assistant | Operations Manager | Eagle Mountain, UT |Salt Lake City, UT | Lehi, UT | Colorado Springs, CO | Fort Collins, CO 