As an entrepreneur or small business owner knows, it is a daily battle to perform at your best. With so many decisions to make, goals to achieve, and work to do, there are always little ways you can improve. Whether you’re feeling stuck or just looking for a little inspiration to get through the week, here are a few tips to help you improve. The best part about being an entrepreneur is being able to create your own schedule and work on something you’re passionate about, so let these tips lift you up, not bring you down.
1) USE THE NIGHT TO PLAN THE DAY AHEAD
You’ve heard this a million times, but when was the last time you actually did it? Putting together a to do list, going over your schedule for the next day, and reflecting on how the day went, is the key to having a productive tomorrow. Just take a few minutes to get organized, and you’ll feel much less stressed the next day.
Get into the habit of determining your priorities honestly before you sleep. That way you can handle matters optimally when you get up the next day. Instead of waking up in a panic, trying to remember what you have to do that day, you start your morning refreshed and ready to tackle anything.
2) START GETTING UP A LITTLE EARLIER
Many of the most successful entrepreneurs get up at five or six a.m. If this sounds impossible to you, just try getting up fifteen minutes earlier than usual. Enjoy that you time- the all-important moments dedicated yourself only.
Use this quite time to reflect, rearrange and revitalize yourself. You can devote it for any positive activity like meditation, praying or a revitalizing physical workout. Enjoy the morning silence to get ready for the day ahead.
3) START POSITIVE AND STAY POSITIVE
Use the extra time in the morning to feed your mind with positive content. Whether it’s an encouraging book, some inspirational quotes, or something else that motivates you, use it. Starting your day in a positive mindset will lower your stress and make it easier to solve problems. Don’t let negativity ruin your day even before it’s really started.
4) VALUE YOUR TIME, DON’T LOSE FOCUS
Distractions are death to productivity. Even a little deviation from your plan to deal with someone else’s problem can result in you giving up the control of your day.
Being a better entrepreneur is about having a plan and sticking to it, which also means saying no at the right time. This isn’t about hurting someone’s feelings, but rather respecting your own priorities.
5) MOVE FORWARD ONE STEP AT A TIME
Eliminate your inclination to multitask. Though it may feel like you are getting more done, science has shown multitasking actually minimizes productivity. Focus on one task at a time and dedicate all your time, energy, focus and resources towards that to do it in the best possible manner. It will help you move down your to-do list quicker, and help you determine how long it takes to complete a task. If you have trouble this, consider installing a time tracker to really pay attention to how when you are prone to distractions and multitasking.
6) KEEP IT BALANCED
The classic dilemma – work/life balance. Entrepreneurs are typically too busy pushing harder than ever to reach goals. But in doing so, you get yourself extremely vulnerable to burnout. That’s why some of the world’s top entrepreneurs have established clear boundaries. They know when they will stop work and turn to their personal lives. It’s much better to give work a little break rather than finding yourself totally unable and unwilling to do it at all after some time.
If you’re ever feeling overwhelmed as an entrepreneur, focus on one of these tips and see if it helps. And if it’s time to delegate, contact GiraffeBuilder for assistance with web design and creation, SEO, social media management, and other services.
