Excellent time management skills are invaluable, especially when trying to manage your full-time job and a part-time business. However, if you’re like most people, then you already struggle to manage your time wisely and effectively.
There are other things in life besides just work. If you want the opportunity to experience and enjoy other activities in life, getting your time under control is imperative.
Managing your time effectively is all about prioritizing, focusing, and being productive, rather than simply being busy. Here are some tips on…
How to manage your time when you have a full-time job and a part-time business
1. Focus on being productive
You can spend a lot of time actively working, yet accomplish relatively little. Being busy is about motion. Being productive is about results.
Consider the results you are likely to see from the course of action you’re about to undertake. Are the expected results worth the time?
Being busy all day and accomplishing nothing is not something to brag about. It’s actually something to avoid. This is especially important for those with two jobs – a full-time job and a part-time business.
2. Drop the multi-tasking
The ability to multi-task has been lauded for decades. However, research is showing that multi-tasking has more negative than positive results. Also, it’s now a proven fact that focusing on one task at a time increases productivity and performance immensely.
This can make the difference between success and failure if you’re juggling a full-time job and a part-time business. Productivity is everything. Focus on one thing until it’s time to move on to something else.
Consider using a timer to help you focus. For example, if a task should take 25 minutes to complete, use a timer and try to beat the clock. A simple timer or the digital one on your phone or computer will do.
You can also try the Pomodoro Technique where you work in batches of 25 minutes followed by a 5-minute break. When you complete 4 cycles (or 4 Pomodoros), you take a longer 20 or 30-minute break.
The Pomodoro Technique will help you:
- Handle interruptions.
- Simplify and organize tasks.
- Organize your time better.
- Take regular breaks.
- Observe yourself and improve your work processes.
- Meet deadlines without time pressure.
- Help your team to work better and achieve goals while handling unplanned tasks and emergencies effectively.
The result is that you get more done in less time and with less stress.
3. Have a new list of objectives and to-do list each day
Priorities and needs change almost daily. You’ll get more done if you start each day with a new list of priorities that work towards the achievement of your goals. Any incomplete items can be moved to tomorrow’s list, but only if they’re still priorities.
If you find it helpful, have a list of things to do before lunch and after lunch. Breaking up the day like this can make things more manageable.
Create the list the night before so you won’t waste time in the morning trying to plan your day. You might also find solutions to your challenges if you have the opportunity to sleep on them.
4. Make a real effort to eliminate distractions and interruptions
There’s always something else that needs your attention. Easy access to news and social media at all times has made things worse. Eliminating such distractions will help you become more productive.
You’ll get more done if you can stick to the important tasks before allowing other things to grab your attention. For example, you’ll achieve more if you can spend the first two hours of each morning working on the most important tasks of the day. Do this before checking your social media, opening your email, or listening to phone messages.
If you’re a morning person, you can arrive at work an hour or two earlier than normal and use this time to work on your business. You can also work from your car or a café near your office if being in the office makes you get distracted.
5. Make decisions with the time expenditure in mind
Working full-time and running a part-time business requires focusing on the time required by certain activities. Quick decision-making skills are vital.
Many times, the second or third best solution is really the best solution if it saves time, energy, and money. Sometimes a good, quick solution is better than the best solution that is complicated and too time-consuming to implement.
6. Delegate whenever possible
Do you insist on doing too much? Attempt to release some control and get all the help you can. Whether it’s at the job or the business, delegate as much as you can.
As you delegate, remember that you still have responsibility for the results or outcomes. So you need to delegate to people who can complete the tasks. Train them adequately if need be. Also, have a follow-up and follow-through system that keeps you updated without bogging you down with details.
If you’re constantly overwhelmed even when you manage your time better, it would help to identify what is overwhelming you. This can happen in your place of employment, at home, in your social circles, and your business.
For example:
- Are your team members or colleagues taking a lot of your time or delegating their work to you?
- Is your employer making you do the work of 2 or more people?
- Is your boss delegating work that is not part of your mandate to you?
- Are you taking on too many roles in your social circles and communities?
- Are you trying to do everything in your home and possibly allowing your family and househelp to slack off work?
Finding the cause of overwhelm can be daunting. It’s also painful when you realize that you’ve been working so hard while other people slack off or get paid for your hard work!
Can you handle a full-time job and a part-time business?
Having a full-time job and a part-time business is challenging, but many people can manage both successfully. Focus on the most important tasks, minimize the distractions around you, and let others help. Do these and you’ll get more done in less time and with greater results!
And when you’re ready, book a complimentary Discovery Call and find out how working with a professional Coach can help you achieve your personal and business goals.
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