Habits, Productivity and Time Management

When it comes to starting and running a business, time is of the essence. Being able to launch, execute, grow, and scale a business is a mental exercise that requires extensive research, networking, planning, and other related activities. As a result, entrepreneurs must multitask, take calls, attend events, and exercise extreme caution with each and every business decision. Time management is a valuable skill that is extremely rewarding in the long run. Successful people have mastered a variety of time management techniques and strategies that allow them to work smarter and maintain their sanity.

Recently we had a chance to have a conversation with the well established and experienced entrepreneur and business mentor Anoop Bishnoi, where he told us about how he manages his time properly and how important it is to take time management seriously, especially if you’re a business owner. Here’s what he said, “Being an entrepreneur, you are responsible for every aspect of your business – from planning till executing, meeting new clients and chairing meetings. The work pressure becomes so intense that you become overwhelmed and begin to believe that you will never be able to complete your tasks effectively and on time. Such feelings can hamper your productivity and efficiency. No matter how hectic your schedule is, as the owner, you must devote the appropriate amount of time to each task and that’s why it’s important to manage time properly. 

My first advice to anyone who wants to learn time management techniques would be to break down your activities into simpler tasks and operations. As a result, the remaining process is easier to understand and follow. The simple operations are simple, and carrying them out does not necessitate dozens of follow-up questions. This really helps to save time. The key is to schedule your priorities rather than prioritizing what’s on the schedule. It’s okay to have individual tasks emerge from your interactions during the business week, but developing a long-term plan should be the first task. This will allow you to focus better and determine whether the new tasks are in line with the main goals. Dealing with multiple priorities at the same time can be overwhelming and disrupt a person's train of thought for weeks, leading to burnout. When you are facing trouble with the usual workflow, it’s time to take a step back and revise the task lists. Check to see where you started, where you are now, and how the progress is going. Remember, spend  time on things that are worthwhile.”

There are only 24 hours in a day. Unfortunately, we cannot save time or borrow more to use later. Accept that things don’t have to be perfect, eliminate unnecessary distractions, and avoid procrastination. The sooner you begin and concentrate, the sooner you will finish.