Time Bending - My Top Tips for Productivity

Every successful business owner understands that time = money, and by that logic, more time = more money, right?

Unfortunately, time is a limited resource. There are only so many hours in the day, and days in the week. But what if we could bend time? With the right systems in place, we can create a sense of having more time by using the time we do have more effectively. When we maximize our limited time, our business will benefit from the bigger bottom line that will ultimately manifest.

Here are my top 5 tips for creating a sense of having more time:

BRAIN DUMP + ORGANIZE

Got that new project idea rolling around in your head and waiting for the perfect time to start? There is no perfect time to begin the process of bringing that idea to life, and if there was, it would be NOW. Leaving that idea in the ethers is taking up valuable brain space, which is draining your valuable energy, whether you’re conscience of the drain or not. Wasting that ripe, juicy potential energy by allowing it to “go down the drain” (literally and figuratively) is wasting your precious (and limited) time.

Before you do anything else, grab a pen and notebook, or open your notes app on your phone and “brain dump” everything about your idea: the action steps you know you need to take, the questions you have, the names of the people to connect with that could help in moving you closer to your goal, the timelines you need to consider and account for…literally everything. Simply get it out of your mind and on the page.

Once you’ve dumped it all, then zoom out, organize, and prioritize. If this part feels overwhelming, identify ONE action step you can take that would bring you closer to your idea becoming a reality and complete it, or block out a time to get it done (keep reading).

TIME BLOCKING

Time blocking is all about assigning windows of time with specific intention or action in mind. There are many approaches to time blocking, and I’m not here to tell you the best way to use this strategy. YOU are the expert on you and your business, so see what of these approaches might support your and your unique needs and work style.

Task batching - grouping similar tasks within the same time block. This helps reduce the amount of time that can be lost when “task switching” by encouraging what I like to call “energetic inertia.” It takes less energy to run through to-dos that are similar to one another than switching between tasks that require different sorts of energetic input or environments. This looks like using a block of time to tackle emails and other administrative tasks and then a different time block to schedule meetings and other check ins.

Day theming - think task batching but the whole day is dedicated to a specific type of task. Of all the approaches, I think this one goes the furthest in creating a sense of work-life balance, and a sense of having more time. Imagine having the whole day to get a particular kind of to do checked off your list. The idea feels expansive and spacious, and even if you have 1,000 emails to read through, at least you have the whole day to do it. Imagine only having to worry about meetings one day of the week, instead of a new meeting everyday at the same time.

REWARDS

Remember how I mentioned earlier that putting things off for later drains your energy? We all have our reasons for procrastinating, but one method for getting over the hump of delay is with some old fashioned classical conditioning. Got a to-do that you’re dreading or simply do not want to do for whatever reason your silly brain comes up with? Trying setting up a reward to be redeemed by you once you’ve completed that task. This might look like promising yourself that after you check off that task from your to do list, you’ll reward yourself with a walk at your favorite park or treat yourself to another activity that will nourish your energy after doing something that might drain it. So simple, but so effective as long as your follow through on both. How does this bend time? You’re using your time effectively by both accomplishing the task AND following with something that will restore your energy to continue to use your time effectively. After all, we can’t pour from an empty cup.

RITUALS

Create a set of rituals, one for the morning and one for the evening. Each set should not include more than 3 tasks. The tasks you assign should be intentional in a way that sets you up in the morning for the kind of day you want to have and in the evening for what you need to have done in order to feel like you can truly disconnect, unwind, and rest for the next day. They should also be tasks that you will benefit from if done on a daily basis.

My morning ritual is: breathe/stretch, breakfast, hygiene. Breathe and stretch to come back into my body after all the astral activity during my sleep. Breakfast that’s balanced and loaded with protein so that my brain can focus on the tasks ahead of me for the day. Hygiene (the simple things, like styling my hair, or prepping my face for the day I have planned. All of these tasks help set me up to be present and less stressed as I move through my day.

My evening ritual is: balance budget, litter / dishes, stretch / hygiene. Closing out my checkbook and tracking my debits and credits makes me feel good about the state of my money. Taking care of the clutter, cat litter, and dishes in the sink allows me to wake up to an environment that’s clear and my brain has the space to focus on the tasks ahead of me. Washing off and releasing the tension in my body collected from the day helps me relax into a more restful sleep, which preps me for higher energy levels the next day. More energy = more tasks accomplished = time bent.

DELEGATE

Easiest way to create more time in your day? Delegate some of your tasks to a trusted assistant.

As I said earlier, time = money, so hiring help via a virtual assistant, although an investment, is a straight forward way to get time back for the things that really matter. Peace of mind knowing the day to day tasks are being handled creates so much energetic space to:

brain dump that next big idea, or

take that pause away to gain clarity on your next move, or

focus on your passion for the product / service that put in business in the first place.

If you try any of these approaches, I’d love to hear how they landed for you! If you think you’re ready to delegate your plate, get in touch - let’s see how we can help you bend time with the benefit of a virtual assistant.