Are you an online biz owner? Congrats, you are a special breed of entrepreneur! Not only do you have to wear all the hats of a traditional biz owner, but you also have to be tech-savvy and quite possibly design savvy as well.
And let’s not even start on time management! Unlike your 9-5 counterparts, there is no punching out at 5pm – your laptop may follow you to bed, or worse – onto vacay. You may eat lunch at 2am and spend weekend afternoons responding to customer inquiries.
As an online business owner, you know that time is your most precious commodity. You can’t afford to waste a single minute! That’s why it’s so important to learn how to manage your time effectively.
I started my own dropshipping e-Commerce store in 2016 and have scaled it to over $5.8 million in revenue. So, I know first hand that running a successful online business requires a unique set of skills and strategies. Time management is definitely one of them!
In this blog post, I discuss my 8 best strategies for working smarter, not harder. I’ve also included 8 of my best time management worksheets you can download and use to help you get started. So what are you waiting for? Start managing your time like a pro today!
Time Management For Online Business Owners
Being an online business owner, you are likely juggling a lot of different tasks and responsibilities. Time management is important in order to make sure that you are able to accomplish everything that needs to be done in a timely and efficient manner.
There are a number of different time management worksheets available online which can help you to better understand and manage your time. These worksheets can help you to identify areas where you may be wasting time, and provide suggestions for ways to improve your time management skills.
By taking the time to learn about effective time management techniques, you can ensure that your online business is running smoothly and efficiently. By using a time management worksheet, you can take control of your time and make the most of your day.
Time Management Techniques
You can’t just download a worksheet and expect your time management to magically become optimized. So, before you jump to the bottom of this post to download PDFs, let’s start by looking at a few productivity techniques you can use along with the worksheet to best maximize your time.
The Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro Technique is a popular time management technique that can help you get more done in less time. The premise is simple: you work for 25 minutes, then take a 5 minute break. After 4 “pomodoros” (25 minute work periods), you take a longer break of 20-30 minutes.
There are a few different ways to implement the Pomodoro Technique, but one of the most popular is to use a timer. You can set a timer for 25 minutes and start working. Once the timer goes off, you take a 5 minute break. Repeat this 4 times, then take a longer break.
There are many different time management worksheets and printables out there to help you get started with the Pomodoro Technique. A quick Google search should give you plenty of resources to get started.
The Pomodoro Technique is a great way to get more done in less time. It’s simple to implement, and there are a number of different resources available online.
The Pareto Principle
The Pareto Principle, also known as the 80/20 rule, is a time management strategy that suggests that 80 percent of our results come from 20 percent of our efforts. In other words, we can achieve a lot with just a little bit of effort if we focus on the right things.
To put it into practice, try using a time management worksheet to identify the tasks that are most important to you and focus your efforts on those. You may be surprised at how much you can accomplish with just a few minutes of focused effort each day!
Time management skills are important for everyone, but they’re especially crucial for students who often have to juggle multiple demands on their time. By using a time management worksheet, students can learn to prioritize their time and make the most of their efforts.
The Eisenhower Matrix
The Eisenhower Matrix is a time management tool that can be used to help you prioritize your tasks. The matrix is divided into four quadrants, which are: urgent and important, not urgent but important, urgent but not important, and not urgent and not important.
You should try to focus on the tasks that are in the “important” quadrants, as these are the tasks that will help you move closer to your goals. However, you also need to be aware of the tasks in the “urgent” quadrants, as these can often be time-sensitive and need to be dealt with promptly.
The Eisenhower Matrix can be a helpful tool for anyone who wants to improve their time management skills. By using the matrix, you can quickly identify which tasks are most important and which can be put on the back burner. This can help you to focus your time and energy on the tasks that will help you to achieve your goals.
SMART Goals
Setting goals is a crucial step in personal and professional development, but it can be easy to get lost in the sea of endless to-do’s and lose track of your progress. That’s where SMART goal worksheets come in.
The acronym stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound – the five elements that make a goal truly effective. These worksheets allow you to break down each goal into specific tasks and create a timeline for achieving them.
By regularly reviewing your progress and adjusting accordingly, SMART worksheets help keep you on track and motivated to reach your goals. So before diving headfirst into that next big project or task, take some time with a SMART goal worksheet – you’ll thank yourself later.
Time Management Skills
The best method for improving your time management skills is to use appropriate time management worksheets along with these eight best practices.
- Set clear goals
- Make a schedule with deadlines and stick to it
- Set priorities and focus on the most important tasks
- Delegate tasks when possible and outsource what you can’t do yourself
- Take breaks regularly to avoid burnout, but don’t get too distracted
- Stay organized and keep track of what you need to do
- Use technology to your advantage
- Stay positive and don’t give up when times get tough
Set clear goals
The first step to effective time management is to set clear goals. What do you want to achieve in the next week? month? year? Write down your goals and refer to them often to keep yourself on track. Setting SMART goals is an excellent method for setting yourself up for success.
Make a schedule with deadlines and stick to it
Time management is one of the most important skills you can have in your toolkit. Whether you’re a student, professional, or stay-at-home parent, learning how to manage your time effectively can help you get ahead and achieve your goals.
One way to start improving your time management skills is to create a schedule with deadlines. This can help you stay on track and avoid getting overwhelmed by tasks.
To get started, try creating a time management worksheet. This can help you keep track of your commitments and deadlines. Once you have a handle on your schedule, stick to it as much as possible. This will help you develop better time management habits.
Set priorities and focus on the most important tasks
One way to get a handle on time management is to set priorities and focus on the most important tasks. This can be done by using the Pareto Principle and the Eisenhower Matrix to determine tasks that will move the needle in your business.
A task worksheet should list all of the tasks that need to be completed, as well as the estimated time needed to complete each task. Once the worksheet is complete, it will be easier to see which tasks are the most important and which can be put off until later.
Delegate and outsource
One of the most important time management skills is learning how to delegate tasks. This means giving other people responsibility for certain aspects of a project, or even taking on entire projects yourself. This can be difficult for some people, as they feel that they need to do everything themselves in order to ensure that it’s done properly. However, delegation can actually save you a lot of time in the long run, as it allows you to focus on the tasks that only you can do.
Outsourcing is another way to save time. This is when you hire someone else to do a task that you either don’t have time for or don’t know how to do. For example, if you need a website built, you could hire a web designer to do it for you. This would save you the time and effort of trying to learn how to build a website yourself.
Using time management activity worksheets to document your daily tasks for a few weeks will let you see where you are spending your time. Then, it will be easier to determine what you are doing on a weekly basis that can be moved off your plate.
Take breaks
It’s important to take breaks from work regularly to avoid burnout. Burnout can lead to decreased productivity, engagement, and motivation. It can also lead to physical and mental health problems.
One way to help prevent burnout is to manage your time effectively. This means working on tasks during times when you’re most productive and taking breaks when you need them.
Use the Pomodoro Technique to work in short sprints. Then, take breaks at the end of each work sprint. Creating a time block using this technique is the best way I’ve found to be super productive with my daily schedule.
Stay organized and keep track of what you need to do
Staying organized in your online business is crucial for success. When everything is in its proper place, it’s easy to track your progress and keep on top of tasks.
This also allows you to effectively delegate responsibilities and collaborate with others. An organized system helps to streamline operations, saving time and reducing stress.
Additionally, a well-managed online business appears professional and trustworthy to potential clients and customers. Don’t let disorganization get in the way of reaching your goals – stay organized to maximize efficiency and achieve success in your online venture.
Use technology to your advantage when managing your time
There are many time-management tools available to us these days. Set alarms on your phone or computer to remind you of upcoming deadlines, and make use of calendar applications to keep track of your schedule. If you find yourself procrastinating, break tasks down into smaller, more manageable steps that you can complete over time.
In addition to using technology, there are a number of simple time management worksheets that you can use to help you keep track of your schedule and commitments. These worksheets can be found online or in many time management books.
Stay positive and don’t give up when times get tough
One of the most underutilized business owner skills is to stay positive and not give up when things get tough. This can be difficult, but it’s important to remember that giving up will only make things worse.
If you find yourself struggling, take a step back and assess the situation. There might be something you can change or do differently to make it easier. If not, then just remember that tough times don’t last forever and eventually things will get better.
Free Time Management Worksheets
1. Daily Priority Goals
If you’re like me, you often find it hard to stay focused when there are so many tempting things around the house: the fridge, the TV, social media. And let’s not forget about family members and pets who might want your attention.
All of these distractions can make it difficult to get work done. That’s why it’s important to set daily goals. I find it best to start each day with a plan. So, at the end of each day, I write down the three most important things I need to accomplish the following day.
When I wake up, I do those tasks first thing in the morning before anything else (except coffee, of course!). Once I get those tasks done, any other tasks I accomplish for the rest of the day is just gravy on top!
I created a weekly goal setting PDF to help prioritize my to-do list. Since it works for me, I wanted to share it with you. It’s free! Give it a try and let me know how it works out for you!
2. SMART Goals
Setting a goal without knowing how to achieve it is like trying to hit a target without a map or compass – you might get lucky, but chances are you’ll end up just spinning your wheels. That’s where SMART goal worksheets come in.
By breaking down your goals into specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound steps, these worksheets can help guide you towards success. Not only do they provide structure and accountability, but they also allow you to track your progress and make necessary adjustments along the way.
So next time you set out on a new goal, consider using a SMART goal worksheet to give yourself the best chance of success.
3. Weekly Calendar Schedule
Having a weekly schedule can be a huge advantage for anyone trying to reach their goals. It helps to break down larger goals into manageable chunks, and allows you to prioritize tasks and allocate your time accordingly.
Scheduling also provides structure and accountability, allowing you to stay on track and prevent procrastination. In addition, it can help with goal visualization by providing a visual representation of your progress towards achieving the goal.
Overall, using a weekly schedule is an effective tool for setting and reaching your goals. It may take some initial effort to create the schedule, but the long term benefits will certainly be worth it.
Why not try out using a weekly schedule and see how it helps with accomplishing your goals?
4. To-Do List
As anyone who has ever tried to accomplish something knows, setting goals is just the first step. What really counts is taking the necessary steps to achieve those goals.
One way to ensure that you’re staying on track and making progress is by creating a daily to-do list. Not only does writing down your tasks give you a visual reminder of what needs to be done, but it also allows you to prioritize and plan out your time effectively. This to-do list has your tasks divided into 5 categories: phone calls, errands, emails, work projects, and miscellaneous.
Crossing off completed tasks can give a sense of accomplishment and motivate you to continue pushing forward towards your ultimate goal. So next time you set a goal for yourself, try making a daily to-do list to increase your chances of success.
5. Pomodoro Tracker
The Pomodoro technique is a time management strategy that involves breaking tasks into set time intervals, followed by short breaks. This method can be extremely beneficial for increasing productivity and reducing procrastination. I use 30 minutes for each of my Pomodoro “work sprints”.
The timed intervals help to keep you focused on the task at hand and prevent distraction, allowing you to get more work done in less time. The breaks also give your brain a chance to rest and recharge, resulting in improved concentration and reduced fatigue.
Using the Pomodoro technique can also help to instill better overall time management habits, as it encourages prioritizing and planning out tasks in advance. So next time you find yourself struggling with time management, give the Pomodoro technique a try – you’ll be surprised at how much more efficient and productive you can be!
6. Task List
Creating a daily task list can do more than just help you stay organized – it can also play a crucial role in setting and achieving your goals. By laying out specific tasks for each day, you are breaking down larger goals into manageable chunks and increasing the likelihood of actually accomplishing them.
In addition, seeing a list of completed tasks can provide motivation to keep going and keep checking items off the list. As an added bonus, a daily task list allows you to prioritize tasks and efficiently allocate your time, leading to increased productivity. Always remember the power of a daily task list when setting your goals!
7. Eisenhower Matrix
The Eisenhower technique, named after President Dwight D. Eisenhower, is a useful tool for prioritizing tasks and managing time efficiently. Simply put, it involves categorizing tasks into four quadrants: important and urgent, important but not urgent, not important but urgent, and not important and not urgent.
This allows you to focus on tasks that are important and urgent, while delegating or minimizing those that are less crucial. In addition to helping prioritize tasks, the Eisenhower technique can also be helpful in identifying ineffective habits or time-wasters that can then be rectified. All in all, using this technique can lead to increased productivity and better utilization of time.
How to improve your time management skills
Time management skills are not something that can be learned overnight. It takes practice to develop effective time management skills. However, by using a time management worksheet, it will be easier to see where time is being wasted and what changes need to be made in order to use time more efficiently.
If you find that you are constantly running out of time, it may be necessary to reassess your priorities. Take a look at your time management worksheet and see if there are any tasks that can be eliminated or delegated to someone else. Also, try to schedule some down time into your day so that you can relax and recharge your batteries. Time management is all about finding a balance between work and play.
Creating a time management worksheet is a good first step towards improving your time management skills. By taking the time to sit down and assess how you are currently using your time, you will be able to identify areas where improvements can be made. With a little bit of practice, you will be able to develop effective time management skills that will help you get more done in less time.
But hey, that’s what it takes to thrive in the digital age! And just think about all the freedom and flexibility that comes with virtual entrepreneurship…you can work from anywhere in the world (hello, digital nomad!) and create your own schedule (goodbye alarm clock!).
