Have you ever thought to yourself that there aren’t enough hours in the day, or felt overwhelmed at the tasks facing you? If you have, this article can help you!

1. Clarify your goals and strategy

 Be very clear about your aims and ambitions, both short and long-term, and write them down. Once you know what you want to achieve it becomes easy to make decisions about what you need to do and plan accordingly.

2. Focus on your top priorities 

You’ll be more productive and profitable if you identify and focus on the areas most important to your business. Work on the fundamentals first. The Latin word ‘fundamental’ means foundation – so take action, build strong foundations and the rest should follow.

3. Schedule time 

Write your appointments in your work planner. You have one of those, don’t you? It will help you set aside time for your priorities. This reduces anxiety over not having enough time and keeps you focused.

4. Say no! 

Consider Jim Rohn’s suggestion “Learn how to say no. Don’t let your mouth overload your back.” Always check your schedule before committing to anything new. Don’t allow others to divert you from your objectives.

5. Create supportive systems 

This includes systems for filing, management information, communication, etc.

6. Take a reality check 

Ask yourself questions like Will my current activity have a positive outcome or am I doing it to avoid something else? Will doing this take me toward my goal? As Peter F Drucker observed, “There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all.”

7. Delegate! 

It’s tempting to do something yourself when you think you can do it faster and better. But consider the long term – delegation i.e entrusting a task to someone else, will save your time, and if done appropriately can motivate your staff, boost their confidence and help them develop their skills.

8. Repeat your success 

Remember the last time you went away on holiday, and how you got so much done in those few days before you left? What strategies and techniques did you employ that made you so effective and focused? Can you repeat them? Alternatively, imagine you are going away tomorrow and think about it.

9. Balance your life 

Formally schedule personal activities too, so you make time for family, friends, your health, and fun because having a balanced life reduces stress and increases energy levels. How well you manage your time affects the quality of your life!

10. End the day 

At the end of the working day, tidy your desk, make notes about what needs to be done tomorrow and prioritize those tasks. You’ll worry less that evening and be prepared and focused the next morning.