How to know if you have a time management problem

How to know if you have a time management problem

Do you never have enough time? Are you bogged down with putting out fires? Dealing with one urgent issue after another? Are you putting off important projects simply because you lack the time? When was the last time you had an entire weekend off?

Business owners usually contact W5 Coaching when they are exhausted, discouraged and feeling at the end of their ropes. They know that they should be focusing on the bigger picture of their business, but they can’t find the time and don’t know where to start.

Here are some signs that you have a time management problem:

·      Always running late

·      Too much rushing around

·      Missing deadlines

·      Procrastination

·      Failure to set and meet goals

·      Feeling distracted

·      Unhealthy behaviour (lack of sleep, nutritious eating, etc.)

Business owners who struggle to manage their time effectively often feel overwhelmed and out of control. They can be found running from one business activity to another with little time off. The danger is that this can quickly lead to burnout.

Creating a Default Diary

At W5 Coaching, we teach our clients how to create a default diary or sometimes known as time blocking.

The first thing in the process is to track or audit how you are currently spending your time. At the end of the week, you’ll review your notes and answer three key questions:

1.    Were there tasks that you could have delegated to someone else on your team?

2.    Did you spend time on low priority tasks that could have been put off?

3.    Are there any tasks that took up your time that you didn’t really have to do at all?

One of my clients was so busy with her business that she wasn’t sure she could spare the time for this activity. However, once she did, it gave her a solid perspective about time management.

“I got a reality check about how long things really take,” she said afterwards. “This has made project estimating easier and more accurate. I’m far more realistic about what I can get done in a day or week and I schedule appropriately. I’m less stressed and more productive. This assignment turned out to be so helpful that I’m still tracking my time six years later.”

A default diary helps you answer 4 key questions.

1.    What are the most important results you need to get this week?

2.    What do you need to do to get those results?

3.    How much time will each of those activities require?

4.    How do I map my time over the week so that it matches those priorities?

Here is an example of a Default Diary for someone who is a consultant

Remember, taking control over your time is the first step you need to take to gain control over your business again. Or as Jim Rohn put it: "Time is more valuable than money. You can get more money, but you cannot get more time."

If you are ready to start taking control of your time and get your business back, contact W5 Coaching.