Top tips to save you the time you don't have (but need)

Time.

The one thing that is always running out and we can never replace.

For entrepreneurs and busy business leaders, there is never enough time. You are constantly juggling things around and can never fit it all in. Even when you think you can, something else pops up.

You have work, family life, social life, a partner at home, plus sometimes, you want to do the thing YOU enjoy - where do you put it all?

On top of that, you know you should be training, making good meals and being more active but it's like a game of Tetris, eventually it all gets too much.

With time, as we can't get it back, we need to just manage it better.

And you'd better make time for training, eating well, staying active because if you don't, one day you won't have a choice.

Whether that be exhaustion, sickness, injury or a bad health scare - you can't avoid prioritising your health and expect it not to catch up with you.

Now, assuming you are going to get busier year on year, or at least remain at your current level (lets face it, driven people always find things to do), it will be more useful to find ways of making more effective use of time, rather than the usual 'I'll start when things quieten down'.

I know you've said that before and I know things never got less busy.

So, here are some of my favourite ways to increase your effective use of time (EUT) ((I just made that up but quite like it)).

1. Training

There are a few things you can do here. You don't need to be going to the gym 6 days a week for 60-90 minutes. Why not 3 x 40 minutes instead.

• Follow a programme - wandering around deciding what to do is a waste of time. As is guessing what weight to use.
• Turn phone on airplane mode - stop scrolling, answering emails, calling people during rest time. 90s is enough rest, you don't need to accidentally take 5 minutes.
• Have home workout options - This does not mean burpees and jumping around your living room screaming lean in 15 (you know what I mean). Instead have some basic equipment at home - heavier dumbbells, kettlebells and maybe a med ball. When days really are tight, you can save time driving to and from the gym and be done in 30-40 minutes total.
• Super sets - pair upper and lower body exercises together. In a session you may have 3 pairs that you work through with a minute between each. You can get a pair done in 6-8 minutes and you'll also have a higher heart rate meaning burning more calories.

2. Batching + stacking

Batching tasks is where you do a few days worth in one sitting eg 1 hour of emails on a Monday vs 30 minutes x 5 days a week, saving valuable time.

Stacking tasks is where you do two things simultaneously.

Here are my go to.

• Meal prep - look if you are doing as well as I imagine, just buy meal preps. I know it seems like a big investment but the effort and time you save is well worth it. Failing that, batch cook your meals. On a Monday, make 3 of the same meals for the next 2 nights. On Thursday do the same. Yes you will have to eat similar meals but thats a sacrifice for results.
• Work tasks - think about things you do regularly, what can you batch? What about life admin tasks? Can you set up food shop to automatically come every week? Or your meal prep? Instead of doing finances weekly, why not monthly.
• Activity and work - This is a nice go to stack. You probably need to walk more or get in some cardio so why not tie this in with doing phone calls or emails, saving time. If you have anything you need to watch, you can do this too. Calls are a little more difficult, but if it's more relaxed, then you can talk while training.

3. Productivity hacks

I know you get distracted way to easy which can cost a lot of time so implement these to help.

• Airplane mode - whenever you don't want to be distracted by calls or notifications, turn on this mode. Can be really good for family time or date night!
• Silence notifications - Use this on any social media platforms and whats app. You only see the notifications when you go onto the app. Of course, you can keep important ones live. When using a laptop, do the same. There is nothing worse than doing a bit of work and next minute you are responding to emails - close the apps.
• Parkinsons law -The idea that a task will take however long you give it. Set a timer for every task you are doing and battle against the clock to get as much done in that time.

4. Decisions

You have to make a lot of important decisions, and decision fatigue is real. Too much choice wastes time. Instead remove decisions where you can.

Here are some clients have used well.

• Giving authority to a member of staff to fix any issue that costs less than ￡500 to rectify. This means it's one less potential contact point.
• Cutting down meeting frequency and/ or durations.
• Limited number of work outfits so you don't waste time deciding what to wear.
• Client dining choices - having a rotation of 3 (or more if you like) that you cycle through so you know exactly where the next is due to be. If you have a PA, they will know too meaning you don't even need to be asked.

Those are a few of the areas and ways i'd get clients to save time.

I would say, from what I have experienced, you can save hours per week by implementing these.

Hours that you can then spend doing the things you should be doing.

But remember to schedule it all in, everything. That is how to create more time. Treat them like meetings you wouldn't skip or be late to.

It isn't selfish to priortise yourself and your health, it's essential.

How can you serve others at a level they deserve when you are not at you best?