As a business owner or even just a busy person with a myriad of competing priorities how we make use of our time is crucial in order to remain both sane and productive.
A great deal of people talk about time management but to me that is a bit of a mistake. The first mistake is that there are a few myths around in this field.
1. Making time, finding time etc. - No that is not possible. We all have the same time 24 hours within which we need to do certain things, you cannot make more it is what we have.
2. Working harder makes you more productive. - No it doesn't. Longer hours are not more productive and wear you out. Even 9-5 for some people is unproductive. Even if you manage to work long hours is it your best work? To get the best from yourself you also need rest and time to think. A job which is rushed and unplanned will not be a good job well done. If something is worth it time shoudl be spent doing it well.
So consider how much time in a day you waste - and by waste I dont mean relaxing or making coffee. Take the time to write a diary for one week detailing everything that you do from the moment you wake up until you go to bed and dont cheat. Every time I do this exercise it is impossible to miss some of the ways in which time is wasted and again that is not the same as time spent chilling out and relaxing.
Consider how much time you spend in meetings. Firstly are they a good use of time? Secondly are meetings really productive? For each meeting you go to or attend give it a mark out of ten for productivity. Certainly in the public sector meetings are a time drain second to none and I have even attended project meetings talking about whether or not to have a meeting. Think about whether or not the right people were there and how each meeting could be improved. Perhaps consider the novel idea of talking to people in other ways, conference calls, Skype or possibly no meetings at all.
Do you have a lot of corridor conversations? Are they useful? I have worked in organisations where business was conducted in the corridor but also in organisations where we just chatted and swapped gossip.
Offices are places where business is interrupted all day long. There is no flow and no real working environment whatever it might look like. The phone goes, people stop to talk to each other, a meeting is held and lunch is taken, people make coffee and then oh look its time for home and nothing has been accomplished. I suspect we have all had days like these and then told everyone how busy we were.
Working from home is not only cheaper and more convenient but it means we can get on with the things we need to do. Interruptions are far less frequent and once we get our head down we get on with something and really finish things.
Flow is important in making time work for you and actually finishing things off. It is surprising to many when they first work from home how much they achieve in far shorter time. Free from interruptions concentration is easier and you can suit yourself about how you manage each task.
So if you really dont have enough time start by writing down what it is you are actually doing and keep a time diary. I will be amazed if anyone is really filling every waking moment. Dont forget that relaxing, exercising, thinking and reading actually make you more not less productive. You dont get great ideas in an office but usually driving, on the bus, walking, in the bath, in the bar or in bed!
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