Posted By Amanda Collins on June 1, 2010

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I don’t know about you, but I’m a horrible procrastinator. I have a daily to-do list, but I usually find myself surfing Facebook or Twitter, checking e-mail, or basically wasting time until I realize I’m falling behind on my to-do list and have to scramble to catch up. However, I recently discovered that a little planning and a simple cooking timer can do wonders for even the most obstinate procrastinator.

Balancing working ON the business and working IN the business seems to be one of the biggest challenges of entrepreneurs. I have current clients who need attention, and I also have to keep the pipeline full for the future. This is where having a thorough calendaring system is imperative. I don’t take on more than two events per day – and I prefer only one. That way I’m out of the office no longer than a couple of hours, and I can complete my projects on time. I block out the week in advance so I know exactly what’s due and what I’ll be working on throughout the day. Of course, life happens, but having a plan to tackle that to-do list is really important for me to stay on task.

Once I have my daily tasks lined up, I assign a time limit to each project. For me, I’ve found that I can’t concentrate for longer than 30-45 minutes at a time, so I don’t block more than 45 minutes for each project. (It may take two or three 45-minute blocks to complete the project, but I stay focused on it for that long at a time.) In the remaining 15 minutes of each hour, I give myself time to play, doing all of those time-waster activities I enjoy. It’s kind of like dieting: without an occasional slice of chocolate cake, carrots get a little monotonous.

With a timer and my iPhone, I am much more focused and deliberate with my time. If I think of something not work-related during my 45 minutes “on,” I jot it down on the notepad that’s always next to my laptop. That way, I remember it and can stay on target with the task at hand.

Even though some of my résumé clients will say one of their strengths is multitasking, I’ve learned that the real talent is not being able to do multiple things simultaneously. It’s the ability to stay focused and complete one task, while having the flexibility to jump around as needed when the phone rings, a client walks in, or my son needs my attention. Only then will I master my mind and meet the goals I’ve set.

Category: Business Development
Tags: Business Development, time management