Managing your time effectively is something that becomes essential when you're starting or trying to grow your business using social media!
It's so easy to get sucked into the scroll hole isn't it! You open your phone to do some networking or post on your page and before you know it you've lost half an hour to aimlessly scrolling down your feed or through the eleventy billion groups you're in!
Oopsie!
Well here are a few of my top tips to help you manage your time more effectively!
- Prioritise tasks: Make a to-do list and prioritise tasks based on their importance and urgency.
I recommend doing this either in the morning, or if you're feeling super organised, the night before! That way, you know what to expect from the day ahead and you can focus on the most important tasks first.
- Break tasks into smaller chunks: Break down larger tasks into smaller, more manageable tasks.
For me, a massive task is to get my social media posts created and scheduled. I like to get a whole month done in advance so that if I have a flare up or just a tired few days, I know that's one area that I can just forget about.
I have a set of images I use so that the branding is easily recognisable, and I break down the whole task like so:
Update the images
Download the images for a set day (eg. Monday Motivation, Tuesday Tips etc)
Schedule a month's worth of Monday Motivation posts to stories & my feed
Repeat for each daily image
Add in the random posts throughout the month like "Follow me on my other socials" or "Join my Facebook Group" or "How to support a small business for free" etc.
This whole task might take me a week, or it might take me two or three days depending on my energy levels, but you can see how easy it is to break a bigger project down into smaller, manageable tasks.
- Avoid multitasking: Instead of trying to do multiple tasks at once, focus on one task at a time to increase productivity.
This one is super important if you're easily distracted. The most multitasking I'll do is have the washing machine or dishwasher on while I do something else. Otherwise, I try to focus on one particular task for a set amount of time, otherwise you can finish the day feeling like you've achieved exactly nowt!
- Set realistic deadlines: Set deadlines for completing tasks based on their complexity and give yourself enough time to complete them.
If you know it's going to take you a long time to do something, don't set yourself a deadline to get it done in half an hour! Being realistic with your expectations of yourself is key when it comes to your mindset.
- Minimise distractions: Avoid distractions such as social media or email notifications while working on important tasks.
I love putting my phone either on silent or Do not Disturb when I'm working. I'll set myself a timer for working on a task, and when the timer goes off, I'll take a short break and check my phone. Working this way really helps me stay as focused as possible on what I'm doing.
- Take breaks: Take short breaks to recharge and avoid burnout.
Which leads nicely onto this tip! Take regular breaks! The Pomodoro technique uses blocks of 25 minutes 'working time' followed by a 5 minute break, with a longer break when you've completed four 25 minute blocks. Read more about that here if you think it might help!
- Learn to say no: Don't take on more than you can handle and learn to say no when necessary.
Don't be afraid to say no if you need to get something done. Your friends and family can support you best by allowing you the time you need to work on your business and on yourself. If you need a rest day, say no to going out. If you need to get work done, make sure to make time for it! Setting boundaries and sticking to them is super important, not only for your business, but for your health too!
- Use tools and technology: Use time-tracking apps, productivity tools, and other technology to help manage your time effectively.
Here's just a few ways you can use tools & tech to help you get more done:
> Use Canva to batch create images for your social media pages
> Schedule your social media posts to free up your time elsewhere
> Time block your tasks in your phones calendar
> Use the timer on your phone to ensure you take regular breaks
> Email providers like Mailerlite will let you schedule your email campaigns
Remember, effective time management is all about finding a system that works for you and sticking to it consistently. You can follow what someone else is doing all day, but if it doesn't suit your needs, it'll be all the more difficult to stick to, so make sure you do what works for you, and not what someone else says you should be doing!
Steph xx
Comments ()