As 2023 approaches, you’re probably already thinking about how you can make the new year your best yet as a business owner. In order to truly have an incredible new year, you need to first look back and ask yourself 3 questions, keeping both your life and business in mind:
- What went well?
- What could have gone better?
- What are you missing for future success?
Once you have those answers, it’s time to set your Big Ass Target (BAT) for your business.
This is something that makes you uncomfortable AND excited! Your BAT will require you to stop playing small and to start showing up as your best self – and that means you have to get really good at time management.
The 6 tips I’m sharing today can help you do just that.
Whether your BAT has to do with scaling your business, growing your client base or creating a new program, consistently following these time management tips will set you up for success.
Tip #1: Put Your Phone Away
Our phones are huge time wasters (just check your screen time if you don’t believe me!), but many of us keep them next to us when we’re working. As a result, we constantly have a major distraction staring us in the face – so of course we’re going to pick it up and start mindlessly scrolling.
Put. Your. Phone. Away. Instagram will still be there when you’re finished working. Your texts can probably wait. But Your BAT? That can’t wait – not anymore.
Do yourself a favor and remove your phone from your space when you’re trying to get shit done and just see how much more productive you are!
Tip #2: Use Your Calendar Wisely
Ask yourself when you’re MOST energetic during the day as well as when you’re LEAST energetic and plan your priorities accordingly. For example, if you have a lot of energy first thing in the morning, that would probably be the best time to commit to working on your BAT – not the afternoon when you’re struggling to focus.
Block off this space in your calendar and protect it. No meetings, no appointments, no distractions. A big part of being successful means doing the right things at the right time, so why not use your calendar to help you?
Remember: YOU run the week. The week does not run you.
Tip #3: Apply the YAHOO Principle
In this case, YAHOO stands for You Always Have Other Options. If something doesn’t work for you, you can make a change.
You may have created a business or a lifestyle for yourself that once worked, but now doesn’t – and that’s OK. What’s NOT OK is to continue on that path and expect different results.
When you determine it’s time to apply the YAHOO Principle, I encourage you to start over with a blank slate and create your dream week. This is a great time to bring in Tip #2 and use your calendar to your advantage, determining how to most effectively manage your time to be productive and hit your BAT.
Tip #4: Touch It Once
Have you ever opened an email, read it, then closed it and decided to respond to it later? Not super productive, right? Instead, here’s what I recommend:
Respond to the email right away OR don’t see the email at all until you’re in a place where you CAN respond immediately.
If you’re constantly taking in different stimuli – texts, emails, Instagram notifications and so on – you’re probably going to feel overwhelmed, but you can choose to avoid those things UNTIL YOU ARE READY to tackle them. Touch them once and move on so you can focus on what’s really important: Your BAT.
Tip #5: Do One Thing at a Time
We all know multitasking isn’t actually the best way to get things done, but we STILL continue to try. That stops NOW.
Doing one thing at a time is actually going to save you more time in the future. Choose one task at a time, and if possible, BATCH your work. This means you’re setting aside time to be in different modes, whether that’s creation mode, delegation mode or communication mode.
The best way to hit your BAT is to take it one step at a time – and that’s hard to do when your brain is scattered and you’re trying to do everything at once.
Tip #6: Set 3 Non-Negotiables
You need to determine 3 things that are non-negotiable in your life and implement them NOW.
If you want to hit your BAT, you have to consistently work toward it. The only way that’s going to happen is if you intentionally make time to move the needle in the right direction.
Maybe your non-negotiables are 1) no phone notifications, 2) no appointments or meetings before noon, 3) no phone after 8 PM. Those are yours to determine. Doing so wisely will absolutely help you hit your BAT.
I hope these 6 tips will help you manage your time so you can hit your BAT!
I’ve included a quick recap of all the tips right here, so you can screenshot this article and bring these tips along next time you need assistance with time management and productivity.
Tip #1: Put Your Phone Away
Tip #2: Use Your Calendar Wisely
Tip #3: Apply the YAHOO Principle
Tip #4: Touch It Once
Tip #5: Do One Thing at a Time
Tip #6: Set 3 Non-Negotiables
Listen to this episode via Apple Podcast, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts, and search for episode 161 of The FastForwardAmy Show.
PS: Want to do even MORE to ensure you hit your BAT in the new year? Grab my FREE End of Year Success Habits Workbook! Print it out, take these last couple of weeks of 2021 to fill it out, and plan to make 2022 your best year EVER.
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