Manage Your Time As An Internet Marketer
If you're an internet marketer, chances are you're either an active or aspiring entrepreneur who values his time. You hate wasting it and realize that the amount of time spent on marketing tasks is directly related to their success potential. The best entrepreneurs know how to manage their time by delegating tasks, focusing on what's most important, and taking breaks.
The rest of us simply don't know how to properly distribute our time. It's a simple concept, really: the more work you're doing simultaneously, the less time you'll have for everything else. That's why it's important to know how to manage your time--it works in your favor when you have to deal with all kinds of tasks at once. In this article, we break down the steps that will help you organize your time and get more efficient at what matters most.
How To Organize Your Time
The first step to managing your time is determining what matters most to you. That's a fair point--if you don't know what you need or want, it's impossible to prioritize and make good use of your time. While no one can be an expert at everything, identifying priorities gives you a resourceful framework for structuring your day (instead of simply wasting yours).
Once you've identified your most important tasks, break your schedule down into manageable chunks of work. For example, if you're a web developer who has to produce multiple blog articles in a week, you can break it down into two or three tasks per day. Instead of rewriting the same blog article five times, do it all in one sitting (and then move on to another task).
By introducing a break or two into your day, you'll give yourself a sense of completion and energy. You can "catch your breath" and come back to it later on if you need to. You may even find that the end goal is no longer as important as those initial steps. When you're finished with a project, take some time for yourself. That's when you'll be more productive at the tasks that follow.
How To Break Down Daily Tasks
The next step is breaking down each daily task into smaller tasks, which can also be broken down further. This will give you an idea for how much time you'll need for each step, how far in advance you need to start a task, and how much time you have available to complete it all.
As you go through the process, don't forget to account for time dedicated to pre-work, post-work and any necessary breaks. You'll also need to account for time spent on administrative tasks (like tracking invoices and reconciling your bank account).
The further you can break down your daily tasks into manageable chunks, the easier it will be to manage. For example, let's say that your "daily task" is writing a blog article. Instead of writing the actual post in one sitting, break it down into three different steps:
1. Write the first draft 2. Edit, rewrite, and organize your article 3. Publish and promote
By breaking down a single task into smaller, more manageable chunks, you can stay focused on your daily responsibilities without letting them accumulate and overwhelm you. And often times, it's really helpful to step away from a project for a while before coming back to it refreshed. When you give yourself the opportunity to focus on one task at a time, you'll be more productive and efficient.
How To Be Productive
Consider yourself productive when you complete your top priority tasks while working in short bursts. That doesn't mean you have to set aside your day only for work--but it does mean setting aside some time for creative and personal projects. In most cases, a week's worth of work should be accomplished in 3-4 days. The rest should be devoted to your personal life and side projects.
Don't put things off--you're much better off making a list of things you need to accomplish and taking steps towards completion than assuming you'll "get around to it later." If you've planned out your day, you'll be able to make progress on multiple tasks at once. You can also see what's coming up next (so you can plan for it) and move on to other tasks if necessary.
If you're more concerned with getting things done than working endless hours, it will be easier to stay organized and focused on your work. Even if you don't get everything finished in a single day, you'll still make progress in a timely manner. In the end, that's what matters the most.
How To Get Things Done
So how do you actually get things done? It all comes down to knowing which things matter most and being able to separate them from everything else.
Conclusion
After all, if the most important thing is your business, then the less important things should be prioritized and assigned their own duties. By breaking down your daily tasks into manageable chunks and separating them from everything else, you'll be able to manage your time effectively. The next time you have a full day of work ahead of you, consider how to break it down into smaller tasks and focus on what really matters.