BizTips from SCORE – Do you manage time or does it manage you?

Time management is one of the most critical tools for small business owners to incorporate into their daily routines.  There are a variety of tools available to owners/managers of small enterprises so that you are managing their time vs allowing others to usurp it and find themselves severely stressed.

• Task batching – complete similar tasks together to reduce transitioning time from one activity to another
• Pomodoro technique- work in 25-minute intervals, then take a break to improve focus and reduce burnout.
• Eisenhower matrix – sorts tasks by urgency and importance to manage priorities more efficiently. The ABC method takes this tool one step further by assigning a rank to each task.
• 2-minute rule – handle tasks that take less than 2 minutes to handle short tasks quickly.
• Parkinson’s law – use tight deadlines to finish tasks faster to avoid task time extension.
• Time blocking – schedule time slots for each task allowing for focus.
• Mind mapping – Visualizing the tasks and ideas around a central theme aids in brainstorming.

With the world of business connecting with the world of technology there are some really good time management tools that can help streamline tasks and therefore boost productivity:  Toggle – a time tracking app, Focus Booster – a Pomodoro timer, Boomerang – which helps manage email, Asana – project management tool, Calendly – scheduling using appointment slots and sharing availability.

Contributed by Marc L. Goldberg, Certified Mentor, SCORE Cape Cod & the Islands, www.score.org/capecod, 508/775-4884.  Free Mentoring and educational webinars.  Source:  Dr. Christian Poensgen