Tuesday Tutorial: How to Manage Your Time with an Online Business
Posted on 24. Dec, 2008 by Nate in Starting an Online Business, Time Management, Tuesday Tutorials
Is time something you look at as a valuable resource or a thing to waste?
What system do you have in place to manage your time?
Time Management is crucial to the success of an online business. If we don’t set up routines and systems, we will eventually end up surfing around online like a chicken with our head cut off.
Today’s Tuesday Tutorial will give you tips on time management as you begin making money with your website.
Step 1: Set Goals
Write down goals and put them in a place where you can read them often. I have a habit each week of writing out new goals and scotch taping them to my desk where I can see them every day!- Set SMART Goals: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely.
- Prioritize your Goals – One thing I’ve started doing is putting a number next to each goal as I write them all out for the day. I can then go through the “checklist” and “see” the success as it happens.
- Plan each day by inserting your Goals in to your daily calendar. Planning your day can help you feel more in control of you life. Write a to-do list, putting the most important tasks at the top. Keep a schedule of your daily activities to minimize conflicts and last-minute rushes. Things come up during the day. What I find is that if I have a plan during the day, things seem to get done more effectively.
Step 2: Avoid Procrastinating!
Here are some ideas to keep procrastination under control:
- Slice up tasks into more manageable pieces and start on the easiest ones
- Chart your progress – “Small success leads to big success!” If you write down and track progress, it helps confidence and aids you in seeing progress, even if its only small
- Set a deadline for completing projects: without a deadline, it’s easy to keep pushing things back
- Have someone you can report to: If I have to return and report what I have (or haven’t done) to someone that I respect, I tend to push myself a lot harder to accomplish things I’ve set out to do.
Step 3: Break large, time-consuming tasks into smaller tasks.
- Work on them a few minutes at a time until you get them all done.
- As you prioritize your goals and tasks, think about which ones will take the least amount of time to accomplish and do those first.
Ever heard of “Small Success leads to Big Success”? Now apply this 
and measure your progress!
Step 4: Practice the 10-minute rule.
Work on a dreaded task for 10 minutes each day. Once you get started, you may find you can finish it. Writing articles and press releases can be this way. Once you get started though, things can really start coming together.
The 10 Minute Rule is pretty simple and works like this. I tell myself that I will engage in the task at hand for at least 10 minutes. If after 10 minutes, I don’t feel like finishing, I can stop and walk away, guilt free. Because most of the time the hardest part of any task is getting started, this rule of thumb helps me push past the roadblocks that keep me from doing things that I may not always feel like doing, but am always glad I did once I’m done.
Step 5: Evaluate how you’re spending your time.
Keep a “Success Journal” of everything you do for three days.- Write down everything you do. This can help you determine how you’re spending your time.
- Look for time that can be used more wisely. For example, could you take a bus or train to work and use the commute to catch up on reading? If so, you could free up some time to exercise or spend with family or friends. What about that TV time? Is that really helping you make progress with your business?
Step 6: Get plenty of sleep and exercise.
This is something I really need to work on. I have a bad habit of staying up late and then dragging some days and not accomplishing as much. Any advice?
I’ve seen that improved focus and concentration will help improve efficiency. This helps complete work in less time. The more rested you are, the better you can think logically and really see things happen with your eCommerce Business.
Step 7: Don’t be afraid to take a break.
- Too much stress can derail your attempts at getting organized.
- When you need a break, take one.
One of my “New Year’s Resolutions” will be to really focus on these time management tips and document my success. More to come.
How have these tips helped you?
How do you plan to use them in 2009?
I've been an avid New York Yankee baseball fan my entire life. Read 
Dan Patterson
24. Dec, 2008
I have also found that when I don’t get enough sleep I really drag. I also know for myself and also from working with others that you really do have to take a break sometimes. Anybody can burn out, and if you don’t take breaks you will!
It’s sort of like in fitness and exercise there is such a thing as ‘over training’, and if you ever get to that point you basically shut down for a couple weeks. The way around it is to not over do it and take a whole week over every two months or so. That’s why I personally don’t do much on my business on the weekends, I found that when I did I would burn out a lot quicker. We all need breaks, so figure out what works for you and work them in!
Nate Moller
24. Dec, 2008
Thanks for the great feedback. I know one of my New Year’s Goals will be to go to bed early and get up early. I’ve found, when I do this, I get so much more done.
Happy Holidays!
Matt Siltala
24. Dec, 2008
You make some great points here Nate. I think the single thing that started to help me out (time wise) with all I got going on is learning to say NO – I have learned you are not a jerk just because you say no to someone. Once I started to focus on the things that were going to bring me the most ROI, things got much easier in my life.
Nate Moller
24. Dec, 2008
Great comment! “Just Say No!” is not just about drugs then? LOL! I agree – being a yes, yes, yes person isn’t always the best thing.
One thing I’ve found helpful is to say “Yes” as much as possible, but make the offer so out there that the potential client has to say no. Then, if they surprisingly say YES, it’s a good ROI anyway.
Thanks for the comment!
David
27. Dec, 2008
I love the 10 minute rule suggestion. Thanks.
Nate Moller
27. Dec, 2008
Let me know how it works for you or if you plan to use it!
Happy Holidays!
Jennifer Larson
29. Dec, 2008
Great advice! I like to make lists so I can slash a huge mark through them once I’ve finished a particular task. I have twitter on my list of tasks, but I do have to start being more careful about how much time I stay on at a given time. If anybody else is having this particular problem, my suggestion is to split your total time into three different parts of the day. This way you get the full amount in, and you can catch up with different followers, as some are on in the morning, some in the afternoon and some at night.
Nate Moller
29. Dec, 2008
Sounds like you’re suffering from Twitter Intoxication! Please share more on how you manage your time on Twitter…
Thanks for the comments!
Herb Green
31. Dec, 2008
These steps are an on time reminder for the new year. The challenge is sticking to them. God knows that I need to, etc. Prioritizing SMART goals and making a “to do list” will be a good start, but I really like the idea of a 10 minute rule, where I commit to 10 minutes each day no matter what for those dreaded tasks. Incrementally I will inch forward and on some days,… I may even really put in quality time beyond the 10 minute committment on other days.
Sleep,…now that is a 2008 thing. I found out many times during the past year that trying to complete something tired was not the best choice. With four to eight hours of rest (sleep and relaxation), I have been able to complete some nearly impossible tasks in a logical fashion. Also, when I started some days with a deep spiritual connection (prayer and reflection), I was able to get through those days much more relaxed and focused on the essentials. I felt like I had been given the power to do whatever.
Finally, I have been saying “NO” much more often . Folks will find a way to survive without my direct assistance, and they may learn in the process. For some special folks, I say: “You can do that, but I am here if you need me.”
Nate Moller
02. Jan, 2009
Great comment Herb! I’ve been testing and testing the 10 minute rule, along with the other tips, and it’s really helping me stay focused and committed to my overall goals.
I appreciate the comments and look forward to hearing about your success!