Originally published March 1, 2022

I’ll start by getting the truth out of the way. This article is inspired by my own quest for the holy grail of productivity. “Maybe there’s something new I can try to get more done,” I thought to myself.

Instead, what I found was a lot of the same advice I’ve been hearing since I launched my company over three years ago.

“Get organized.”

“Set goals.”

“Track your metrics.”

Great. Before I can be more productive, I need to figure out how to get organized, set goals, and track metrics. None of those ideas play to my strengths, especially personal organization (that’s why you’ll never see a picture of my desk.)

Now, I’m not saying these are terrible pieces of advice for everyone. They just aren’t the right sort of advice for me, especially when it’s crunch time and I need to somehow cram 50 hours' worth of work into the next 12.

If you’re reading this on your phone as you quickly scarf down your lunch before your next call, you can probably relate.

So, today I present to you three simple, realistic productivity hacks for entrepreneurs. What else would you add?

3 Productivity Hacks for Entrepreneurs

Here are some ways I stay productive, especially when 24 hours a day just isn’t enough.

Productivity Hack 1: Embrace the freedom of NO

I’m a people-pleaser at heart, which made this one a real challenge at first. However, once I started embracing the power of saying “no” to things, my whole world opened up.

Sometimes, it’s a direct no. For example, “No, I can’t chaperone that field trip,” or “no, I don’t take calls on Sundays.” 

Other times, it’s a “no, but.” As in, “no, I don’t have time for a call today, but how about tomorrow?” Or “no, I don’t have the resources for that project, but how about I put you in touch with someone who does?”

If you’re a “yes” person like me, try saying “no” more often. Think of it this way – saying “no” to the things you don’t have time for or don’t want to do frees you up to say YES to all those things you actually want to do!

Productivity Hack 2: Stop Multitasking

As a business owner, I know all too well that you have a lot of demands. However, doing too many things at the same time means you’re never entirely focused on anything. I know this from experience but don’t just take my word for it. Scientists have also described how humans are naturally terrible at multitasking. The human brain just isn’t designed to multitask effectively. 

So, I’ve stopped trying to check my email while I simultaneously run an SEO report as I’m on a call with my team. Instead, I practice time blocking, which allows me to focus on one task while also helping me map out my day. 

The Pomodoro Technique is a time-blocking method where you focus on one task for a specific time and take a break when the time allotted is up. The secret to Pomodoro? These short bursts of focus help you meet that immediate goal, while regular breaks help ward off burnout.

Time blocking sounds like more work upfront, but it helps check off daily tasks, practice time management, and create realistic goals for what can be accomplished in a day.

This way of thinking is even more important as your business grows. As you hire employees, you’re able to delegate different tasks. This allows you to focus on specific tasks, which reduces the overall multitasking you find yourself doing throughout the day. This principle also applies to your business.

How can your business be guilty of multitasking? Well, by focusing on internal projects that it doesn’t specialize in. Look for ways to outsource these tasks and work with other businesses. For example, if your company is in the hospitality industry, a company like Legendary Capital North Dakota would provide an ideal opportunity to improve your company’s equity and finances without trying to branch into something your team doesn't specialize in.

The same applies to other tasks and projects that could improve your company, but without distracting your team.

Productivity Hack 3: Don’t Over-engineer your productivity

There are a million and one productivity tools and apps out there promising to help you finally get your work organized and on track. The problem is that it’s extremely easy to fall into a rabbit hole of productivity tools, both analog and digital.

I call this “over-engineering your productivity.” You end up spending more time trying to be productive than actually, you know, working.

I finally found a productivity tool that works for me because it’s stupidly simple. It’s an app called Todoist, and no, I’m not going to make any sort of commission if you click the link. I use the free version because I don’t want any bells and whistles.

Before I found this app, I made a to-do list on a Post-It note at the end of the day. The problem was that I would end the week with a dozen or more Post-Its cluttering my desk. Now, I can just click a satisfying circle when I’ve completed a task or move it to tomorrow if it doesn’t get done.

Bonus Hack – Outsource Your Content

I’m going to give you one more hack–outsource the stuff you don’t want to do.

For me, it’s accounting. I’ve never been a numbers person. I’m never going to be a numbers person. It’s just not in me. Fortunately, I’ve found a fantastic accounting firm that takes care of bookkeeping, payroll, taxes, and all that other stuff for me, so I don’t have to worry about it.

What’s the thing you put off the most for your business? If your first thought is “content,” you’re in the right place! If you aren’t sure, here are 3 Signs It’s Time to Outsource Content.

At People First Content, we can help you get quality content out to your target audience so you can have more time to work on the things you enjoy doing.

Want to learn more? Let’s talk!

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