5 Ways for Business Owners to Work Smarter, Not Harder

Time-saving at work is the key to getting things done! We know that statement is simultaneously bold and vague. But don't click away just yet. 

When you manage time effectively, you know what you can do and what isn't possible. This one act can transform how you work and improve your well-being, especially for time-strapped business owners and founders who need to sometimes get creative, squeezing as much out of every minute of the day as possible.

Here are five ideas we’ve developed to help you work smarter, not harder, throughout your workday.

In This Article:

1. Get Others To Do Stuff

Too much to do? Let someone else do it! Seriously, when you lack time or talent, delegate tasks and outsource work. Trying to do everything yourself is a slippery slope to disaster. Not only will you do a poor job, but you will work too hard and become irritable. Some tasks also need an expert touch. This is why legal, IT, fractional content, and payroll outsourcing services are so popular today. You get the help you need at a lower price, with a high level of competency.

2. Organize Your Working Day

While it’s true that we all get 24 hours, we don’t all have them distributed the same way. Thoughtfully planning each day is a major benefit for ensuring your time doesn't get wasted. This is especially true of your working day. First of all, completely separate working hours from personal hours. This helps establish boundaries later on. Divide up your work schedule and organize tasks in order of priority. Use tools like Trello to help you stay organized and on top of all your ongoing projects. 

3. Take Breaks

Is it counterintuitive to take breaks when you have limited time? Some would argue yes. We know you are crazy busy, but you need to schedule breaks or you’ll risk getting burned out. Many studies have shown that just ten minutes can help refocus your mindset and provide enough downtime to not feel overworked. Which is delightful when you consider that 44% of the US workforce feels overworked! However, you can also feel the burn when working from home if you aren’t proactive.

4. Embrace AI Technology (to a Point)

Delegation and outsourcing are powerful ways to get things done. But people are people and need pesky things like sleep! But what about machines? AI is everywhere today and, despite its reputation, has many advantages. Imagine getting on with a priority assignment while less important tasks are taken care of. AI programs can do pretty much anything faster and more accurately than a human. Data scanning is a perfect example of AI at work. Want to know how it works for content creation? Check out our guide to the most common generative AI tools to see how they compare.

5. Streamline Your Tasks

AI, Trello, and other tools can be used to streamline tasks and objectives, which can help you feel like you can get through anything. Having a routine will also help, and you can save time using the same apps and programs. Set up a custom profile with any apps that you use and create templates, which can also make things much easier. Of course, there are also apps for time management that you can use if you have trouble staying on task.

Conclusion

Outsourcing and delegation can help you work smarter, not harder, as a business owner. Taking breaks also helps save time, as you can recharge and stay productive without feeling burned out. Streamlining daily tasks makes tackling them much easier and helps make the most of the time you have at work.

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