If you’re like most people, you are probably pulled in many directions every day. Finding an extra hour in your day is like finding a $20 bill in an old jacket — it automatically makes your day run a little smoother and affords you the opportunity to enjoy endeavors that are important to you.
Did you know that you can take steps to design your own day, and make the discovery of additional hours less of a surprise and more of a habit?
Follow these five techniques to help you streamline obligations and shift your focus toward the long-term goals you keep pushing off — like starting your credit repair business.
1. Practice Time-Blocking
According to the popular time management blog ‘I Done This’, about 41% of ‘to-do items’ are never completed, and time management experts like Kevin Kruse believe that’s because of the way to-do lists are organized. Kruse’s book 15 Secrets Successful People Know About Time Management specifies that time-blocking is a better way to accomplish tasks rather than working from a to-do list, and CEOs like Elon Musk and Bill Gates agree, as they are known to practice this method of organization.
To time-block, jot down a list of high-priority tasks you need to accomplish. Then estimate how long each task will take you. Next, create chunks of time on your calendar that are dedicated to the tasks you’ve identified.
Your time blocks can span multiple hours or can be broken into shorter chunks of time. The segment lengths aren’t as important as your ability to commit to a distraction-free zone during the time blocks. When done correctly, time-blocking should:
- Eliminate multitasking
- Create a record of your time management
- Give you a better understanding of when time should be reallocated
Time-blocking means you waste less time, and become more productive. As you free time in your day, you’ll have more space to focus on long-term goals like launching a new business.
2. Start Meal Prepping
Meal prepping isn’t just for your fitness-junkie friends. Though there is something to be said about how healthy food improves your mood, it’s also a great practice for those who feel they are always short on time.
Make a routine to plan, shop and cook meals every Saturday or Sunday. Tricks for easy meal-prep include:
- Finding recipes that can be frozen or kept in the refrigerator for a least a week
- Cooking large meals in a slow cooker and eat leftovers throughout the week
- Packaging lunches like sandwiches in advance, so you can easily grab them in the morning before leaving for work
- Pre-cooking and portioning out vegetables and rice so you can easily and quickly heat up a healthy meal as you need it
Eliminating meal-time decisions can save you time and money.
By taking time on the weekend to prepare for the week, you can cut out the process of deciding what to make for dinner or getting stuck in an extended lunch. Reallocate that time toward your larger goals.
3. Get Comfortable with Outsourcing
This one is for all the control freaks out there. When you’re starting a credit repair business, it’s easy to be a micromanager. Your business plan should be a product of your direction AND your management, right? Not necessarily true when it comes to the details. Ultimately, we know, if you’re already strapped for time, it’s not possible to have your hands in every component of the business.
It’s necessary for business owners to outsource small tasks to free up time. Luckily, sites like Upwork, Fiverr, and MediaBistro make it easy to connect with freelancers who can tackle small projects, cost-effectively.
Find small tasks to dole out to freelancers or part-time workers so you can make the most of your time every day.
4. Say ‘No’
Overcommitting is the antithesis of productivity.
Not only do extra commitments have an instant and obvious impact on your day, but the residual effect of exhaustion can also affect your productivity for hours or days to come. To become a successful entrepreneur, learning to say ‘no’ is an important lesson.
Practice saying ‘no’ to your friends when they ask you to go out on a weekday, saying ‘no’ to yourself when you have the urge to browse social media, or saying ‘no’ to extra work commitments that will push your attention span over the edge.
There is nothing wrong with devoting time to rest, relaxation, family, and your goals. Say ‘no’ to the things that don’t progress you and save time for what truly needs the ‘yes’.
5. Take Advantage of Technology
As a business owner, technology should be your best friend. Top-notch credit repair business software can improve your productivity while decreasing your workload.
Technology can reduce the tedious tasks that bog down your day. For example, credit repair business software:
- Analyzes and tracks credit disputes
- Monitors client activity
- Suggests customized steps to improve your client’s credit scores
This requires minimal manual effort. Putting more trust and responsibility into the hands of technology can decrease your stress and improve business functions.
Credit repair specialists have the opportunity to automate many of their tasks saving time and strengthening your business’ foundation.
Get Started Now
That’s right – don’t wait. Carving out time in your busy schedule is necessary to start achieving your goal of starting a credit repair business. By continuing in the routine of ‘too few hours in the day’, you cannot take action to start your dream business.
Watch our live web training to learn how you can start a credit repair business, or take a credit repair certification class regardless of what’s currently on your plate.
