I've been working towards building my business since 2010, so I can't even remember how much I have accomplished. One thing I have noticed as a result of all that work and being so busy is that I sometimes get overwhelmed when dealing with new projects. In this post, I want to share some simple tips on how to better manage your time and stay on top of everything.
STEP 1: Write Everything Down
It doesn't matter if you don't have a formal project management system in place. The point of keeping track of your daily tasks is so you have a complete picture of what you're supposed to accomplish each day.
One simple trick I used for this was to keep an online task manager, such as Wunderlist, where I can write down all the things I need to get done that day. This lets me know which tasks I already finished and which ones I still need to get done.
STEP 2: Start Early, Work On Multiple Projects At Once
This tip is really important for writers, but it applies to anyone that works from home or works on multiple projects simultaneously.
The biggest mistake I made was starting projects too late and putting off the work until it was urgent. As a result, I often found myself completely overwhelmed by deadlines and tasks.
One way to avoid this trap is to start early and work on multiple projects at once. It helps to create a list of what projects you want to work on that week and then assign them a due date. You can even use software like Trello or Kanban to make this process a little easier.
STEP 3: Prioritize Important Tasks
Once you've identified which projects you want to work on, you need to prioritize them. If there are several big projects in your queue, you should focus on the most important one first.
That way, when you do start on a new project, you won't feel like it's overwhelming and you'll be able to focus on getting it done quickly.
Great tips