Questions to Ask Yourself When Managing Your Time

Managing my time has become an art form.  It has taken over 30 years and is still a work in progress.  I have been able to control my time to the 15-minute time slot. It wasn’t an easy road, though. It took time and focus to keep me on schedule.  Keep in mind that I do not have a strict plan. That is the point of being self-employed.  I can adjust my schedule as needs arise. I also have flexible clients (Affiliate Link) and only a few on-site clients (Affiliate Link) who need me there a few times a month.  Here is how I got to this point.

Juggle Your Time Can Result in Lack of Time Management

It all started when my children were little, and I had to juggle taking care of the house, my full-time job as an office manager, a new part-time home-organizing small business, and, of course, making sure the children were well taken care of. Caring for everything wasn’t too complicated; I did it well.  Until one day, I injured my back and had to decide if going to work forty hours a week was worth it.

I had to slow down and reevaluate myself, what I was doing to myself, and what I wanted. I had to decide what was necessary (which was my family). Then, I eliminated the tasks and responsibilities I no longer cared to do. It took about a year to get to where I wanted to be.  It wasn’t an easy task to set up.  But I was determined. I wrote down my reasons for streamlining my process and being able to manage my time better. And to manage my time better, I had to want to do the tasks needed.  So, I needed to decide what mattered to me first.

Start managing your time better.

So that is where we will start; you need to determine your priorities and what you want to focus on.  If you are looking to manage your time better, I am here to tell you that you do not have to be injured or sick to reevaluate what you are doing with your time.  Just ask yourself these questions and write them down. Ponder these questions for a few weeks.  Get to what you want.  This is not a short-term time management tool.  This is for the long haul.  You need to focus on these questions to see what you are doing and decide what you want.

"You do not have to be injured or sick to reevaluate your life or business – just ask yourself these questions." Share on X

Ask these questions to help you manage your time better

Find a quiet space to ask these questions. Be truthful to yourself and what you want for your business and life. Allocate a few hours at least to answer these questions. Now that you are ready to explore these questions, let’s begin!

What do you want? Is there something you wish in your life or business that you haven’t told anyone yet?

Be broad or specific. The point of this question is to give you direction on your goals in your life and business.

What type of client is your ideal client? Is it someone who allows you to be more flexible in your time? Someone who you need to meet with weekly or monthly?

Defining your ideal client will awaken what you are looking for, and soon, those clients (Affiliate Link) will be knocking down your door to work with you.

Which areas of your life are taken care of to your satisfaction?

Starting with an accomplishment and allowing yourself to be grateful for that accomplishment is an important first step. To be more productive, always start on a positive note.

Name a few steps that will help your schedule run more smoothly.

The steps need to be specific and straightforward to be effective. For example, I will set up meals for the week on Sunday. We will eat out on Friday, so I don’t have to cook. 

If you manage your time better, what would be the outcome? If you do not manage your time well, what is the result?

Deciding on the outcome allows you to prioritize what you really want in your life and what you need to get organized.

Are there journals, devices, or apps that would help you move toward your time management goal?

How much would they cost? Is it worth it to invest your time?

Are there people you would need to help you manage your time better? 

An example would be a cleaning service to clean your house, someone to do your business bookkeeping, or someone to help with your social media management research and scheduling.

Answering these questions should help you identify what you want to spend your time on and ways to do that. By removing these unwanted responsibilities and tasks, you will manage your time better and more effectively. I hope this helps you achieve this goal. For more about time management, visit these posts.

Ways to Make Your Small Business Calendar More Effective

20 Ways to Make Your Business More Productive This Year

Time Management for Small Business Owners by SBA.gov

Please note these are affiliate links through Amazon and at no additional cost to you, I will earn affiliate fees if you decide to make a purchase.

Here are some related posts if you want to read more:

• Quick Tips When Managing Emails
• Six Ways a Professional Organizer Can Help Your Small Business
• Fabulous Business Owner Interview with Christian from PayUSA
• 10 Important Tips for Juggling Work and Family While Starting a Business
• 5 Super Fast Tips to Save Time Online