Do you ever have those days where you feel like you’re busy with your business, but you don’t seem to be making much progress?
Yup…I’ve been there, done that.
Truth is, I still have days like that from time to time, but it’s no longer a regular occurrence and I now know what to do to course correct when needed.
Today, I’m sharing 6 ways to boost your productivity on a daily basis so you can get more accomplished, earn more money and build your business.
1. Know Your Goals
This is #1 in my book. If you don’t know what your goals are, you’re going to be constantly pulled in a million different directions.
Write down your goals on paper and keep it in a visible area in your office or at home. Having your goals in sight will not only remind you that time is precious, but it will also keep you focused. Putting your goals in your smartphone is good too, but you also want to have it somewhere that serves as a constant reminder for you.
Start with writing down your goals for the next 3-6 month, then have a big picture goal of where you want to be in 12 months. What does that look like to you? What is your income goal and what is the impact you want to make for others? Be as specific as possible and include time frames and deadlines.
2. Map It Out
A set of goals with no plan is the same as standing still at the starting line, waiting for something to happen. Designing a path with clear steps and a list of things you’ll need to achieve each goal will make the process a lot easier and smoother. You’ll be surprised at how much more productive you’ll be when you put things in writing and map out your timeline. If you don’t set a due date, things always seem to get pushed aside.
While dreaming “big” is a mantra that has sustained entrepreneurs for ages, it’s also a known fact that every great finish has a humble start. Take some time to imagine where you’d like to be a year from now. Look at where you are today, and start outlining the blueprints of your own path. Meet up with colleagues (locally or online) to share ideas, get feedback and stay on track.
Again, be as specific as possible with your plan. For example, if you plan to do workshops as a client generation strategy, how many workshops can you do per month? Who will help you market your workshops, and where will you hold them? What other strategies appeal to you that will get you in front your ideal audience? Set a date for when this will happen and put it on your calendar to get the ball rolling.
3. Prioritize Projects
In his best-selling book, “7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” Stephen Covey stresses the importance of prioritizing in order to make the best of our time. He divides projects into four categories: urgent, not urgent, important, and not important. As you start mapping out your business, ask these questions about each project:
● Is it urgent or not?
● Is it important or not?
In this scheme, urgent and important projects (i.e., those that will likely cause a greater impact on your business in the long run), will have a higher order of priority than not-so-urgent tasks. When it comes to projects, concentrate your efforts on the things that will yield the quickest results. For example, getting in front of people on a regular basis, and having a great coaching program to offer clients are two important pieces of the puzzle.
As you prioritize projects, also think about the tasks you can outsource so you can focus on the tasks that only you can do. Upwork is a great resource to find virtual assistants and other freelancers on a short-term or long-term basis.
For ideas on what to outsource and how to get started, check out this blog post HERE
4. Schedule Time to Work on Your Business
As an entrepreneur, it’s too easy to not have a work schedule of any kind. but if you don’t block off time to work on your business on a regular basis, how will you ever make money, right? How many hours can you realistically dedicate to your business? What hours work best for you most days?
Be realistic with what you can do right now and what you can juggle. Only you can decide what works for you, but you’ll want to set aside time and mark it on your calendar just like you would important appointments you need to keep.
5. Eliminate Distractions as Much as Possible
Hello, social media! Let’s face it: notifications from social media are distracting and they’re rarely urgent.
I recently disabled ALL social media push notifications and it’s been amazing!!! That’s right…I don’t receive ANY push notifications everrrr.
If you just gasped in disbelief, it’s a good indication that this might be a good thing to for you to do too. We don’t realize how much our little devices can stand in the way of our productivity until we change the way we use them (and no longer allow them to interrupt us on a constant basis).
You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much more relaxed you feel and how much more uninterrupted time you’ll have.
6. Track Progress, Find What’s Working and Adjust Course as Needed as You Go
The initial phase of building your health coaching business takes a lot of time and effort, but it can be so worth it. Not everything you try is going to be a success, so rather than thinking of it as a failure, consider it a learning experience (I’ve had many of these, believe me!).
Find what works for you, what you truly enjoy the most, and know that it’s okay to change direction when needed. Be aware that you want to avoid being pulled in a million different directions, so choose one or two things to work on at a time (social media platforms, marketing strategies, etc) so you can focus your attention on those things and do then well.
This is another reason why it’s important to invest the time and effort to establish your goals – so you’ll have a better chance of staying on track. I know it takes a little time on the front end, but it’s so worth it!
Be patient and avoid frustration by starting with small steps:
1. Establish simple goals.
2. Determine what resources you need to reach those goals.
3. Set a deadline. Take a few minutes at least once a week to track your progress.
4. Analyze each decision and keep only what works for you.
5. Eliminate distractions when you’re in work mode
And finally… Adjust course when necessary once you determine what is working and what is not working for you.
What helps YOU get more done each day? Let us know!
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