Feeling like your business is running you, not the other way around? You’re not alone. Between endless emails, overflowing inboxes, and ever-expanding to-do lists, precious time can feel like a scarce commodity for UK entrepreneurs. But fear not, fellow biz builders! You can buy back those precious hours and reclaim control of your day. Here are 4 simple hacks to help you delegate, automate, and focus on what truly matters:
1. Outsource Like a Pro: Think of outsourcing as your personal superhero, swooping in to free you from mundane tasks. From admin whizzes to social media gurus, there’s a virtual assistant (VA) out there to support you in the various areas of your business.
Outsourcing work can be a great option because it frees up your own time to focus on high-value tasks. Best of all, there’s virtually no limit to the tasks that you can outsource.
You can easily outsource tasks to a VA such as”
- Business admin
- Personal admin
- Diary Management
- Inbox management
- Content creation / management and copywriting
- Social media management
- Video content creation
- Customer Support
- Community Management
- Graphic design
- Research
- Call answering
- Financial support including bookkeeping
Remember, your time is best spent steering the ship, not mopping the decks.
Ready to find your perfect VA match? Skip the endless searching and head over to Find Your VA page on this site, with filters for location and services
2. Time Tracking: Know Your Enemy (and Your BFF): We all have that nagging suspicion about where our time disappears. Time tracking software lifts the veil, giving you a clear picture of how you spend your day. Our parent company VACT Limited has. great blog sharing 7 of the most popular tools. These tools show you exactly how much time each task devours, helping you identify time-sucking culprits and reclaim lost hours.
But here’s the magic: Once you know where your time goes, you can make informed decisions about where it should go.
The Pareto Principle (aka the 80/20 rule) says 20% of your efforts deliver 80% of the results. Use time tracking to find those high-impact 20% tasks and ruthlessly delegate or automate the rest.
3. Automation: Your Robot Sidekick: Remember that tedious data entry or repetitive email response? Say goodbye! Automation tools like Zapier and IFTTT can handle those mind-numbing tasks, freeing you for more strategic pursuits. From scheduling social media posts to generating invoices, automation becomes your tireless robot sidekick, keeping the wheels of your business turning while you focus on driving it forward. Not sure you want to be the one to set these up, there are VAs who are an absolute whizz at doing this.
4. Systemise Like a Boss: Think of your business as a well-oiled machine. Every cog, every process, needs to be clear and efficient. Invest time in working with your VA to create systems for everything you do, from client onboarding to project management. Templates, checklists, and even simple flowcharts can save you hours by eliminating guesswork and streamlining operations.
Remember: Robust systems are the bedrock of a successful business. They free up your time, reduce stress, and ensure everything runs smoothly even when you’re not at the helm. Some VAs who offer this service will describe it as an OBM service, while others call it process and system mapping.
So there you have it!
Four simple yet powerful hacks to reclaim your time and take back control of your business.
Remember, time is your most valuable asset. Use these tips to invest it wisely and watch your business soar. And hey, don’t forget to check out our VA directory to find your perfect time-saving partner in crime!
Now go forth and conquer your to-do list!
P.S. Share your favourite time-saving tips in the comments below! Let’s help each other out, UK business owners!
Bonus Tip: Feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of tasks? Prioritise ruthlessly! Use tools like the Eisenhower Matrix to categorize tasks based on urgency and importance, and focus on the urgent and important ones first. Remember, sometimes saying “no” is the best way to buy back your time and sanity.
