"Time noun

[tīm]: the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole

As the end of 2024 approaches, the theme of TIME shows up in so many different ways. On a personal level, we reflect back on the year that was and what made it memorable. For some it has been a year of happiness and joyful experiences, while for others it has been a year of loss and sorrow. I looked at the lyrics of the Jim Croce song “Time in a Bottle”.

The song begins with the words, “If I could save time in a bottle …”. The song has some other poignant lines, “If I could make days last forever; If words could make wishes come true …”; “But there never seems to be enough time, to do the things you want to do …”. Jim’s song is a love song, written to his wife after she told him she was pregnant in December 1970, and is full of tenderness toward her.

Who as a business owner has not wished for more time, for wishes to come true, for more time because there never seems to be enough? If only a song could make it all better and easier. Wishful thinking has never helped a business succeed. If you feel like you need 48 hours in a day instead of twenty-four to get things done, you are not alone.

TIME MANAGEMENT SKILLS are not inherent, they are learned through practice rather than formal training. Practice is a process of making new behaviours automatic. Good time management skills can increase your productivity and decrease your stress both personally and professionally. Good time management skills help you get more done, improve the quality of your work, and result in better work / life balance and satisfaction.

• SET GOALS: Managing time requires goal setting, important for accomplishing everything from small tasks to long-term projects. Write lists of tasks you must do and determine which ones have the most significant impact.

• PLAN: While planning may seem like time taken away from action, not having a plan can actually lead to extra work, lost time, and project failures.

• USE TIME MANAGEMENT TOOLS: These tools give direction to how you work. They help you prioritize your work from most to least urgent by blocking out your time for certain tasks to get you through your planning.

• FOCUS: Your brain can handle approximately four to five hours of focused work daily. You can train your attention span in order for this focused time to be used efficiently. Avoid multitasking, it dilutes your focus. Limit distractions or remove them outright, e.g. smartphones, internet, email, social media and interruptions by co-workers.

• SET BOUNDARIES: In order to actualize your priorities, you must say no sometimes, even at the risk of disappointing some people. Only then can you get your prioritized work done.

• DELEGATE: If you don’t have the time or skill for something, have the courage and humility to admit it, then delegate to a person better suited to achieve the desired result without micromanaging. This only adds more to your task list.

• TAKING TIME TO RECHARGE YOUR BATTERIES: Knowing when to take a break is vital for maximum productivity. It lowers your stress level and energizes you for better focus.

TIME is a finite gift and should be managed judiciously to maximize productivity in business, but never at the expense of a healthy life balance.