Lying To Yourself Is Hurting Your Productivity

Small business owners already know that their time is precious, and there are never enough hours in the day. You're often juggling multiple responsibilities, working long hours, and desperate to improve your productivity. Boosting your productivity starts with an honest assessment of your resources and your physical, psychological, and professional limitations.

Recognizing your limitations can actually help you improve your business productivity. How? Just follow these simple tips.

Wake Up!

The early bird gets the worm, right? This old wives tale is actually true, and according to a study by the Amerisleep organization, early risers (waking up before 7 am) are more productive, 61.2% compared to those who like to snooze. Only 48.6% of late risers claimed to be highly productive. Many people swear by waking up early to be more proactive and get you mentally ready to tackle the day. But what do you do if you're a night owl?

Even if you aren't waking up with the sun, you can still establish a better morning routine to prepare for the day ahead. Consider incorporating a short, gentle yoga program in the morning or stimulating your brain with a podcast as you get ready.

Follow Your Natural Bio-Clock

Your natural circadian rhythm is the 24-hour cycle that times your body's activities throughout the day. It controls natural waking and sleeping, hunger cues, and even your body temperature. The circadian rhythm is the "scheduling app" for your body.

When you get more in tune with your body's natural rhythms, you may notice that you're more alert at certain times of the day. Some people get the most done within an hour of waking, while others don't get that productive energy boost and mental clarity until the afternoon. Understanding when you're naturally the most productive can help you schedule difficult tasks when you're on your A-game.

Delegate, Delegate, Delegate

You can love your business and being a small business owner without loving every aspect of its operations. Some jobs are time-consuming and can eat into the time you have to address other concerns, which may not be the best use of your time. Other tasks may be better completed by a professional, such as reconciling payroll and filing payroll taxes or legal work, including proper licensing for operations.

Look for expert freelancers to help you with certain jobs that you don't have a lot of experience doing or a Human Resources services provider to complete payroll and ensure that you're compliant with employment laws in your state. The money you spend on these services can improve your bottom line, as it frees you up to handle more important responsibilities.

Beware the Planning Fallacy

The planning fallacy refers to the tendency for many people to underestimate how much time it takes them to complete certain tasks. This cognitive bias can seriously affect your planning and productivity and contribute to the feeling of running out of hours in the day.

Here's where that honest assessment comes in. How much can you realistically complete each day? How much of these things can you delegate, either to a freelance expert or a trusted key employee? Reduce your "to-do" list each day and pad the amount of time you allocate to each task, so you don't end up feeling overwhelmed.

Bottom Line

Improving your productivity starts with being honest with yourself about what you can accomplish alone and what you can more successfully delegate or outsource. When you're able to get a better idea of your actual capabilities, you'll be surprised about how much more you're able to get done.

The Livingston County Chamber of Commerce is a private non-profit organization that aims to support the growth and development of local businesses and our regional economy. We strive to create content that not only educates but also fosters a sense of connection and collaboration among our readers. Join us as we explore topics such as economic development, networking opportunities, upcoming events, and success stories from our vibrant community. Our resources provide insights, advice, and news that are relevant to business owners, entrepreneurs, and community members alike. The Chamber has been granted license to publish this content provided by Chamber Today, a service of ChamberThink Strategies LLC.