It is a common problem for many business owners; you have to get the job done.  Here is a list of practical tips which will help you regain control of your day.

1. It is okay to say no
Start as you mean to go on.  Your time is precious so why would you even consider taking on tasks from others that don't benefit you or your business.  It is really okay to say no.  Explain that you are busy and unable to commit to a project at this specific time. It is human nature to help others but sometimes you have to put yourself first.

2. Outsource a VA or assistant
You get busy, projects arise and sometimes you need the assistance of an extra hand to help to get the work done.  Outsourcing is part of your business on a regular or ad hoc basis it can really assist you with your time management ability.  Common areas to outsource are accounts, debt collection, social media management, writing, web design or general administration.

3. Control your social media
If you don’t use a central system for social media, you will soon find that you are wasting precious time browsing pages and posts.  By using a system such as Hootsuite for your Twitter and Facebook posts, you are concentrating solely on what you want to say without any distraction.  Save the browsing for your lunch hour.

4. Do not disturb
It is easy to get distracted by phones and emails throughout the course of your day.  A great way to ensure is to maximise your time and allot one hour where you are not to be disturbed.  Turn off the phones and social media accounts and use the time to actively get through your workload without distraction.

5. The art of note taking
Do you find the best ideas come to you when you are in the middle of something else?  To save time, don’t ignore them but pull out your notepad and jot them down.  Thinking that you will remember them later can be disastrous. 

6. Cut back your working hours
After all, this is what you hope to do eventually, right?  You own your own business in order to achieve a healthy work/life balance.  By reducing your workday you will find that you will become more focussed as you attempt to achieve your tasks within a shorter period of time.  Try it – you might just surprise yourself.

Once you start to put some of these ideas into practice you will be amazed at how much extra time you have to utilise during the course of a day.  Being able to accomplish more in less time is your new challenge.  Are you up for it?