Let's share a budgeting TIP I learned...
Time Budgeting: Your Secret Weapon for a Saner, More Productive Business (and Life!)
Ever feel like you're constantly chasing your tail, jumping from task to task with no rhyme or reason?
Am I really taking the time to add the landing page, What happened to the newsletter? etc
If so, then you have to create a budget for your time. I know K-aching
So, What the Heck is Time Budgeting?
Simply put, time budget is the art of scheduling specific chunks of time for specific tasks and timing the exact time spend on each of this tasks. It's like giving your day a to-do list on steroids. So here we go:
Time Blocking 101: A Foolproof Guide
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Hours of Power: Start by thinking about how many hours you realistically want to work each week. I know, it's a tough question, but pick a number and stick to it. Remember, we're aiming for sustainability, not burnout!
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Category Creation: Break down your work into categories. For a digital business manager like myself, it might look like this:
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- Admin: Emails, invoicing, expense tracking.
- Client Work: Project management, team meetings, systems implementation.
- Marketing: Social media, content creation, networking.
- Personal Development: Learning new skills, reading industry blogs, attending webinars.
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Hour Assignment: Assign a reasonable number of hours to each category. Be realistic here, folks! Don't forget to add some buffer time between tasks in case things take longer than expected (because, let's face it, they always do).
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Task Dump: This is the fun part! Dump all your to-dos and tasks into the appropriate categories. Don't worry about perfect order just yet; we'll get to that later.
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Base Camp: Create a "miscellaneous" or "overflow" category for those tasks that don't fit neatly into any other category. You can always revisit these later and assign them a proper home.
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Schedule It: Now, take those categorized tasks and assign them specific time slots in your calendar. Be flexible and adjust as needed, but try to stick to your schedule as much as possible.
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- Don't overextend yourself, if you realistically only have 10 hours a week, divide this accordingly. Use your categories to divide on which one you want to spend the most time on. Ex: Personal Development- 2.5 hours.
What gets measured gets....
Use the easiest method for you when it comes to time tracking. Now days almost all the apps TMS, ERP's, PM's etc, have some sort of a tracking time integration. Take advantage of this useful tool.
At the start of your task category click on that time tracking and whisk away at your to do. Please ensure to eliminate other distractions (put yourself away in that useful airplane mode)
Review and Refine: At the end of each week (or day, if you're feeling ambitious), review your time blocking and make adjustments for the next week. What worked? What didn't? How many hours are you spending realistically on which category?
And if you want to be extra spicy, I would assign each category an enjoyment level. This will help you re-define when you are ready or if you are ready to add team members to work on what :)
The Time Budgeting Transformation
Time budget isn't just a scheduling hack; it's a mindset shift.
It's about taking control of your time, prioritizing what matters, and creating a life that aligns with your goals. It's about working smarter, not harder, and reclaiming your sanity in the process.
LISTEN: I am not against the hustle culture, completely: You have to put in the work for what you want, but how about we work on it and enjoy too.
So, are you ready to ditch the chaos and embrace the calm? Give time budgeting a try, and let me know how it transforms your business (and life!).
Who knows, you might just become a time-blocking preacher like me! 😉