I recently sold my software company and have now started multiple new companies. People always want to know how I have so much time and how I get so much done. They think I don’t sleep! But I definitely sleep, so that isn’t the answer!
I wasn’t always this way. It has been a slow change in my life over several years, so after you read my tips, don’t feel like you have to go cold turkey on things that are absorbing your time without giving you results. Make small changes now that you feel comfortable with, and when you are ready, add new changes on top of them. This will also help prevent you from falling back into those time-consuming vices. Read on to learn about the top 8 things that help me become a productivity powerhouse:
Here are my tips on getting so much done in a day:
1. Turn off the TV. TV is a huge time suck. If I watch something on Netflix, it is because I physically and mentally have nothing else to give for the day, and it is rare that I even do it then. Instead, when I’m exhausted, I meditate and go to bed. Sleep is very important to me.
2. Limit social media. For me, social media is a must with Cooking with my Friends. My time on social media is specifically used for work. If you find yourself on there for hours watching and scanning photos, it’s time to put your phone away.
3. Listen to podcasts or audio books while doing mundane tasks like washing dishes, folding clothes, and putting on makeup. I also listen to them while driving, even if it is a short distance. Those minutes add up! My favorites are Her Story of Success and How I Built This.
4. Value your time. Be abrupt if someone is wasting your time (as I said, those minutes add up). You don’t have to be rude about it, but your time is valuable. Be selective with the calls, meetings, lunches, dinners, happy hours, (you fill in the blank) — both personally and for business.
5. Get sleep. When I’m tired, I am not able to fully function during the day, so it is important that I get my rest. Sometimes it is hard for my brain to slow down — there are always a million things that I want to get done, new ideas that come to me, and thoughts about my next day — so I started meditating before bed. This helps my mind slow down so I can fall asleep quickly. It takes practice, so don’t give up after just a week of trying meditation. There are great apps that teach you how to do it when you are getting started. I like Headspace, but there are plenty of other apps for your phone.
6. Unpopular Opinion: Don’t meal prep. I loathe meal prepping. It overwhelms me to have to cook that much food in a day. Instead, I make simple dishes with a few ingredients and cook enough to have leftovers for one more meal. This way I always have food in the fridge but don’t get overwhelmed having to cook a ton at once. I also keep frozen vegetables so prep time is quicker on days when I get home late.
7. Stop trying to do everything by yourself. For one thing, I am not good at everything and I don’t find joy in doing everything. I outsource things that I’m not good at, don’t give me joy, or don’t give me quality time with my family. I have a great team of people who help me execute these things every day. If you are a small business owner, even hiring an admin a few hours a week can open up your time to work on your business instead of in your business.
8. Organize your life (and businesses) with a project management system. I like using Asana but there are other popular ones out there. You can read my blog here. You can also download our free ebook here.
These are the things that have helped me manage my time, be able to get a lot done, and stay on top of everything I have to do. I hope something in here helps you!
Alane Boyd is a contributing writer to Her Story of Success. Alane has co-founded the startup, BGBO Co, a business consulting company that helps business owners achieve their biggest goal and overcome their biggest obstacle. She is the CEO & Founder of Heart Mind Soul + Me, a company that brings together products that inspire people. Alane is also the Director of 100 Girls of Code a non-profit, which empowers girls to go into STEM. You can follow her story at alaneboyd.com and on Instagram @the_hurricanealane and @cookingwithmyfriendsofficial.
