When you start or run a new business or you take on a new project when you’re already busy with work, it can be a challenge.
You might be looking to create your own new or part-time business alongside or instead of your current full-time job.
Have you
got time to build a new business or develop an idea? You’re already busy working on your current 'things'. You want to avoid having to work longer and longer hours, sacrificing even more time with family and friends.
You've signed up for a course or agreed to a piece of work. You know or realise you’re already busy but it was an opportunity too good to miss. Now you’re not sure where
you’re going to find the time. Especially when you have other priorities, like a family who needs your time too.
There's a sense of "I can squeeze it in somewhere", which may or may not be the best approach.
First work out how much time you have available to work on something
new. Between, before/after or around your current work.
What can you start, stop or change, to give you more time in the day. Check out a few of the ideas in a previous blog post - ‘How To Save An Hour A Day’.
Create time blocks in the week to 'get things done' on your new ‘thing’.
- Find an hour in the morning before work or in the evening after work before you switch off and relax.
- Set aside a few hours in a morning or afternoon or aim to work on it one day a week.
I block out time on Monday and Fridays for courses and new 'things'. Working on my business, writing and creating or updating my own courses, membership, worksheets, checklists and ebooks.
If you don't have time every week, block out half a day a couple of times a month.
Focus on the priorities for your new business
Identify important tasks to work on or decisions to
make to move your business/idea forward. Dig a little deeper to get to what’s really important.
- What’s important about this task/decision?
- How will this get me where I want to be?
- Is this task [A] more important than task [B]?
It’s easy to get carried away by enthusiasm and creativity. What’s going to get you the best, quickest results? File away other ideas for later.
Grow slowly and steadily. Better than going too fast or burning out, getting de-motivated and losing enthusiasm. Think tortoise and hare. They both get there in the end, just
at different times. When starting a new business, avoid a scattergun approach, going off in different directions. Focus on ONE thing. When that’s complete or in progress, move on to the next thing.
Scale back your workload to give more time to work on the new business. Work fewer hours and you’ll have more time for your new ‘thing’. Finish ‘on time’ and you could gain an
hour or two each day.
Take on fewer clients or focus on fewer projects. Spend that time on your new ‘thing’. This can be a bit of a balancing act, but it’s worth considering. Saying no, frees you up to say 'yes' to something new, more positive and a better fit.
Go with the
workflow. Certain times in the month or year are usually less busy giving you more time to work on something new. Beginning, end of the month, school holidays, start or end of the year.
Get support/outsource/automate. Get them to complete a few tasks to move your new business forward while you're busy elsewhere. It might only need a few hours to make a difference.
When money is limited, this might be a challenge.
However, it can be money well spent, especially if they can do it quicker. Spend your time on things only you can do. It’s worth investing in the short-term for the longer-term benefits and quicker results.
Be
realistic. There's only so much of you to go around, especially when you have other priorities in your life - family, friends, your physical and mental wellbeing. Avoid burning the candle at both ends and burning yourself out or ending up even more stressed, frustrated and overwhelmed. You're a priority too.
