Are you a small business owner? Do you feel like you don't have enough time to get everything done that you need to get done? Are your days filled with meetings, emails and other distractions? As a small business owner myself, I know that feeling very well.

In such a situation, all you need to do is implement some effective time management strategies. Below I'll share six of my favorite tips for managing your time more effectively so that you can spend more time doing what matters most: working on growing your business and enjoying life outside of work!

Eliminate Distractions

One of the most important time management strategies is to focus on the core activities of the business and eliminate all the distractions. To eliminate distractions, follow these tips:

  • Turn off notifications. The constant beeps and chimes of your phone and computer can be a huge distraction to your productivity. Turn off the notifications so that you only see them when you want to, not when they pop up on their own.
  • Close email when you're done with it. When I'm working on something important, I shut down my email program so that I'm not tempted to check it while working on other things (and ending up getting distracted). If you don't want to turn off your email entirely, at least set an auto-reply message saying that you'll get back in touch with people later--and then stick with it!
  • Turn off TV during work hours unless there's nothing else available for entertainment (or if watching TV helps motivate). You might find yourself getting distracted by commercials or plotlines which could lead into long conversations about shows with friends later in the day instead of focusing solely on what needs done right now!

Delegate Tasks

The first step to delegation is figuring out what you can delegate. The answer is not "everything," but there are some tasks that are better suited for an assistant or freelancer than they are for you as the owner of a small business.

For example, if your company has a blog and social media accounts that need updating regularly, consider outsourcing this work to someone who has experience with those platforms and knows how to make them effective tools for marketing your brand.

Understandably, it can be difficult to let go of tasks that feel like part of the job description--but even if it feels counterintuitive at first (you're used to being in control!), delegating will actually save time overall since it frees up more time for strategic thinking about long-term goals rather than day-to-day details like answering emails or writing copy for an ad campaign.

Once you've decided which responsibilities could benefit from being assigned elsewhere, look around at all available resources: friends who might want part-time work; former colleagues with relevant skills; people whose businesses overlap with yours (for example, someone who works as both an accountant and graphic designer).

Look into hiring freelancers through websites like Upwork or Freelancer; these platforms connect clients with talented professionals across multiple industries so they don't have spend months looking through Craigslist ads themselves!

Use Calendar Reminders

Calendar reminders are a great tool for managing your time. You can use them to remind yourself of meetings, appointments and other events that are coming up in your schedule.

You can set calendar reminders to happen at a specific time or at a specific location--for example, when you arrive at work each morning or when you park in front of the store where your appointment is scheduled.

You can also set up recurring calendar reminders so they pop up on your phone every week or month (for example: "Call mom!").

Automate Tasks

Time Management Strategies

One of the most effective time management strategies is automating tasks, which can be done in a number of ways. A few examples are:

  • Use a to-do list app like Todoist or Any.do (both are free and available for both Android and iOS). Set reminders on your phone or computer so that you don't forget about important items on your agenda; this will help keep them from falling through the cracks as well as ensure that they're not forgotten at work when they need to be completed by their due date.
  • Use calendars such as Google Calendar or Microsoft Outlook Calendars (both free) so that all of your appointments are visible in one place rather than having them scattered throughout various documents or emails--and always keep an eye out for new ones!
  • If there's something specific coming up soon (like a meeting), set an email filter so that these emails get sent directly into another folder so they won't clutter up your inbox while also allowing them easy access when needed later down the road.

Break Projects Into Tasks And Tasks Into Subtasks

The last tip on our list of effective time management strategies is breaking down your major activities into smaller chunks. It's important to break up large projects into smaller, more manageable tasks. When you do this, it will be easier for you to schedule the work in your calendar and get it done on time.

You can also delegate some of these tasks to other people on your team so they can take some of the pressure off of yourself. This strategy is especially helpful when trying to manage time effectively as a small business owner.

Final Thoughts

With these time management strategies tips in mind, you'll be able to manage your time more efficiently and free up some much-needed hours. You may even find that you have enough time to do something nice for yourself!