Productivity Hacks For Business Owners
Running a business is no walk in the park. With endless tasks, meetings, and decisions to make, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. The good news is that there are ways to manage your time better and boost your productivity so you can accomplish more without burning out. We wanted to chat about a couple of things that we’ve found really useful in the hope that it will help you too!
In our post, Productivity Hacks for Business Owners, we’ll cover some practical tips for staying on top of your game, including how we use productivity app ‘Todoist’ to keep everything organised, and we’ll sprinkle in some wisdom from the book “Atomic Habits” by James Clear.
Embracing Software to Clear the Noise
As a business owner, there is so much to think about – all the time. A lot of entrepreneurs when starting out, make life even more difficult for themselves by keeping everything in their head. Their tasks, client work, life admin etc. Writing down everything you need to do – from work tasks, to renewing your gym membership is a game changer. It takes away all that noise in your head, and allows you to focus on building your business and finding that ‘work-life balance’ that’s always so important.
When we first started Pink Pine Media, we relied on Microsoft ToDo to keep track of our tasks. This was a very simple ‘add task, then tick off’ software. It was great, but as we’ve grown, we need something more comprehensive and easier to integrate into our daily lives. This was when we turned to ‘Todoist.’
Imagine having a personal assistant who keeps track of all your tasks, projects, and deadlines. This handy tool is like having a super-powered to-do list that makes organisation a breeze and helps you collaborate with your team and tick of tasks seamlessly. It is now a part of our daily life – with calendar integration and a phone screen widget making running a business SO much easier.
Why We Love Todoist
Easy Task Organisation
Breaking down your goals into manageable tasks is crucial. Todoist lets you create projects, set deadlines, and prioritise tasks so you always know what’s next on your list. With a list view, a calendar view and a board view, staying on top of tasks has never been easier.
We use the list view for our ‘today’ tasks, the calendar view to see what’s upcoming and then the board view for an overview of our projects. We have one board called ‘Pink Pine Media’ which we have split out into each section of our business. This gives us a really clear overview of everything we need to be thinking about. With due dates, reminders and task sharing with teams, it really is a fantastic tool! Check out our board layout below:
Never Miss a Beat
Recurring tasks are lifesavers for those routine activities you need to remember. Set them once, and Todoist will remind you when it’s time to get them done.
Calendar Integration
You can easily integrate Google Calendar into the app and set it up so that tasks that have due dates and times automatically get added to your calendar. Never miss a task again!
Smooth Collaboration
Got a team? Todoist lets you share projects, assign tasks, and chat within the app. It’s perfect for keeping everyone aligned and moving in the same direction.
Track Your Progress
Want to see how productive you’ve been? Todoist’s productivity dashboards give you a visual summary of your progress, helping you stay motivated and on track. For completing tasks etc within the app, Todoist gives you ‘Karma’ points. The more karma points you have, the more levels you reach. We love this tool as it’s a fun way to visualise how productive we’re being and it’s kind of like a game trying to reach the next level. We’re easily pleased!
Phone Widget
The final thing we love is the handy phone widget. Now, this may not be for everyone but having the ‘today’ tasks on your home screen can be a handy reminder when opening your phone, that you don’t have time to scroll through Instagram. By the end of the day, the aim is to have the widget empty – with all your tasks for the day completed.
Todoist helps us not just stay organised, but also stay connected and efficient. It’s a game-changer for managing the chaos of business life.
Building Lasting Habits with “Atomic Habits”
Organisation tools are fantastic, but developing rock-solid habits is the secret sauce for long-term productivity. In “Atomic Habits,” James Clear breaks down the science of habit formation. He shares actionable strategies for making small changes that lead to big results.
Nuggets of Wisdom from “Atomic Habits”
- Make It Obvious: Set clear goals and make the cues for your habits impossible to miss. A visible to-do list can serve as a constant reminder of what you need to accomplish.
- Make It Attractive: Pair habits with activities you enjoy. For example, if you dread your daily task review, try pairing it with your favourite coffee or a playlist that pumps you up.
- Make It Easy: Simplify your habits to lower the barrier to entry. Todoist’s user-friendly interface makes it easy to dive into your tasks and stay on track without much hassle.
- Make It Satisfying: Celebrate your wins! Todoist has built-in features like productivity streaks and achievement badges that make completing tasks feel rewarding and fun.
By applying these principles, you can turn productive actions into ingrained habits, making it easier to stick to your goals and keep your business running smoothly.
Parting Thoughts
Running a business can feel like a juggling act, but with the right tools and habits, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. We genuinely hope the productivity hacks for business owners we’ve shared will help you manage your time better and boost your productivity. Todoist is a fantastic tool to keep your tasks in check, and “Atomic Habits” provides the roadmap to building sustainable routines that can support your success.
We’d love to hear from you!
Have you implemented Todoist into your workflow, or have the habit strategies from “Atomic Habits” made a difference in your daily operations? Share your experiences with us – your feedback could inspire and help others on their journey to more organised and efficient business management.
Remember, the key to productivity isn’t just working harder, but working smarter. Happy organising, and we look forward to hearing your success stories!
