For most entrepreneurs, life can get pretty chaotic. When things get messy, it’ll be hard for you to get things done. To stay more focused, work productively, and prioritize better, it’s important to organize yourself. Here are seven ways to do that:
1. Do a brain dump.
To “brain dump means” to get things out of your head and onto another storage – a more tangible medium such as a piece of paper. Set aside time to think, strategize, innovate, create, and write all of your thoughts down. Avoid doing this while working as it will throw you out of focus. You can write down your new business ideas and plans before office hours or after dinner. If you prefer an online tool instead of plain paper, I would suggest Workflowy.
2. Keep your workspace clutter-free
A messy office can waste your time. Imagine yourself forgetting where you placed an important file or a stapler and spending almost an hour to find it. A cluttered workspace can also be hard especially if you get easily distracted. Each time you end your workday, make it a habit to clean your table and put back office items where they belong. Clean your workspace and organize the office items to their right containers after working.
Read More: A Solopreneur’s Guide to Creating a Home Office (And Staying Productive)
3. Delegate menial things to a team that you trust.
Don’t do work that you can’t do well or don’t like doing. If there are people whom you can trust to perform these tasks, then delegate to them. The key is to only focus on entrepreneurial tasks that require your expertise that will move the business forward.
4. Set alarm for tasks.
A lack of reminders can lead to missed work. To prevent this from happening, set alarms. You can use any gadget like a phone, tablet or a computer to remind you of your task. Setting alarms will also help you have time for other areas of your business when you have a ton of things that also need your attention.
5. Stick with tools that work for you.
Trying to adapt to modern methods of working can be time-consuming. That’s because you’ll need to adjust to the use of such tools. Don’t be ashamed to stick to your old ways of doing things if they produce great results. For example, if you find writing in a journal instead of typing on your phone more convenient, don’t use your phone.
Read More: 10 Great Tools and Resources Every Solopreneur Needs
6. Plan your marketing campaigns in advance.
It’s no secret that planning a marketing campaign is one of the hardest business activities. But to achieve the business’ goal, it has to be done. The planning of marketing campaigns should be done months before a product launch. This gives a lot of time for improvements and adjustments before a product is launched.
7. Organize your passwords.
Keep your passwords in one location, may that be a page from your journal or a single file on your phone or computer. When you register to a site, immediately write or encode that password down along with your username. This will help you save time from remembering and trying to recover that password in case you forget it.
Another way to save passwords and log in automatically to connect your accounts to your Google account. Just be vigilant enough to not have that device with the Google account stolen and easily accessed.
Trying to be an organized entrepreneur can be tough at the beginning. To become an organized entrepreneur, start practicing all the 7 strategies above as soon as possible. Also, keep a “Time is Gold” mindset and always reflect on how you’re spending your time at work and outside.
