Time Management

As a business owner, you have many tasks. One of the greatest challenges is finding time to do everything. You must manage your time well to succeed as a self-employed designer.

First of all get a calendar and put every meeting and event in it. Keep track of deadlines, because missing a deadline hurts your credibility.

Next, start a to-do list. Check things off as you complete them and add tasks as you think of them.

A regular routine can take some of the stress out of juggling the many roles you play. For example, every Friday afternoon, send out invoices for the work completed that week. Take a lunch break every day at the same time. Identify your most productive time of day and use it for your most challenging projects. Try to stack meetings within one day so your week is not chopped up into small chunks. Run other errands in between meetings while you are out.

Don't let work take over your personal life. Have office hours, but also have time for yourself and your family. Sometimes we have to work evenings or weekends, but doing that often creates an unbalanced life. Make time to exercise.

Amidst all the efficiency, leave some room to deal with emergencies or simply let your mind wander. Know your limit and don't take on more than you can handle. Don't make promises you can't keep. If you are too busy to take on a new project, be honest about it. An overstressed designer doesn't do her best work.

Time management is a lifelong struggle, and we constantly have to make adjustments and reset priorities. Be aware that you are in control, and make conscious decisions about how you spend your precious time.