It’s not enough to be busy, so are the ants. The question is, what are we busy about? – Henry David Thoreau

Time is your most valuable asset when starting a business. The amount of time dedicated to transitioning from 9-5 to full-time entrepreneur comes secondary to the way you spend that time. How you spend your time can make a difference in how quickly you will see results from your business.

Here are tips to find more time in your day and use it effectively to grow your side hustle:

Wake Up Earlier/Go to Bed Later

According to the National Sleep Foundation, young adults (18-25) and adults (26 to 64) need about 7-9 hours of sleep daily.  That leaves 9 hours outside of your 8 hour work day to manage for optimal results. That’s longer than the amount of time you spend at work! Getting a steady sleep schedule will leave you more energized for your day and make it easier to wake up. If you’re an early bird, try sleeping from 11pm to 6am. If you are a night out, try 1am to 8am.  

Collaborate to Get The Job Done Faster

Strategic collaborations can mean time saved. When two people are working together to do a task they are both skilled in, the time to complete the task can be drastically reduced. Alternatively, if writing a blog post takes you 6 hours, but you know it can be done in 2 -consider outsourcing or contracting the task to someone else. This type of collaboration is not necessarily interactive or direct, so be sure to give specific, detailed instructions for your desired results.

Respect the Clock (and its alarm)

The clock is there as a tool to help you stay on track with your task. When it’s time to start a new tasks, start immediately. Don’t procrastinate. Do the same when it’s time to move on to a new task. Whatever you do: stay on task.  There are apps like Pomodoro and Cold Turkey that can help you.  Give yourself a set time to complete a tack and eliminate distractions. Stay away from Youtube, emails, your phone, and social media unless it is contributing to your business. 

Plan Your Tasks Daily

Spend every morning (or night) creating tasks + schedule for the day. Pick the right tasks based on strategy and goals you have for that week. Because you are building a business each task should be tied back to increased revenue or decreased expenses.

Stay Away from the “Big No-No’s” 

1. Don’t say yes to every request. In the beginning saying “yes”  is easier than saying “no” to co-workers, friends, family, and neighbors that might ask you for assistance. Every time you say yes, you are committing your time to that person, possibly significantly cutting the time you have dedicated to your hustle.   

2. Don’t be a perfectionist. You can get lost spending too much time trying to get one thing perfect. Quality is important, but perfectionism will detour your day.