Time Is The New Currency
"Unfortunately, the concept of "work-life balance" is often elusive, and we must define what it looks like for ourselves."
There are 24 hours in a day. We sleep for about 8 hours, spend another 8 at our 9-5 jobs or working on our businesses if we’re full-time entrepreneurs, and the remaining 8 hours are often filled with family dinners, household chores, spending time with kids, taking care of pets, and working on side hustles. For many of us, this routine leads to burnout.
If this resonates with you, you're not alone. Unfortunately, the concept of "work-life balance" is often elusive, and we must define what it looks like for ourselves. Once we have a clear vision, the next step is to bring it to life by maximizing our time. Below are my top three strategies for doing just that:
1. Delegate & Automate
If you have a team, get them involved. Delegate tasks to reduce your workload. Delegation not only lightens your load but also shows your team that you trust them and gives them more responsibility. While it can be hard to "let go," it’s essential for growth.
Automation is another powerful tool for saving time. There are countless tools leveraging AI and machine learning that can automate mundane tasks, freeing up your time. While not everything should be automated, focus on tasks that are time-consuming or repetitive, such as scheduling meetings, managing social media, or following up with customers.
2. Time Blocking
Time blocking is a great way to dedicate uninterrupted time to specific tasks. It requires discipline and accountability, but it’s worth it. I recommend focusing on three main goals for the week, then breaking them down into specific tasks. This makes it easier to create time blocks for each task.
For example, if your goal is to bring on a new customer this week, supporting tasks might include following up on leads, creating a newsletter, or attending a networking event. You can then dedicate small time blocks each day to these activities, moving you closer to your goal.
3. Saying "No"
This is the most effective way to save time and energy. We often say "yes" when we should be saying "no." In my first two years of business, I said "yes" too often—to underpaid projects, bad customer terms, and unrealistic deadlines. I thought more work meant more progress, but it led to stress, strained relationships, and burnout.
Learning to say "no" changed everything. It starts with recognizing your value and evaluating the return on investment (ROI) for each "yes." ROI doesn’t always mean money—it could be exposure, opportunities, or connections. The key is balancing short-term and long-term ROI and knowing when to prioritize one over the other.
These are my top three tactics for maximizing time. Now that you’ve read this, which strategies will you implement in your business today? If you still feel stuck after trying them, feel free to SCHEDULE time with me to figure out where your time and focus should be.
Also, attached is a time tracker to help you organize and plan your week. Remember, time is of the essence!
Sean Banks, is a Virginia-based business coach and writer. He recently joined the Marketing Junto editorial team to help provide some actionable content for our readers. Find out more and get schedule a discovery call with Sean and his team.
