Time is something that I seam to either have too much or too little of. No matter how much I try to manage it, and set my up a daily/weekly/general schedule, something happens.

Now… I’m not going to let that stop me from pushing on and finding a way that works for me! Starting a small business means having to be a self-starter, which can be difficult for me. But I have found ways to keep me pushing forward with my work.

1. HARD DEADLINES

For me, I am way more successful when I know exactly when the design/product is needed by!

When I take on any new project, I always make sure to ask “When do you need this by?” or “When would you like to have this by?” These types of questions allow me to put a deadline on my calendar.

In the past, I have ran across the problem of clients saying things such as “I’m in no hurry,” or “Whenever you can get it back to me is fine.” And pretty much every time, I kept pushing those projects off. I then had to apologize over and over again, because I just kept forgetting about it. So even if people don’t need the work immediately, I ask them to give me a date that I can strive for anyway!

2. DEPOSITS

Another thing that helps me is to be partially paid before I start any work! “Money makes the world go round,” or so the saying goes. Money is a another concrete motivator for me. By having my clients pay a deposit up front, helps to push me to complete their work!

I typically ask for anywhere from 10-50%, depending on what it is! This also allows me to make any necessary purchases, without worrying about cash flow.

For the most part, the deposit is non-refundable. However, if there is a delay in production due to my own carelessness and/or personal problems arising, I have been known to make exceptions.

3. POST-IT NOTES

And I mean a ton of them! I’ve been known to have my entire computer monitor lined with little notes to myself! Post-its are in your face. It is hard to ignore a physical piece of paper. Phone reminders can be hidden and pushed aside.

Things I write on post-its:

•  Urgent due dates
• Changes that need to be made to a design
• Lists of things I need to accomplish
• Anything else I don’t want to forget

My post-its have saved my butt so many time! I personally prefer white post-its, but you could even color code yours if you wanted!

4. PHYSICAL CALENDAR

Why virtual/digital calendars and schedules are great for some things, I have found that physically writing out my due dates, and planning out my weeks to come, has helped me stay better on track. Sometimes I will utilize a combination of digital and physical, but tend to put more energy in maintaining my calendars I can see!

ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES

These are just the few things I do to help myself! There are a ton of tools out there that can help with time-management!

For me, I NEED physical, in-your-face reminders of what to do next. I do utilize some digital tools as well, but I tend to ignore those more than the hard copies.

I hope you are able to find something that works for you, as I have done for myself!

Featured Photo by Lukas Blazek on Unsplash