As the holiday season winds down, entrepreneurs are eager to boost their productivity and excel in the upcoming business season. Responsible business leaders are seeking ways to enhance their performance, with Google searches for ‘productivity tips’ surging by 481% in the past month.
In light of this trend, we sat down to speak with Yaroslav Kologryvov, co-founder and CBDO of PLATMA to discuss the following five essential productivity hacks for entrepreneurs.
1. Block your time—and stick to your schedule
There are only so many hours in the day, so use them wisely. Many successful entrepreneurs swear by the Eisenhower Matrix, where tasks are divided based on whether they’re important, unimportant, urgent, or not urgent. You need to block time off on your calendar, set your Slack status to unavailable, and shut yourself away to focus on the tasks that matter most—and when last-minute meetings and unexpected requests inevitably arise, say no.
2. Make your meetings asynchronous
The average business leader spends 20 hours weekly in meetings, with two-thirds admitting it drains productivity. Thankfully, it’s no longer necessary to meet face-to-face or even in real-time. There’s a growing trend towards asynchronous meetings that rely on digital tools, such as messaging apps and collaboration platforms, to communicate and collaborate when convenient. Without constantly pausing to pick up another call, you will remain in your flow state and tackle your to-do list in no time.
3. Make full use of automation
Much of an entrepreneur’s time isn’t spent inventing and innovating, but performing routine tasks vital to keeping the business running smoothly. While artificial intelligence isn’t yet ready to run the workforce, it’s entirely possible to automate basic tasks such as inventory management, data processing, and customer service. Plus, with the rise of no-code platforms, it’s often just a case of typing out what you want, plugging in the application, and letting automation do its job—leaving you to focus on yours.
4. Reduce your hours and book a vacation
While many famous CEOs swear you need to work every waking hour to reach the top, it isn’t sustainable. Burnout catches up to everyone, especially early-stage entrepreneurs who take on the role of an entire team. While working less may seem counterproductive, more hours typically means less output. It’s estimated that those who work 40 hours are a third more productive than those who work 60 hours, so value your downtime and book a vacation while you’re at it.
5. Eliminate distractions—both physical and digital
It goes without saying: you need to set up your environment for success. A quiet, clutter-free workspace, free from distractions, will help you enter your flow state and stay there. However, the modern workplace also has its fair share of digital distractions. When you need to get on, put your phone away, silence your inbox, and consider installing distraction-blocking software to limit access to the apps and websites that take your attention away from work.
As you strive to improve your performance and skills, we hope these tips help you excel in your career without sacrificing work-life balance.
