How Do You Stay Productive as an Entrepreneur?

When you’re running a business, there’s always something else you could be doing.

Emails need answering. Clients need attention. Administrative work piles up. New ideas compete with unfinished tasks.

Being busy can happen almost automatically.

Being productive requires more intention.

So, how do you stay productive as an entrepreneur when everything feels important?

Decide What Actually Needs Your Attention

A long to-do list doesn’t necessarily mean you’re making progress.

Before beginning your day, identify the few things that would make the biggest difference if they were completed.

Ask yourself:

What needs to happen today?

What can wait?

What am I doing simply because it’s become a habit?

Prioritizing gives your day direction before other people’s requests begin determining your schedule.

Create Different Spaces for Different Types of Work

Your environment can influence how you work.

If you’re trying to write a proposal while sitting somewhere you normally watch television, answer personal calls, or handle household responsibilities, staying focused can become more difficult.

Creating some separation between different types of work can help.

That might mean working from a dedicated home office, using a coworking space for focused work, reserving a meeting room for client conversations, or simply changing environments when you need to think differently.

Build Breaks Into Your Workday

Productivity doesn’t mean working continuously.

Stepping away can help you return with better focus, especially during long or demanding days.

Take a walk. Stretch. Have lunch away from your computer. Exercise for a few minutes.

This is also why the environment around your workspace matters. At MakerSpace, for example, members have access to a wellness studio with equipment that provides another way to step away, move, and reset during the workday.

Create Systems for Repetitive Work

If you’re constantly solving the same problem, it may be time to create a system.

Templates, automated reminders, scheduling tools, documented processes, and designated times for recurring tasks can reduce the number of decisions you have to make every day.

The goal isn’t to automate everything.

It’s to create enough structure that you have more energy available for the work that actually requires you.

Productivity Isn’t About Doing Everything

Some days will be incredibly productive. Others won’t.

The goal isn’t to finish everything on your list every day.

It’s to consistently create an environment, routine, and set of systems that help you focus on the work that moves your business forward.

Sometimes working smarter begins with something as simple as asking:

What would make it easier for me to do my best work today?

— Team MakerSpace