In this day and age we’re all attached to our digital devices. We communicate with the, we use them to schedule appointments and we often strive to budget our finances and track our time with them too. Yet many people are not digital people.
It’s okay to prefer pen and paper or to keep a three ring binder with your budget rather than to use a mobile application. You don’t have to go digital and in fact you shouldn’t’ if it’s not intuitive. If you try to use digital means to track your time and to stay productive and you’re not following through and actually using the systems, then consider the fact that you may be a pen and paper person. Learn how to track your time the old fashioned way and regain control over your schedule.
Get a Calendar
The first step is to find a calendar system that you like. For example, there are day planners or weekly planners. You might prefer to use a combined system where you use Google calendar for example and then you print out your day and keep each day in a three ring binder. The system you create isn’t important. What is important is that it supports you. You want to be able to schedule your daily tasks so that you can systematically tend to them.
Create a System
When will you schedule your days? For example, some people recommend scheduling your entire upcoming week on Sunday evening. Other’s recommend scheduling your day the night before. Create a system that supports you to stay on top of your tasks. You might consider how you prefer to start or end your day. Do you like to start each day knowing exactly what you need to do or do you like time to plan your day each morning? If you’re not sure, experiment with a few different tactics.
Follow Through
The last step is to actually track your time. When you begin a task, note the time on your calendar. When you finish, note the time as well. At the end of the day, week, and month evaluate how much time you spend on particular tasks. This will help you create a more productive schedule. It will also help you identify where you may be losing time. As a business owner, this is powerful information.
Digital time tracking tools are wonderful, if you use them. There’s no shame in not being a digital person or not fully embracing every single application available to you. Focus on what works for you and create systems that support your success.