When January 1 adds an extra digit to the new year, don’t you wish it also added an extra hour to the day?  Alas, even in 2012, we will still only have 24 precious hours to complete all of our daily tasks—a tough chore for small-business managers who feel like they work in a whirlwind of activity, only to realize they’ve accomplished nothing on their to-do lists.  If that whirlwind is getting the better of you and your good intentions (and your last nerve), improving your time-management skills might be the key you need to unlock your maximum productivity.  You can’t invent time, but you can reinvent your 2012 calendar with these time-management tips:

• Identify where you waste time.  We all do it—Facebook here, personal e-mail there.  Before you know it, those little online check-ins have whittled away 1 of your precious 24 hours.  To prevent small time-wasters from turning into big ones, keep an activity log for the week.  Log every—yes, every—activity you perform and how long you spend doing it.  At the end of the week, you’ll get a good picture of how you’re actually spending your days, which is the first step toward improving your time management.
• Don’t let wait times equal wasted time.  Whether sitting in a conference room or idling at the gas station, part of each day will be spent waiting.  You can take back this otherwise wasted time!  Always have something on hand to work on, whether it’s replying to e-mails, reading expense reports, or planning out the next day’s activities.
• Organize your environment.  How much of your activity log did you spend looking for an e-mail your client sent you last month?  And does your secretary frequently hound you for signature folders lost under a mountain of paperwork?  If your time management is hindered by disorganization, take a moment to reorganize or to completely redo your filing systems.  A small investment now will be worth it in the end!
• Prioritize, prioritize, prioritize.  You did make a to-do list for the day, preferably at the end of the last workday, right?  Spend each morning looking at that list and prioritizing each item.  What must get done today?  What should get done today?  What could wait until tomorrow?  What could you delegate to someone else?  Set completion goals for the day’s tasks and stick to them.
• Set time limits.  This can be tough, especially for you perfectionists out there.  Assign a specific time limit to each task and don’t exceed it.  Preparing notes for tomorrow’s meeting?  Give yourself an hour to do the best job you can, and then move on.  Except for the most important projects, your schedule might not offer the luxury to work and rework a project.  Also set aside time in the morning and afternoon to check and answer pressing e-mails.  Checking messages all day can easily eat into time allotted to other critical tasks.

You can’t change time, but you can change how you manage it.  And where improving your time management can help you stay focused, it’s important to realize there will be days when even the most organized people don’t accomplish everything they meant to, so don’t get down on yourself!

Need an extra hour or dozen in your Human Resources Department?  If HR policies and procedures are getting the best of your company, consider looking to a professional HR consultant.  The friendly consultants at YES! Your Human Resources Solution can supplement your current HR team’s efforts and help steer your company toward its business goals and objectives.  From employee benefits, to staff training, to employment-law compliance, we have the right recommendations at the right time to keep your company operating at its best.  Take a look at our website to see what other great services we have to offer.  Then contact us for a free consultation to see how our team can help support your team in 2012!