Being a solopreneur means wearing many hats, and usually all at the same time. Sales, marketing, networking, admin, and financial management. You have to take care of it all.
Yet, multitasking has been proven to kill productivity by as much as 40%, and even lower IQ, Forbes reports. Fortunately, by implementing smart ways to boost your productivity, you can be strategic with your time and accomplish far more in a day than you’re used to.
By automating with AI tools, investing in the right business insurance, and practicing effective time-management techniques, for example, you’ll boost productivity, efficiency, and achieve more in less time.
Automate with AI tools
AI tools are every solopreneur’s best friend. They can take care of routine tasks automatically without you having to lift a finger. In particular, programmers who used AI were found to be able to code 126% more projects in a week, while entrepreneurs were able to write 59% more business documents per hour thanks to AI.
So, try using AI tools to automate repetitive and time-consuming tasks. For instance, Zapier, Kissflow, Bardeen, and Make can automate your workflow and free up your time, so you can focus on more important activities.
Zapier, in particular, can integrate with over 5,000 apps. You can use it to connect your email with Slack, for instance, so all your incoming emails are sent to whichever Slack channel you choose. This makes it far easier to stay on top of your comms throughout the day.
Tools like Zapier can also write your to-do lists for you. It can scan your emails for specific actions (like bill payment reminders or client requests), and add these tasks to your chosen task manager.
So, when you next check your to-do list, these tasks will already be itemized and ready for you to tick them off.
Don’t neglect insurance
It may not be the first thing that comes to mind when looking for a productivity boost, but getting business insurance can save you a lot of time, hassle, and stress later down the line.
Small business insurance will cover the costs in the event something unexpected happens to your operations: a defective product, an unhappy client, property theft, or a sub-contractor getting injured.
So, you can continue to focus on your day-to-day work with peace of mind that any claim you make will be processed as fast as possible.
So, take time to get the right small business insurance for your needs. Business insurance isn’t one-size-fits all. You can pick and choose the policies that suit your specific needs without having to purchase each one separately. This is another time-saving win.
Be sure to shop around and read the terms and conditions of various quotes and policies. It’s important you have a solid understanding of everything you’ll be covered for, as well as what you won’t be covered for. With the right insurance, you’ll be prepared for whatever life throws at you as a hardworking solopreneur.
Master time-management techniques
Time blocking is a simple yet effective time-management technique that involves breaking up your working day into “chunks”, each used to complete different tasks.
Time blocking can help you focus on one specific task at a time, without you getting distracted by other responsibilities and spreading your focus too thin.
So if you’re prone to task-hopping, time blocking can be a useful tool that helps you stay on track with your to-do list.
There’s also the Pomodoro Technique — a time-management hack designed to help you stay focused and get the most work done in the time available to you.
To try this technique, first select a specific task you want to complete, set your timer for 25 minutes, and get to work.
Once the timer ends, you can take a short break (about five minutes). Then, repeat these steps four more times. You can then take a well-deserved half hour break.
The Pomodoro Technique is effective as the time limit puts you under pressure and motivates you to really focus and get the work done in this time.
You no longer feel like you have the whole day to get around to doing something, which inevitably leads to procrastination.
Rather, you know you have just a short 25-minute window to make as headway on the set task as you can. In turn, you can improve your concentration and accomplish way more in less time.
Finding smart ways to boost productivity and maximize your time can help you stay focused and motivated as a solopreneur.
Automating with AI, getting the right business insurance, and mastering time-management techniques can help you crush your to-do list and stay on top of your game no matter how busy you get.