With the start of a new year, here are #10things you can do to improve your productivity in 2015!
- Wake up with an alarm clock—preferably not your phone. If you start the day with your phone; e-mails, texts and social media can sabotage your focus before you’ve even left your bed.
- Make a list of everything you want to accomplish each week. Assign every task a due date. Be realistic and block out the time you need for commuting, errands, exercise and paying bills.
- Regular meetings are a great way to connect and improve the teams’ skills. Set your spa’s training and meeting calendar for the year so everyone can plan on attending. A typed agenda adds validity to meetings and helps everyone follow the training. Tip: Remember to celebrate victories to make meetings more enjoyable.
- When updating social media, quickly create your post, respond to comments and then sign off. Create a calendar or time limit around social media updates to keep you on schedule for the course of the day.
- Improve your workspace. Remove clutter, update your desk chair, paint the walls and treat your office to a deep cleaning.
- Turn off phone notifications when working on projects. If you’re constantly being updated with Instagram, Facebook and e-mail notifications you’ll be tempted to get off track. Turn the Wi-Fi off and give yourself the time you need to complete a task.
- Be aware of how you are spending your time by tracking task items in your digital or written calendar. Do you have systems and checklists in place? Is there a way to make these responsibilities more efficient?
- Train your team and vendors on your systems. This way, you can delegate tasks and stay productive.
- Bookmark articles in a file, or on your phone or tablet. When you have downtime waiting in line at appointments or stores, you can read up on industry news and events.
- Mix work and pleasure. Find like-minded people and create your own networking groups. Spending time with people who are growing a business like you will be inspiring, fun and productive! Why not grow your business and your social circle?
Founder and owner of the San Francisco Institute of Esthetics and Cosmetology since 2002, Deedee Crossett is an industry pioneer for raising the bar of undergraduate education for cosmetologists and estheticians. She can be reached at www.facebook.com/deedee.crossett and Twitter @DeedeeCrossett #10things.
