Time Management Lessons from a Busted Phone

My phone died a slow, horrible death a couple of months ago . . . and I let it happen. I didn’t make any fast plans for a replacement. Was it inconvenient? Sure. Did the world end? Well, not yet. 

I’ve had a new project under the hood for a few months now, but I didn’t believe I had the time to implement it. In truth, I had fallen victim to old bad habits, and my phone was a major culprit. I was progressively wasting valuable time—time that could be used to restart my e-commerce business.

The destruction of my miniature sized laptop revealed a gaping time suck. 

Time Sucks During Your Day

A study by a coaching firm a few years back found that up to 21.8 hours of your work week is wasted. You might be thinking, “Hold up! I’m busy. I do not waste time!” Calm down a sec. Let’s define “wasted time.”

Wasted time can look like:

• Spending excessive time on low-business activities (e.g., answering calls) = 6.8 hours

• Escapism (e.g., watching YouTube videos, checking social media, etc.) = 3.9 hours

• Checking/responding to low-value emails = 3.4 hours

• Low-value interruptions = 3.2 hours

• Hours spent “putting out fires = 1.8 hours

Admittedly, the data above focused on business managers who had a staff. What if you have zero staff or a single employee? That means you need to be hyper aware of how much time you spend on low-value tasks and mindless escapism.

Your Phone, the Deceptive Device of Fake Productivity

My busted phone made my time blackholes evident. I was increasingly wasting time on YouTube and social media. I was doing busy “stuff”—posting for business, researching, etc.—but I wasn’t defining my tasks, nor was I keeping the time I spent contained. In other words, my time waste was spreading out and taking over my schedule.

But, I want to keep this newsletter focused on the mini-laptop in our hands. It is ever present, which makes it far too easy to access. I don’t use my phone while I work, but I used it excessively during “downtime.” My downtime was spent completing tasks for my business: 

• Organizing

• Ordering supplies

• Watching videos for research 

• General planning of my business

• Checking personal social media during day

• Using my phone as a pedometer to get in steps

One low-value task morphed into another until hours were swallowed up. Busy all day long with very little accomplished. 

So, I made a plan for my new phone:

• No social media apps

• No email access

• Set a timer

• And I bought an actual pedometer

It’s the incidental waste of time that we disregard. I know I did. And it’s those incidental minutes—twenty minutes here, 30 minutes there—that grow into consequential hours.

I’m not policing my time, optimizing the enjoyment right out of my day. However, I’m aware that the hour spent watching a video on how to do something is much different than an hour doing it. The hour I spend writing this newsletter to help someone I know is reading it is much different than posting to a void.

Your goal, like mine, is to make an impact with your business. Every hour that “gets away” from you is an hour you’re not solving a problem for your customer or client.

I try not to take my use of time lightly, but bad habits do creep in. Remember, the first step is being aware. Once you’re aware, you can do something about it.

It took my phone’s demise to bring my attention to my deeply rooted bad habit. The root of my phone mismanagement is . . . struggle. When I struggle to solve a problem I am conditioned to reach for my phone. I can research a solution and distract myself.

Do you find your time on low-value tasks spreading out like an amoeba? Do you lose time returning calls, checking emails, researching? Do you ever say to yourself, “Where did the time go?”

If you don’t manage your time, your time will manage you. I preach this regularly, and even I fall victim.

My Final Word: Start Negotiating Quietly Today

Your To-Do: I talk about time audits frequently, but I want you to specifically do a phone use audit. Start by mindfully considering the questions below.

Phone Use Audit:

• Do you use your phone for business?

• What business do you conduct using your phone?

• Does each task (using your phone for business) result in business growth (e.g., new clients, closed deals, etc.)?

• Monitor each task: Must you use your phone or can you use your laptop?*

• Are you disciplined with how much time you spend “doing business” on your phone?

*People often say, “I can use my laptop, but It’s more convenient to use my phone.” Convenience is the thief of mindfulness.

You define your day, and how you define your day defines your life. Are you spending your hours in a manner that forms a life you love, a life lived on your terms?

If you want more information on how to manage your time better, watch my playlist on YouTube: Time Management for Solopreneurs & Side Hustlers

Join CONNECT-collective on YouTube and LinkedIn!

I would love to have you as part of the CONNECT-collective community on our other platforms. If you are a solopreneur or entertaining starting your own solo business, I invite you to check out CONNECT-collective on YouTube!\ and LinkedIn! I talk about starting solo businesses to escape your 9-5 while avoiding burnout. I would love to see you there!

Have a Question or Want to Suggest a Topic?

I am here for you. If you have a question, want to suggest a topic, or just want to say, “Hello!” I would love to hear from you. Send me an email at [email protected]

Sending you all Peace, Love, & Harmony!

-Michele

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