If time is money, what constitutes effective time management? It is simple: it is a crucial approach to consider how you operate your firm. However, time management is not always simple. It is completely normal to establish ambitious time management objectives only to have them evaporate as reality sets in. Thus, a virtual assistant comes into play. A virtual assistant, or remote assistant, may do a range of duties to help you improve your time management abilities. In addition to taking calls and responding to emails, they may step in when you need to concentrate on the most important business tasks.

Whether you are a C-suite executive who wants more hours in the day or an entrepreneur that needs to develop, time management skills are essential. In light of this, we have compiled a handbook outlining the critical time management skills you must practice with your VA.

Before we begin, let’s examine some of the most important lessons from this resource:

• Change doesn’t happen overnight. Be tolerant of the procedure. Your efforts to manage your time may not result in a fully efficient system within two days. But the effort will pay off in the end. And as you progress, the time and energy you save will justify the expenditures you have made.
• You’ll find more long term success and growth. Always establish good time management practices as early as possible. You will have the procedures in place to efficiently manage your company’s expansion when additional virtual assistants and new staff are added.
• You won’t just help yourself. Certainly, it is nice to reduce the stress associated with getting home after a twelve-hour workweek. But time management is much more than what it can do for you. Learning how to manage your time with the aid of a virtual assistant may provide you with more time to make important business decisions. It will also free up time for you to spend with loved ones.

Your Core Goals: Restoring Freedom, Building Efficiency, and Maintaining Sanity

Everyone must acknowledge that they are stressed. With bad time management practices and no virtual assistant to simplify our lives, we are often unable to cope. You should see time management as more than a business buzzword. It must be a top priority. It may help you claim more of the freedom that prompted you to choose the route you did. And regardless of where you are in your company, it never hurts to increase your productivity by optimizing the use of your day.

Let’s keep these objectives in mind while we examine some essential time management approaches.

What is time management?

Everyone must acknowledge that they are stressed. With bad time management practices and no virtual assistant to simplify our lives, we are often unable to cope. You should see time management as more than a business buzzword. It must be a top priority. It may help you claim more of the freedom that prompted you to choose the route you did. And regardless of where you are in your company, it never hurts to increase your productivity by optimizing the use of your day.

Let’s keep these objectives in mind while we examine some essential time management approaches.

Tips for Making Time Management Work for You

Below are some crucial time management tactics for maximizing the use of a virtual assistant. But before we begin, let’s add a few fundamental guidelines that can aid you along the way:

• Prioritization. Prioritizing your to-do list is an innovative time management technique. Your first task of the day should be the one with the highest priority. Your second priority should be your second-highest priority, etc. When you approach your day in this manner, you will automatically have less tension by the afternoon.
• Use SMART goals in interacting with your VA. Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Bound are the SMART criteria. Ensure that the tasks you set for your virtual assistant correspond to each of these criteria; otherwise, the assignments may be too unclear.
• Find where your results are coming from. Utilize the Pareto Principle: in most firms, you’ll discover that a minority of activities produce the majority of outcomes. How can you increase these activities with a virtual assistant while reducing the low-yield operations that are not boosting your business?
• Break big tasks into small, achievable chunks. Hiring a virtual assistant is a terrific way to tackle large jobs. However, if you discover that the bigger objectives you want to achieve are overwhelming, break them down into smaller milestones so you can track your progress without feeling overwhelmed.
• Start “chunking” your time. As you’ll see in the first skill below, eliminating distractions is one of the most effective strategies to avoid wasting time. The particular reasons for this will be discussed later. However, here is how you may begin implementing this adjustment immediately: Instead of spending five minutes on one task before going on to the next, divide your time into “chunks.” Focused, distraction-free time is wisely spent because it generates momentum.
• Make your new habits a routine. It’s excellent if you read this guide and implement these suggestions for a day. You have not really grasped the promise of time management abilities, however, unless you can develop a method for keeping the habits constant. Set reminders on your calendar to help you stay on target, and convert these acts into regular routines.

Time Management Skill #1: Eliminating Distractions

Most of us see interruptions as a minor annoyance. Science indicates otherwise. No, it does not indicate that distractions are innocuous difficulties that do not interfere with our everyday jobs; in fact, the opposite is true. Distractions are capable of derailment. If you want to maximize your productivity, minimizing these interruptions should be one of your top goals.

Consider that, according to some research, a single distraction may result in a 23-minute recovery period before you can return to your original task. This implies that if you’re in a “flow” state at 10:00 a.m. and you get briefly distracted, it may take you till the end of the hour to return to that condition, by which point you’ve already wasted a significant amount of time.

How do you reduce distractions with a virtual assistant?

Here are some suggestions:

• Have your VA manage your schedule to block off large chunks of working time. If you delegate control of your schedule to a virtual assistant, make sure they understand the importance of uninterrupted time to you. Avoid scheduling meetings too close to this time.
• Have your VA take phone calls on your behalf. Keeping your phone close by as you work may seem like a terrific way to stay “connected.” But even if you need the phone for emergencies, you may have a virtual assistant answer your calls and just forward those that are actually urgent to you. Training your VA to distinguish between the two allows you to focus even more of your attention on the most important activities at hand.
• Outsource your least-favorite jobs. You may avoid distractions by not thinking about your least preferred business duties. Take Twitter as an example: if you discover anything in your job that might make a fantastic tweet, you have just gotten distracted. Certainly, you have shared something helpful on Twitter, but you cannot get that time back. But if you outsource the scheduling of your social media accounts to a virtual assistant, you can continue with your job knowing that your social media accounts are in good hands.

Time Management Skill #2: Find Your Most Productive Time

Are you a night owl that needs time in the morning to get going? Or are you more productive in the small hours of the morning? For this talent, you must have a thorough understanding of yourself. You will need to determine your most productive period and then have your virtual assistant assist you in scheduling your life around that time.

For instance, many of us experience a “post-lunch slump.” Typically in the afternoon, this is the time of day when we would rather take a siesta than work. If you struggle with this time of day, your VA may be able to assist you with scheduling: they may be able to schedule around it, handle some of your less mentally demanding tasks, or just relocate your lunch.

This needs a degree of delegating responsibilities. Your VA cannot be of assistance unless they have access to your calendar and some say over your schedule. However, it is not an issue. You may always override your VA if you believe they’ve made a poor choice on your behalf; you can then use this as a chance to give them constructive criticism for the future.

Time Management Skill #3: Becoming More Efficient With Your Scheduling

Scheduling your time involves more than simply blocking everything out. It is also about making the process itself more efficient. For this purpose, it is advantageous if your virtual assistant can use solutions that make it simple for you to arrange new customers, not to mention follow up with individuals.

A VA that has managed schedules in the past should be able to apply the tactics they’ve learnt to your personal schedule.

Here are a few scheduling alternatives that might help you become more efficient:

• Tools for to-do lists. Perhaps the issue is not scheduling so much as the lack of a timetable in the first place. Many company owners and entrepreneurs have been able to arrive at the workplace at a certain hour, approach their day randomly, and then hope for the best. You believe that with sufficient effort, you can get through the day and attain your goals. However, a VA can assist you in generating a prioritized to-do list and assigning tasks to support your day.
• Tools for scheduling and communication. Tired of telephone tag? A VA is an excellent resource for scheduling meetings with other individuals so that you never have to deal with it yourself. However, there are other scheduling and communication tools that can help you become more productive throughout the day.
• Implement CRM. Customer relationship management software is essential for keeping track of all of your clients and will also help you manage your time more effectively. Be ready to transfer some authority to your virtual assistant so that they may handle contacts, follow up with customers, and manage other aspects of your company that would consume a substantial amount of your time if you did not have a VA..

Time Management Skill #4: One Thing at a Time

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was renowned for his ability to create many pieces at once; it appeared he constantly had multiple compositions in the works, and he always produced masterpieces. Why then, can’t you?

First, Mozart is something of a natural anomaly. But you should also note that these anecdotes of Renaissance guys are not necessarily the best way to develop your own strategy for doing tasks. When it comes to effective time management, you should focus on one task at a time.

Several of the behaviors we’ve discussed before will aid you in this area. For instance, developing a list of tasks is one of the best ways to become more efficient. By tackling a to-do list one item at a time, you eliminate “many irons in the fire” distractions and may work toward completing your day without any outstanding tasks.

Prioritization is the optimal strategy for achieving this goal. Your VA can assist. You can not only confer with them about your to-do lists, but you can also request that they adopt the technologies that make it simpler to review these lists on a regular basis, freeing up more of your time to concentrate on the tasks at hand.

Time Management Skill #5: Delegating

Delegation is one of the finest time management skills to acquire. It is also one of the most difficult.

Why? Because many C-level executives, businesspeople, and freelancers are used to believing that their own inventiveness led to their success, And they are correct. If you have previously done your own data entry, you undoubtedly have a method for it. How can you be certain that outsourcing something as crucial as sales funneling will continue to generate more leads and customers if you’ve previously handled it yourself?

Delegating might be difficult, not necessarily because of the VA but because of the delegator’s mindset. As a result, it is essential to remember a few techniques to offer yourself the greatest opportunity of making a successful change:

• Introduce the delegation gradually. If you don’t want to abandon one of your primary responsibilities just yet, there’s no need to complete it all at once. With your VA working side-by-side with you, at least digitally, you can continue to play an active part in your favorite duties while simultaneously instructing the VA to execute them in the same manner as you.
• Give the VA a trial period, after which you provide feedback. At some point, if you want your firm to develop, you will have to entrust others with the tasks you would normally do. That is nothing to be afraid of. In reality, it is a fantastic method for concurrently enhancing your company and time management.

Time Management Skill #6: Creating a Malleable System

It is quite simple to consider time in a linear manner while attempting to control it. You may establish objectives for yourself. Complete this and then that. And that’s fantastic. But there is another way to look at time management that does not necessarily fit nicely inside this framework.

Consider developing a strategy for time management that you can use again. An example of a strategy that helps you routinely prioritize your time would be writing down your three most essential objectives for the day on your to-do list.

However, you will discover that every system needs improvement. Perhaps you have five tasks for the day. What then do you do? You will be able to outsource the remaining work to your virtual assistant. Alternatively, this approach may prompt you to consider adding more team members who can handle the specific issue you have in mind.

Including your VA in your regular communications is another example of a strategy you may employ. You may even have them create objectives, giving you an impartial third-party perspective on your daily chores. This provides another pair of eyes and helps you avoid taking on unnecessary duties.

This is an excellent technique for those who are new to having a virtual assistant, since you may not yet know their capabilities. Pay close attention if a VA informs you that they can do a task that you would normally perform yourself. It might save you a great deal of time.

Time Management Skill #7: Shutting Off at the End of the Day

It is quite simple to think in a linear fashion while attempting to manage time. You might establish personal objectives. This and that should be completed. And that’s wonderful! But there is another approach to time management that does not necessarily fit so nicely into this style of thinking.

Consider developing a time management technique that can be used again. For instance, if you sat down and jotted down your three most important objectives for the day on your to-do list, that would be an example of a system that helps you routinely organize your time.

You will discover, however, that every system needs improvement. Perhaps you have five obligations on a given day. Then what do you do? You may delegate the remaining duties to your virtual assistant if you have one. Alternatively, this approach may prompt you to consider assembling a larger team capable of handling the circumstances you have in mind.

Including your virtual assistant in your regular conversations is another strategy you might apply. You may also have them establish objectives so that a third party can objectively review your daily activities. This provides you with a second pair of eyes and prevents you from engaging in non-essential duties.

This is a very useful technique for those who are new to working with a virtual assistant, since you may not yet know what they are capable of. Consequently, if a VA informs you that they can do a task that you would normally perform yourself, pay close attention. It might save you considerable time.

Time Management Skill #8: Tracking Time

You can consider “Tracking time” to be a casual peek at the wristwatch. Undeniably, it is an excellent technique to monitor the time if you need to go home quickly. But what about monitoring the effectiveness of your time?

A virtual assistant may assist you in setting up time management applications such as Rescue Time and Bee minder to get insight into how you spend your time. In addition, a VA may evaluate this time and offer extensive suggestions on how to improve it.

Many company owners may use a time tracker to ensure that their virtual assistant is working diligently and earning their compensation. However, you may discover that a similar method may be beneficial for you as well. You may use these tools to better monitor your most fundamental behaviors. Additionally, you might speak with your VA about alternatives to the time-consuming websites you are now using. This is an excellent method for determining where time may be “leaking” from your present routine and where you might make changes in the future.

Time Management Skill #9: Ending Procrastination

The ever-present problem of procrastination is one of the things that frustrates so many individuals who may be both hard-working and slothful. Simply simply, you dislike doing what you dislike doing.

This may be where the VA shines the brightest. With a VA, there is no procrastination. They have their time, work within that time, and do as much work as possible throughout that time frame.

You, on the contrary? You may continue to fight with it.

The worry of procrastination is unnecessary. It should not be something that plagues you on a daily basis while you establish your company. It should be something that can be eliminated from the equation.

been delaying the transcription of the interview? Give it to a virtual assistant, and you will no longer need to postpone.

You’ve been meaning to convert that brochure or blog post into a PowerPoint presentation from which you may begin an online seminar.

Delegate the task to a virtual assistant.

A virtual assistant ensures that you no longer have to worry about concerns such as procrastination. And if you work with them to arrange your day properly, eliminate many of the distractions that impact business people, and begin to improve your time management system, you’ll discover that procrastination doesn’t have to be a part of your routine.

And if it is, the VA should handle it instead.

How to Incorporate These Changes into Your Life

Ten minutes saved in a single day is not a significant accomplishment.

If you save ten minutes every day, you will save more than three hundred hours per year, which is equivalent to taking three weeks off work.

Does this make you think that time management would be worth your time?

If so, you’ll need effective methods to prevent feeling overwhelmed. After all, there is a great deal of data to analyze. Here are some approaches to using these techniques without undergoing a complete overhaul:

• Start with one strategy a week. Select one approach every week and delegate its implementation to your virtual assistant. Provide comments along the way. Continue making adjustments until you are satisfied with the new method, and then go on to the next approach.
• As you provide feedback, give your VA more responsibility. The more you rely on a virtual assistant, the less you have to worry about your time. However, this does not imply you should want your VA to tackle everything at once. Increase the level of confidence you have in them by providing continuous feedback. You may offer them additional responsibilities if they display the abilities and organization required to keep your firm running well.
• Set aside time every week to “work on your business.” There’s work inside a company (sales, writing, accounting) and there’s work on a business (marketing, branding, etc). (hiring, outsourcing, organizing). We believe that time spent on your company is crucial. Make time for it. Set aside a chunk of your Fridays to do tasks and enhance your processes. Search for software that can automate your processes. Ask your VA for feedback. Your systems will improve with time, making your everyday life that much simpler.

Finally, establish clear limits for yourself. No later than 5:00 p.m., return home. Modify your daily schedule so that you have more time, energy, and resources to dedicate to what is most important.

And do not forget to let your VA to assist.

In our following resource, you’ll discover how to leverage delegation to put these systems to work for you. However, keep these tactics in mind as you go forward. You will have less worry, more free time, and a company that is still potential of phenomenal development.