6 Ways for Small Businesses to be More Productive

Americans are working longer hours than ever, with four out of 10 people reportedly logging more than 50 hours of work each week. But

there’s a catch: According to a recent study by Stanford University, productivity actually

declines when these hours are sustained for extended periods of time.

With this statistic in mind, it’s essential that small businesses work smarter in order to

be more productive in less time. These six tips will help you add results,

not hours, to your workday.

01. Stay Synced

For many small business owners, spending all day tethered to a desk isn’t realistic. Make sure all of the information and tools you need, such as your calendar and the programs you use, remain synced across all of your devices. This way your workday doesn’t have to come to a halt if you’re on the go.

02. Follow the 20/80 Rule

There’s no shortage of tasks to complete each day, but some are more important to the success of your business than others. Use an app like RescueTime to track how you spend your time and then determine which 20 percent of your time generates 80 percent of your business results. Hone in on those actions and outsource more task-driven items to a network of freelancers like those found on Fiverr or UpWork.

03. De-stress Delegation

Utilize a simple project management system such as Asana or Trello to track and assign tasks in one shared space. For each task, create a timeline that includes regular checkpoints to ensure the assigned work is being completed properly and on schedule.

04. Ban Interruptions

Running a small business means wearing many hats — and even the smallest distractions can eat up your productivity. With apps such as SelfControl or Freedom you can block access to websites and apps that might pull you away from your work (you know the culprits!) and unwittingly add hours to your day.

05. Take Tasks 52 Minutes At a TimeAccording to data collected by DeskTime, the most productive workers focus on a task for roughly 52 minutes, followed by a 17-minute break. This strategy, not unlike the Pomodoro technique, emphasizes completing one thing at a time with breaks at strict intervals. This is ideal for helping any small business maximize productivity and eliminate multitasking, which studies reveal can reduce productivity by up to 40 percent.

06. Don’t Discount Downtime

Sustaining maximum productivity requires some outside stimulus and downtime. Punctuate your day with walks, work outside of the office at least once a week or commit to attending conferences or classes that interest and inspire you. These things will motivate you to get more done on a daily basis.

Advice Action InspirationMaximizing productivity won’t

happen overnight, and it may

require you to change some

habits. Stick with it, and you’ll

be working smarter, not

harder, in no time.

Block off time on your calendar each day to tackle

one important task. Choose a time of day when you know

you’ll be able to focus solely on that task, such as first thing in the morning or at the end of the day.

“You may delay, but time will

not.” — Benjamin Franklin, inventor,

politician and author

Jump-start your productivity with more time-saving advice on the

Staples Small Business Hub.