How do I manage my time while building a business on the side?

Building a business on the side while maintaining a full-time job can feel a lot like juggling flaming swords. The key is intentional time management, rather than just trying to squeeze more hours into your day. Here’s a path forward, grounded in my own experience:

1. Prioritize and Plan: Establish what truly needs your attention. Clearly define your business goals and break them down into manageable tasks. Use a planner or digital tool to map out your week. Personally, I’ve found Sunday nights ideal for planning, setting clear intentions for the days ahead.

2. Time Blocking: Dedicate specific blocks of time for business tasks and protect them like a financial auditor in love with spreadsheets. This could be early mornings, lunch breaks, or evenings—whatever time you feel most focused. Stick a “Do Not Disturb” sign on your metaphorical office door.

3. Embrace the Messy Middle: There will be days when you miss the mark or get derailed. That’s part of the journey. Acknowledge it without beating yourself up, and get back on track. Remember, pivoting is often necessary.

4. Automate and Delegate: Look for tasks that can be automated or outsourced, even on a small budget. Tools that schedule social media posts or handle client bookings can save you hours each week, offering more time to focus on higher-level strategies.

5. Maximize Downtime: Use commutes or waiting times for passive learning or brainstorming through podcasts or audio courses. These pockets of time can be surprisingly productive.

6. Capture, Develop, Expose Framework: If you’re also creating content, consider this framework. Capture ideas whenever they strike—in a notebook or an app. Develop these by setting aside dedicated time to flesh them out. Expose by sharing with your audience, gathering feedback to refine further.

7. Self-Care is Non-Negotiable: You can’t pour from an empty cup. Regular exercise, enough sleep, and mental breaks aren’t luxuries; they’re essentials for sustaining high energy levels.

8. Redefine Success: Keep your “why” front and center. Success isn’t about working 24/7, but about aligning your work with the life you want to build. Embrace flexibility in your path and be patient with your progress.

Each of these steps involves its own little dance of experiments and refinements. It’s much about finding what rhythm aligns best with your life and adjusting as you go.