Whether you’re working on launching a product that will revolutionize the memory care industry or you’re working to provide a service that will eliminate busy work, as a startup you’re always on the clock and often it may seem like there isn’t enough time in the day to get everything done. This is a common problem for startups and that’s okay. As long as you’re aware of the dangers of wrong time management and take steps to avoid them, you should be just fine. 

Here are some top mistakes to avoid.

Not Prioritizing 

Granted, for a startup, there’s a pull from all directions. Still, not everything is equally as important. For example, a meeting with a key client should take precedence over an internal meeting. Failing to understand this can lead to big problems down the line. 

One way to avoid this mistake is by making a list of priorities at the beginning of each day, week, or month. This way you and your team will be more focused on what’s important and not get sidetracked by less important tasks.

A second effective way to avoid this mistake is by learning to say “no”. This can be difficult, especially for people-pleasers, but it’s important to understand that you and your team can’t do everything. If you try to, you will quickly become overwhelmed and your work will suffer as a result. 

Not Using Technology to Your Advantage

There are project management tools like Asana or Trello that help keep track of tasks and deadlines, calendar apps like Google Calendar that help keep things on schedule, and even time tracking apps like Toggl or RescueTime that show where the most time is being spent for better optimization.

If your startup is not using any of these tools and many more, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity to improve your time management. Every year more apps, tools, and software are designed to automate tasks, organize, and even find more time in your day for you. It’s just a matter of researching and finding the ones that best suit your business’s needs.

Not Planning for the Unexpected 

Startups are unpredictable by nature. Things change quickly and often, and it’s important to be prepared for the unexpected. 

The best way to prepare is to set aside some time to create a contingency plan. This could involve having a backup plan for when deadlines are missed or creating a system for dealing with unexpected problems. By having a contingency plan, you’ll be able to quickly and efficiently deal with anything that comes up, which will save you a lot of time in the long run.

For example, having backup files for all proposals will save you the time it would take to recreate them if they’re ever deleted or lost. 

These are just a few of the most common time management mistakes that startups make. If you and your team can avoid these mistakes, you’ll be well on your way to success.