How to RECLAIM your TIME as a business owner!

There are TONS of reasons why people start businesses. They want to be their own boss. They wanna work from home. They want to be able to make their own schedule. They want to make as much money as they possibly can. They want happiness. One of the biggest reasons? TIME! They want the FREEDOM to be able to do what they want when they want. The problem is, most business owners sign up to start a business and they get so caught up in BUILDING the business that they end up feeling like they have NO TIME.

I was this business owner and it took me YEARS to get out off this hamster wheel. The thing is, we all get 24 hours in a day. It’s up to YOU what you do with that time. It’s a hard pill to swallow but at the end of the day, it’s your responsibility to make the time for the things that are important to you. If you’re struggling with feeling like you have NO TIME, here are 5 different ways for you to reclaim your time as a business owner so you can get closer to that FREEDOM you desire.

1. Automate Daily Tasks: This is where PROCESSES and SYSTEMS are going to be your best friend! Identify the repetitive tasks in your business like inventory management, scheduling, and invoicing, and use tools that automate these processes. Examples of these tools include POS systems for tracking sales (like Square, Clover, Toast, and Quickbooks) or even creating Excel spreadsheets for tracking inventory. (I have a FREE one you can download here!) By creating processes from the BEGINNING in your business, you’ll find that you’ll be able to train help more efficiently, your business will run more smoothly, and you’ll have freed up hours each week so you can focus on more impactful work; like figuring out ways to expand and grow your business.
2. Batch Workdays: Group similar tasks together into "batch" days. For example, designate one day for baking prep, another for marketing tasks and filming content, and another for admin duties. By focusing on one corner of your business at a time, you’ll reduce transition time, work more efficiently, and feel confident in knowing what you should be doing on each day you step into your business. This also forces you to be accountable for certain tasks each day helping you feel more organized, on top of things, and accomplished.
3. Boundaries, Boundaries, and MORE BOUNDARIES: When you start a business you are HUNGRY and EAGER to make a good impression, provide exceptional service, and be available for your customers. Unfortunately, this often creates blurred boundaries and sometimes customers will take advantage of that. Even worse, you’ll create a boundary and YOU will cross the line because you care deeply about the business and want to make things happen FASTER. Friend, I know you want to be the BEST you can be and GROW the business as fast as possible, but if you don’t set clear boundaries, you’ll end up bending over backward for customers time and time again and putting yourself last on the totem pole. I encourage you to set clear business hours (for yourself and your customers), and communicate these to clients to avoid burnout. This might mean saying no to late-night messages or taking orders only within a specific timeframe but I promise you it will save you in the long run.
4. HIRE HELP: You can start a business by yourself, but you can’t GROW a successful and sustainable business on your shoulders alone. There is no medal for being the most overworked female. In order to avoid burnout, and GROW faster-you need to find people you trust and ask them to help you. Whether it’s once or twice a week just answering emails, taking photos, making batters, or even washing the dishes. Having someone to lean on will help you accomplish so much more on a day-to-day basis so you can do MORE of the things you want to do.
5. Prioritize what’s MOST important: We all have different capacities and what we CAN do with our time. You may be in a season with young kids and you’re the homeschooling teacher, mom, and business owner. You may be in a season of rebuilding after a divorce. You may be an empty nester and trying something you’ve always wanted to do. The business owner with the young kids is gonna have different priorities and capacities than the empty nester. So STOP trying to do more than you can with the time you’re given. You’ll only end up resentful, guilt-driven, overwhelmed, and burnt out. Remember, that seasons ALWAYS change. Some seasons may be more busy than others and that’s okay. When you acknowledge the fact that you can only do so much with what you’re given and focus on what is MOST important to you, you’ll find that you’ll get what you need to get done. Your to-do list and goals will be there the next day and the day after that.

At the end of the day, reclaiming your time is about designing a life that works for you—not a business that just takes from you. It's not easy, and it won’t happen overnight, but the more you put these strategies in place, the closer you’ll get to the freedom you desire and deserve. Running a business should enhance your life, not drain it. So remember: automate what you can set firm boundaries, batch your work, ask for help, and prioritize what truly matters. And know that your priorities WILL shift as you and your business grow—embrace that change and keep going. Your time is one of your most valuable resources. Protect it, reclaim it, and use it to build the life and business you've been dreaming of

Xo,

Janelle