Have you ever said, if I just had more time, I would fill in the blank? We all have the same 24 hours in a day, so what do we do if we feel like we need more time? How do you come up with more time? In today’s episode of the Book More Clients Photography Podcast, I am giving you 3 time saving tips for you to implement into your life and photography business.

Mindset Shifts to Master Your Time

Instead of wishing you could find more time, become the master of your time. We do all have the same 24 hours in a day. The difference is we’re all choosing to fill our time with different things based on our kids, our careers, our relationships, etc.

When you break it down to the basics, we all have the same amount of time, every single day, every single week. It comes down to you owning your role as being the master of your time,

The reason that you feel like you need more time is because you aren’t really sure what you’re supposed to be doing. Now, this is mainly related to your business. When you sit down to work, or as you work throughout the day, in the cracks of your day, you’re doing all these things that you think you should be doing or that you see other people do. But really, if we broke it down, and I asked you on a Friday, how your week went, if you accomplished everything you were trying to, most of you would say, “I am not really sure, I did a bunch of things, but I don’t really know if I moved the needle in my business”.

Let’s dive into the 3 Time Saving Tips.

Tip #1: Determine Your Priorities

It all starts with knowing what is important to you in this season, and also learning the word NO. What is important to you in this season? You have to know yourself; you have to know what you enjoy, and also, you have to look at your family.

If I was to journal out the things that are really important to me in this season of my life, it would include: my husband, my marriage, and my children; so I am going to have to prioritize family time. I’m also going to prioritize friendships and in person relationships.

Does this sound like you? You’re trying to either take on way too much business and it’s overriding everything else in your life or you’re giving your time to like six or seven different places and different avenues. In this season, it’s probably time to say goodbye to at least two or three of those things and revisit them at another time.

Really look at your life to figure out what your priorities are and then learn to say no to the rest.

Time Saving Tip #2: Map Out Your Ideal Week

This one is another paper exercise, but I’m telling you, it works. How do you want to spend your time Monday to Sunday, what would that look like for you?

Let’s start with just one day. Write out your ideal day, don’t think about the weekend, let’s look at a week day. What does your ideal day look like? How would you spend your time?

• What time would you wake up?
• What is the first thing that you would do in the morning?
• Are you headed out to a nine to five job?
• Or are you running your own business?
• Where are your children?
• Are you homeschooling them?
• Or are they going to public or private school somewhere?
• What does that look like?
• If your kids are young, but you still want to work, are you having a nanny come help you?
• Are you taking them to daycare?
• What are you doing in your business?
• How many hours a day are you working?
• Would you want to just do like a two-hour time block and then be done for the day?
• Are you taking walks in the morning?
• Are you going to the gym at any point in time in your day?
• Are you connecting with people, your friends, your husband?
• What is dinner time look like?

All the way from the time you open your eyes in the morning to the time you go to bed, write out your ideal day, and literally start mimicking your actual calendar to match it.

Tip #3: Work In Time Blocks

Work in time blocks as much as you can and ask for help! A time block is knowing things like, when I first get up in the morning, regardless of if it’s at 5am or 8am, I know this is my routine (insert your morning routine). The next block might be when you do work, and you could probably say, “I know I’m going to work after lunch don’t know the exact time, but I know I’m also going to block it off two hours” to work on whatever it is that you’re needing to work on for that day.

Don’t try to multitask. For those of you that have children, and you’re like, “oh my gosh, this is so not practical”. It really, really is. Here’s the thing, as women, I know there’s some men listening to this, so shout out to you. But for us women, we have a very, very, very hard time asking for help. Get uncomfortable and go ask somebody for help.

Take Back Your Time With These Time Saving Tips

You are not just a photographer, you might also be a wife, a mom, etc. It’s easy to feel like your time controls you, but I hope you will follow these 3 time saving tips to help you take back control. Looking for more help or encouragement in your business? Join our photographer Facebook Group.

Let me know if you try one or all 3 time saving tips over on Instagram @brookejanaephoto
Looking to go full time in your photography business? Come join the Blueprint Program.

If you liked today’s episode, you’ll enjoy these, too:

Feeling Defeated & Questioning Everything? Implement These Strategies into Your Photography Business

Budgeting in Life & Business

How to Work While Your Kids Are at Home