5 Time Management Hacks for Busy Entrepreneurs

Time is the most valuable resource for entrepreneurs. With endless tasks, meetings, and deadlines, managing time well can mean the difference between success and burnout. These five simple hacks, backed by experts and successful founders, can help busy entrepreneurs take control of their schedules.

1. Sort Tasks Like a Pro With the Eisenhower Matrix

Not all tasks deserve your attention. The Eisenhower Matrix, used by entrepreneurs like FUBU founder Daymond John, helps you focus on what matters most.

Here’s how it works:

• Urgent and Important: Do these immediately (e.g., fixing a broken website).
• Important but Not Urgent: Schedule these (e.g., planning next quarter’s strategy).
• Urgent but Not Important: Delegate these (e.g., answering routine emails).
• Not Urgent and Not Important: Delete these (e.g., scrolling social media).

Daymond John credits this method for helping him grow FUBU without burning out. “Early on, I worked non-stop and felt exhausted,” he says. “The matrix taught me to focus on what moves the needle”.

Try this: Each morning, write your tasks on sticky notes and sort them into the four categories.

2. Hand Off Tasks You Shouldn’t Do

Entrepreneurs often struggle to let go, but delegation is key. A survey by time-tracking app MyHours found entrepreneurs waste 8 hours weekly on tasks others could handle.

What to delegate:

• Repetitive tasks (e.g., scheduling meetings).
• Specialized work (e.g., accounting or graphic design).
• Time-consuming chores (e.g., managing social media).

How to start:

• Use freelancing platforms like Upwork for one-time projects.
• Hire a virtual assistant for $5–$15/hour to handle emails or calendars.
• Train team members to take over tasks using tools like Loom for video tutorials.

3. Track Your Time Like Money

You can’t improve what you don’t measure. Time-tracking apps like MyHours or Toggl show where your hours really go often revealing surprises.

Benefits of tracking:

• Spot time-wasters (e.g., unproductive meetings).
• Bill clients accurately.
• Improve estimates for future projects.

4. Beat Procrastination With the “2-Minute Rule”

Procrastination costs entrepreneurs up to 55 days per year, according to MyHours. Combat it with the “2-Minute Rule”: If a task takes under two minutes, do it immediately.

Examples:

• Replying to a quick email.
• Approving an invoice.
• Writing a to-do list for tomorrow.

5. Work in Blocks, With Breaks

Working non-stop reduces focus. Research shows taking breaks every 90 minutes boosts productivity by 30%.

Try time-blocking:

• Morning (High Energy): Tackle hard tasks like strategy or creative work.
• Midday (Low Energy): Handle easy tasks like emails or admin work.
• After Breaks: Use 15-minute breaks to walk, hydrate, or stretch.

Put It All Together

Time management isn’t about doing more, it’s about doing what matters. Start with one hack:

• Sort tomorrow’s tasks using the Eisenhower Matrix.
• Delegate one time-consuming task this week.
• Download a free time-tracking app today.

As Daymond John says, “You can’t buy more time, but you can use it wisely”. By focusing on high-impact work and letting go of the rest, you’ll gain hours back, and maybe even sleep better at night.