Planning: it can feel like you are wasting time writing everything down when you could be doing all of the things on your mental to-do list, but taking a step back, really thinking about your tasks and prioritising them can save you time, energy and stress.
There are many areas to consider when running a small retail business, and what deserves your main focus can change from week to week. In fact, what’s essential is seeing all the areas that require focus in any particular week and breaking down all of the tasks in to a priority list that is manageable and realistic.
Here are my top tips for planning out your week effectively, ensuring that you make great progress in the areas of your business that matter the most:
- Identify a maximum of 3 areas that you need to focus on this week
- List 5-7 high priority and non-negotiable tasks that must be completed
- Then list out 5-7 medium to low priority tasks that would be a nice-to-have
Allowing yourself time to hone in on these key tasks for a week will avoid distraction and give you the focus you need to make real progress in the areas that matter most; importantly, it will keep you accountable.
I like to do this on a Sunday night so I know exactly what requires my focus come Monday morning; it allows me to hit the ground running and filter out any distractions.
If you need some help, check out the free printable below. It gives you a ready-made template that you can start using today for your weekly planning, so that you can see all of your priorities in one place, and understand what you’ve achieved that week when you get to Friday. I’ve included the main areas of a retail business that you can circle as needed; I’ve also left some space for you to add more, and you’ll find sections for reminders and notes as well, so nothing is lost!
Download now and let me know how you get on; I love hearing success stories!