One of the biggest struggles network marketers face is time management. With everything going on in life – your business, family, hobbies, and other commitments – it can be a challenge to strike a work-life balance. And, this is especially frustrating if you turned to network marketing from the corporate world to help you find that balance!

The guide to getting it done

We get it – you’re busy! However, it is possible to complete all of – or at least the majority of – your to-do list and still have a life. Here’s how:

Prioritize your day.

When you look at your to-do list, do you ever get stuck thinking about what to work on first? Forget about what to work on next; it’s hardest to figure out where to start. And, the longer your to-do list, the harder it often is to get started.

However, review that to-do list again and there are only one or two items on it that absolutely have to get done today. So many of us waste time fretting over the items that aren’t really that urgent; then, we fret that we don’t have enough time to work on the tasks that really matter.

If that sounds like you, the solution is simple: every morning, when you’re reading over your to-do list, circle or put a star next to the two things you have to complete that day. Those are your priorities – focus all of your energy on completing them.

Once those are complete, then select the next most important task on your list and work on that. Work through your list this way throughout the day and you’ll find that you’ll get more done in less time than before.

Pro Tip: When you plan the day, put the top 2 priorities at the top of the list so you’ll see them first thing.

Make your Power Hour a priority

You may be wondering where your business, specifically your Power Hour, fits in all of this. It is, after all, a priority – or at least it should be. The answer is to make it one of your top two priorities for the day. If you truly want to reach your goals and lead a successful business, you have to make your business a priority, and that means making your Power Hour a top priority.

So, when you’re setting your priorities for the day, circle or place a star next to your Power Hour and be sure to get it done! Do it before the distractions of the day begin to tempt your focus away. This not only ensures you focus on your business daily, but it also keeps you on the right path to reaching your goals and making your business a success.

Create a schedule

A schedule is one of those things that’s a turn off for many business owners. After all, you went into business for the freedom of working for yourself, so why in the world would you shackle yourself to a daily schedule?

Although you can create a restrictive schedule if you wish, in most cases, scheduling just means that you’re going to set aside a set block of time to complete a task. For example, your Power Hour. Perhaps you schedule time in your day to do it between 9 and 10 in the morning every day, and then you do it between those hours. If you have an appointment or something comes up, you can choose to move it to later in the day. However, when you know that every day between the hours of 9 and 10 you must work on your business and generate leads, you’re more likely to do so. So, don’t think of a schedule as something to restrict your time and activities; think of it as something that gives you the freedom to get more done each day.

Pro tip: Instead of scheduling the whole day, just schedule the most important things you want to do, such as your Power Hour, workouts, etc. Then, work your day around these activities.  

Breathe

Sounds silly, right? Who’s going to forget to breathe? But, when we get stressed out or anxious, we tend to take shallower breaths, whether we realize it or not. This not only makes us inefficient with our time; it also makes our bodies inefficiently process oxygen throughout our bodies.

When you begin to feel anxious about your day and your task list, close your eyes and take several deep breaths. Focus on your breath as you inhale and exhale to steady your mind and your breathing pattern. This will force you to calm down and think more clearly. Then, you’ll be able to tackle your day with a clear head and calm disposition.

Pro tip: Once an hour, stop what you’re doing and take a few deep breaths. This will help you recharge and reset.

Recite positive affirmations

A large part of success is having the confidence to move forward in the face of challenges and setbacks. When you think you can succeed, you’re much more likely to do so. That’s where positive affirmations come in.

Positive affirmations are sayings or quotes that motivate you and keep you in that positive, successful mindset. It could be a favorite quote from a business, industry, or world leader or a character in a meaningful book. It could be a song lyric or a saying a parent or coach told you growing up. Or, it could be a phrase you thought of yourself that makes you feel as if you could conquer anything. Whatever it is, say it when you start your day, and throughout the day when you need that quick surge of motivation.

Pro Tip: Keep a positive motivation posted where you can see it and recite it daily.

Let off steam

It’s no secret that exercise is a perfect way to let off steam. Not only does it help you get in shape, but it also allows you to burn off that anxious energy and stress you may have accumulated throughout the day. Plus, it’s a fantastic mood booster with the release of all those endorphins!

Make time to move during your day, whether it’s taking your dog for a walk around the neighborhood or heading to the gym. Now, you may say, “I don’t have time for that! I have too much to do!” Some days, it seems like you don’t have time to exercise, the truth is, you don’t have time NOT to. August is the month when the kids go back to school and you’re adding the school run back into your daily life, plus your kids’ activities and your volunteer commitments. It’s easy for the day to get derailed with all the new tasks added to your list each day; however, making time to exercise – if only for 20 minutes – helps you reset and recharge so you can tackle the next task.

Pro Tip: As your own boss, you’re no stranger to stress. Exercise is a surefire way to clear your head, especially if you’re dealing challenges and other stresses in your life – business or otherwise.

Is transitioning the conversation to your business stressful for you?

Don’t feel bad if it is; it’s stressful for many network marketers, especially those who don’t want to sound like an icky salesperson. You’re leading your business with heart and you have the drive to serve everyone in your network; however, it’s hard to transition a genuine conversation to talking about your business. The central issue is you don’t want to alienate your favorite people and leave them feeling like a sales mark.

Luckily, we’ve developed a way to help you transition any conversation in a way that won’t alienate your network or leave you feeling like an icky salesperson. The Art of Creating Conversations that Convert is a 7-lesson course designed to help you bring your business up to anyone, even people you may have burned in the past using traditional sales techniques. It will give you the scripts, tips, and confidence to bring up your business in conversation with current and prospective customers and distributors without feeling awkward. Click here to learn more and sign up today.