Why daily planners can help you with your business

I am trying out a daily planner to take control of my day.

Daily planning layouts never worked for me before when I worked in a corporate setting. I tried it a couple of times but always went back to a weekly format. I needed to see upcoming deadlines well in advance and too many tasks always got carried over.

Now that I’m self-employed, I have a more flexible schedule and fewer work tasks (I am hoping that will change in time!)

So, it seems almost counterintuitive to be using a daily layout with more space to plan your day when you have fewer tasks. But, that’s exactly what I’m doing, and it has proven very useful with adding structure to my day.

Here’s how daily planning can help your business…

Marketing / Networking

As a new business, marketing or networking, in my case is a major part of establishing your brand. So, I want to make sure I have a daily target to call people to network and see if there are any opportunities for work or just maintain regular contact.

Research and Learning

As a consultant, I bring my experience and expertise to the table. But, that doesn’t mean that I don’t need to learn and grow. There’s always some new development out there and I have to make sure that I’m at the top of my field to provide the right advice. I’ve written in topics I want to research.

Schedule (of course)

Meetings are still a core part of most businesses, whether virtually or in person, so you have to have a schedule.

Managing other work

I am definitely focused on my main business which is corporate finance consulting. However, I also want to pursue other interests. Why else did I quit my full-time job.

I’m focusing on my blogging and writing articles for various publications. I am also reviving my art and design hobbies. May be trying to turn them into an income stream. I realized that a lot has changed in the world of graphic and web design and I have a lot to catch up on. All these have to be tracked somewhere and I’d rather have my targets on my daily schedule.

Self-care

Reminding yourself about self-care is important particularly when you’re starting out a new business. I’m sure you end up working at all odd hours and often on weekends as well. It’s important to write in your meals, vitamins and whatever other self-care regimes you follow.

I am using the Erin Condren Daily Planner which is part of the Erin Condren Petite Planners. (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.)

Daily planning can help you focus on your day and give it the structure you need. When you’re working in an office environment, it’s easier to keep track of your time. But, when you’re working on your own, you quickly realize that without a detailed plan to follow, you can end up all over the place and missing out important steps to achieve your goals.