How to Deal with Time Wasters

Time is money. It is crucial that you spend your time most efficiently,  allow yourself some downtime and get the most out of every working day.

But when trying to be time efficient, the biggest obstacles we usually face are 'time wasters'. These are the things other people do to waste our time. It can just seem like little things, like phone calls and friendly visits, but these can turn into lengthy distractions and before you know it - your whole day has disappeared.

But you've also got the added challenge of trying to prove your worth, as strangely - some people don't seem to understand that being a freelancer or business owner doesn't mean you sit around all day doing nothing. Far from it! You're probably working twice as hard than you did when you worked for someone else.

So how do you deal with time wasters? Here are top tips to help you control them...

Dealing with visitors

When we work for ourselves, many people weirdly assume we're not really busy and they'll make a habit of 'popping in' to say hello. The next time someone drops by unannounced, stand up and fold your arms! This will subconsciously send the message that you're busy and don't have time to chat. If the subtle approach doesn't work, be honest. Thank them for stopping by but tactfully explain that you really need to get back to work. You could even suggest a drink after work or a coffee at the weekend somewhere, saying something like 'I'd love to chat now but I'm always so busy during office hours. Shall we arrange something when I'm not chained to my desk?' That should do the trick.

Dealing with phone calls

Similarly to visits, phone calls from friends and family can be a huge waste of your time. Establish boundaries wherever possible by politely saying something like: 'Can I call you later when I've finished work?' Again, you're trying to subtly get the message across that you're not available during office hours. Friends and family will eventually learn to leave you alone. Failing that, screen your calls and allow the voicemail to kick in.

Dealing with emails

Keep on top of your emails by cleaning out your entire inbox every day. Make life easier for yourself by reducing the amount of clutter you receive. For instance, are there any newsletters you could unsubscribe from? Also, don't use your business email address for personal use - set up a separate personal email account. Finally, if you find yourself dealing with similar emails again and again, create some 'canned responses' so you can quickly and easily respond.

Dealing with the freeloaders

There are many people who will seek your free advice when you work for yourself. It comes with the territory. Weirdly, I never got asked for free help when I worked for someone else - but since launching my own business five years ago, there have been many freeloaders wanting my skills and experience without having to pay for it. How do you tackle these types? Well, I used to help them all - but then I realised how much of my time and energy was being hijacked. Life is too short. Don't feel guilty about turning people down gently and politely saying no. You will feel liberated when you realise that you're not doing anything wrong by taking back control of your work and life. Read my tips on When and how to say 'no' when freelancing.

Dealing with friends who want free favours

Speaking from experience, 'helping' friends never works. You'll end up losing their respect and they'll keep coming back for more and more of your time. This can essentially destroy friendships as you give up your valuable time to work for free. It can leave you feeling bitter and disappointed with them. Bottom line? Don't mix business with pleasure. If a friend asks for help explain that you'd have to treat them like any client and charge for the work. But then say how you don't want to work for them anyway, because you value their friendship and don't want to ruin it. These days, I always decline and change the subject, explaining how I don't like to talk about work with my friends. Sounds a bit blunt - but you have to get in the habit of saying no and not feeling bad about it. Besides, if a friend kicks up a fuss - then they're not really a friend at all are they?

Dealing with clients who never intend to hire you

When you've worked in business for some time, you'll be able to smell these types a mile off. They're the kind who approach you and want your 'help', promising big budgets and all the rest of it. All you have to do is put together a kick-ass proposal, full of creative ideas on how to solve their problem. But lo and behold, they never hire you - and weeks later, you discover they've stolen, sorry 'used' all your ideas. Get wise at spotting the signs - they normally don't reveal how much budget they have to spend; they normally don't bother with an initial meeting and they're normally very vague. Read my Tips article on How to spot difficult clients before it's too late for some extra pointers.