In the fast-paced world of entrepreneurship, time is the most valuable currency we have. Whether you’re juggling multiple roles as a CEO, mom, or friend, finding ways to maximize your time is crucial for achieving your goals and maintaining balance. In this episode of the CEO School podcast, Suneera shares her top five productivity hacks that promise to give you back at least 25% of your time in 2024.

Mastering Calendar Zones

Suneera’s first hack revolves around optimizing your calendar. It’s not just about scheduling everything; it’s about creating zones for focused work. By batching similar tasks together, like meetings or deep work sessions, you can minimize the mental transition time that usually eats into your productivity. For instance, Suneera blocks out specific days for recording podcasts, allowing her to dive deep into the creative process without distractions.

Say Goodbye to Hour-Long Meetings

Who decided meetings need to be an hour long? Suneera challenges this norm by recommending 20- or 40-minute meetings instead. This not only forces efficiency but also gives you valuable time between meetings to implement action points. The result? Meetings that are more focused, productive, and leave you with time to breathe and regroup.

Leverage the Power of a Virtual Assistant

If you’re not already using a virtual assistant, 2024 is the year to start. Suneera emphasizes that your job as a CEO isn’t to do everything but to ensure everything gets done. A virtual assistant can handle tasks that don’t require your unique skills, allowing you to focus on high-impact activities. Whether you start with just a few hours a week or a full-time assistant, this investment will pay off in spades.

Focus on Needle Movers

Long to-do lists can be overwhelming, and not everything on them is equally important. Suneera suggests identifying your top three needle movers each day—those tasks that will significantly impact your business or personal goals. By tackling these first, you ensure that your day is productive, even if the smaller tasks have to wait.

Rethink Networking: No More Lunch Dates

Networking is vital, but it doesn’t have to mean lengthy lunch or coffee dates. Suneera advises setting up short, focused virtual meetings instead. This not only respects your time but also allows you to connect with more people efficiently. Use tools like Calendly to schedule 15- to 20-minute sessions, and you’ll be amazed at how much more you can accomplish.

Apply These Hacks and Take Back Your Time

Implementing these five hacks can revolutionize how you manage your time in 2024. As Suneera shares, protecting your time is key to scaling your business and living a balanced life. Try these strategies, and you’ll find yourself with more time to focus on what truly matters—both in your business and personal life.

Ready to take control of your time? Listen to the full episode of the CEO School podcast here. And remember, nothing bad happens when women make more money—especially when they have more time to do it!

Forever your cheerleaders,

Suneera and The CEO School Team.

Connect with Suneera here.

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