Virtual Assistants: Increase Your Productivity with Time Blocking

Some days, I feel like a circus performer in my virtual assistance practice - constantly spinning plates, jumping from place to place trying to get it all done by the various deadlines my clients set .  One of the things that has helped me tremendously is time blocking.  Now, instead of having my e-mail open all day and responding immediately to each request,  I work on one client at a time, finish their tasks and then move on the next task.

Working this way has a few advantages:

1.  Because I am not on my e-mail or tweeting while I am working, I can be more focused and get more done quickly.

2.  Since I am working on one client at a time, I can start the time clock do all of the work and then stop timing.  I find that I end up capturing more time this way.

3. I feel a sense of completion as I finish the tasks for each client.

4. Finally, my clients feel as if I am working hard because they get a batch of e-mails all at once.

To make this work, I use a mindmap to record all of my to do’s for a given client.  You can make this work in any task management program.  I like the mindmap because you can move tasks around.  At the beginning of the day, I review my list for each client.  Then, I close all the lists and schedule blocks of time for each client based on the amount of work I need to do for them.  Then, I go through and work on one client at a time.

At the end of the day, I feel great that I’ve accomplished my tasks and given my clients good service.