A few years ago, I decided to actually track where my time was going. I wanted to see, in black and white, how much of my day was truly productive—and how much was just… busy work.
I created what I like to call my “Busy Calculator.” On one side, I listed my hourly rate. On the other side, I listed everything I felt I had to do but ended up wasting my time on—emails, endless social media scrolling, Netflix binges, and more.
The result? Scary. Absolutely scary. Seeing the money I was losing simply by being “busy” and not productive shook me to my core. It was clear: it was time for a change.
I invested time into learning how to be productive, not just busy. Don’t get me wrong—I love a good hustle—but being busy without focus, direction, or purpose is different from being productive. Busy people are always in motion, but productive people are always moving forward.
Here are a few strategies I’ve learned to help you be productive, not just busy:
1. Delegate What You Can
Doing everything yourself is exhausting and inefficient. For example, if you’re manually tracking finances instead of using an accounting system, you’re wasting hours every month. Invest in systems, software, or even someone else’s expertise to handle tasks so you can focus on making money, not just managing it.
2. Stop Multitasking
Switching between WhatsApp messages, emails, calls, and social media fragments your focus. Instead, schedule dedicated times for specific tasks. For instance:
- Set a block of time solely for emails.
- Turn off notifications during deep work.
- Focus on one task at a time.
This reduces the hidden cost of constant task-switching and helps you actually get things done.
3. Prioritize With Purpose
Before you start any task, ask yourself: What outcome am I trying to achieve?
Clear priorities save time and mental energy. You don’t waste hours on low-value activities or get stuck figuring out what’s next. Know your end goal before you start, and make sure your actions align with it.
4. Make Meetings Matter
Meetings are notorious time-wasters if not structured well. Here’s how to get more value from them:
- Arrive with a clear agenda.
- Define the desired outcome before the meeting begins.
- Stick to relevant topics—avoid unnecessary side conversations.
A productive meeting leaves you with actionable items, not more confusion.
Bonus Tip: Track Your Time With the Busy Calculator
Want to see where your time is really going? Grab my free Busy Calculator for Small Business Owners. Track your hours, calculate the hidden cost of busy, and take control of your productivity today.
Being busy isn’t the same as being productive. Small changes—delegating, focusing, prioritizing, and structuring your meetings—can save hours and hundreds (or even thousands) of your hard-earned money. Start tracking your time, identify the leaks, and make every minute count.
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