My Favorite Time Management Hack for Running a Henna Business
Are you feeling overwhelmed by all of the daily to-dos in your business? I’ve got your back! Today on the vlog, I’m sharing my favorite time management hack for running a henna business (and not sacrificing the rest of your life to do it)!
+ Read the transcript here
Hey guys! This Chelsea with Hennapreneur, and today I am answering a question that I get all of the time! “Chelsea! How do you manage your time?!”
If you didn't know already, I own Cardamom & Clove Henna where I serve clients within the Baltimore, DC, Virginia, and Pennsylvania areas. In addition to that, I'm homeschooler - I have three kids - and then I have Hennapreneur where I support and mentor henna artists all over the world. So I think that it's safe to say: my time is really limited and I have to be incredibly strategic with how and where and when I spend it or else the tasks from the day simply will catch up with me and there will be no way for me (like there will be no way for me) to come back from it!
So I want to talk to you guys about the one thing that I do that has totally changed the way that I manage my business, manage my time, and manage my lifestyle. This is something that's called the Pomodoro method. If you haven't heard of the Pomodoro method before, it is a system that you can use where an you set aside a certain time frame and then during that time frame, you work on one thing only. Then, when that time frame ends, you get up, you do something else, you take a break, you address another task, and then you come back and you focus. You address one thing only and repeat.
I love you to the Pomodoro method! So I was introduced to the Pomodoro method about two years ago, and I have to tell you it has completely changed the way that I do things! I use something that's called block scheduling where I will set up a certain portion of my day to address a certain type of tasks. So, let's say for example, in the first block of the morning I am only focused on self-care and getting ready for the day, okay? So within that those two hours where I'm focused on self-care getting ready for the day, I will create pomodoros. Those pomodoros are broken up with different tasks that I need to achieve. Typically, I use pomodoros of 25 minutes with a 5 minute break; so, for that first 25 minutes that could be where I physically get ready for the day - where I shower and I do my makeup and I get dressed and I make sure that you know I feel great about taking the day on. Then I've got five minutes where I just relax, go around the house, maybe check out what things I can get myself into or whatever, and just just be. Then the next pomodoro will come, and at that point that's when I'll practice henna because I like to include that at the start of my day. I enjoy the creative process and the creative relief and just feeling really inspired first thing in the morning. So after that pomodoro has ended, I'll take a break, I'll go do something else and then I'll come back and repeat.
So I like to mix block scheduling with pomodoros because it’s easy for me. I can set aside two hours specific to one type of tasks and then within that two hours I can squeeze four pomodoros in. When I put these two things together, it's like - it's wonderful. It gives me the drive to know that I'm doing and I'm achieving those things in the process.
What I like most about the Pomodoro method is that you can change it. So let's say, for example, you have a task that is really difficult for you to get into. For example, there was one point in time where I was completing a certification, and the reading for that certification was absolutely horrid - meaning I could not focus on anything. It was very, very difficult for me to mentally stay engaged, and so what I would do if I would set my pomodoros for shorter time. I would give myself 10 minutes and then 3 minutes of break, 10 minutes and then 3 minutes of break - so I would focus very intently for 10 minutes and then take 3 minutes just to breathe, shake it off, and move to something else and then I’d come back and focus again for the next 10 minutes. This makes it really easy when it's like, “man, I really - you know - I can't!” When it's hard for me to do or something that I don't enjoy, then I'll switch my pomodoros app so that I'm focusing in smaller spurts, but I can still get those things done.
The key here is if you choose to use the Pomodoro method, you can't allow yourself to get distracted. So when I'm in my 25-minute zone, that's what I'm doing for 25 minutes. This can be challenging, especially if you are like me and you have kids at home or you have other obligations, and so what I tend to do is during that 25 minutes, I'll put my phone on do not disturb. I don't look at any electronics except the one that I'm working on, if that's required for that piece, but I don't look outside. If I get the Facebook notification, like, it's dead to me. The world does not exist outside of that project within those 25 minutes. When I'm interrupted by a small human that I don't have the opportunity to just ignore, that's okay. I use an app to track my pomodoros and it actually has a pause button, so I can pause my pomodoro where I was so I can address the interruption. If I find the interruptions are just interruptions for nothing - you guys know about that - then I won't even pause it, I'll just let the kids know, “Hey, Mommy has got something to do. I need seven more minutes, and I'll be right with you.” and that works. So that's how I do it.
The app that I use is called Focus Keeper. I really love it, and I recommend it highly. If it's something that you’d enjoy, there different sounds you can put on. I actually have two timer sounds - one of them is like just a clock ticking in the back, and like, I don't know, there's something hypnotic about it so I'll listen to the seconds ticking as I'm working and that rhythm just helps keep me in the zone. You can change the sound to all sorts of things if you prefer to do that, but I would recommend that you give it a try and see if it helps you. If you love it, come back and let me know! And if you don't love it, it’s okay come back and tell me that, too, like it's totally cool - no judgement here. So with that said, there's my quick tip for the week: how I'm able to achieve more productivity and my henna business. I hope this helped you, and I will see you guys next week. Bye!
