Running a business and feeling overwhelmed?  You might answer, “What is it like NOT to feel overwhelmed?”  As a business owner, even at the end of the day, it’s hard not to keep on thinking of all the things you didn’t get done or have on your schedule for the next day.

For us @ Century Accounting, tax season can very much be overwhelming.  But, as we have always said to our clients, “Every business has a tax season.”  In other words, we all have days when our plate if full.

Running your own business can be a tough job. In fact, according to a recent survey of 500 business owners, more than 70% cannot help but feel overwhelmed, especially since they wear too many hats and are being pulled from every direction.

However, there is a way to avoid feeling this way. You need to know that you can run your business and have fun doing so. How can you do it? Here are some tips and tricks that can help you avoid feeling overwhelmed.

• Set your priorities. Pick one task that can help you achieve your business goals and make sure to get it done before noon. Your chosen task should take no more than 30 to 60 minutes. If it does, break it down to smaller tasks to keep it more manageable.
• Don’t open your inbox before you finish the most important task of the day. Reading your emails can be a serious time waster so try to resist the temptation of opening your inbox before knocking out your #1 task for the day. This can keep you on top of things and prevent you from feeling overwhelmed.
• Set a day to focus on high priority projects. Business owners often find themselves with very little time on their hands. This can be a problem since you need to devote at least one day per week for your priority projects to create value. To accomplish this goal, set a day to focus on high priority projects. For best results, consider closing your door and turning off your email. You can even work somewhere else to minimize distractions.
• Make a “not to-do” list. Consider starting a list of things that you can stop doing and those that can be delayed. This can help you keep things under control and actually help you get more things done.
• Narrow it down. You can get better and more meaningful results by narrowing down your focus. So, instead of trying to do everything all at once, you should direct your efforts on executing your top priorities and executing them extremely well.
• Take a break. By following the strategies mentioned above, you can get more work done each and every week so go ahead and take a break.  Go home earlier and enjoy your family’s company, take a stroll through the park, take a run, or do anything that can help you unwind.

And, by the way, even though it is tax season, don’t be afraid to give us a call.  We’re never too busy to be of help!