Identifying Time-Intensive Admin Tasks in Your Small Business

How to track, categorize & plan your week

Does it seem like there’s never enough time in your day? Taking a few simple steps will help you use your time more efficiently.

Audit your day with time tracking

To make the most of your valuable time, start by taking a detailed look at the tasks and activities that demand your attention. Here are a few ways to structure your approach:

• Time-tracking software: Many project management tools include time-tracking features. Simply click a timer button when you begin a task. You may be able to use the same software to sort your tasks based on the time they take and which part of the business they support, which will help with the next step.

• Time-management methods: There are several time management tools and systems designed to help you work more efficiently and understand how you spend your time. You don’t want to create more work for yourself. Keep it simple with something like the Pomodoro technique.

• Estimation: Some tasks are more difficult to measure, such as those you tend to pick up and put down throughout the day. Assign them your best estimate to help you stay focused on the big picture.

Try tracking your time for a few weeks to get a solid understanding of how you spend it.

Categorize your tasks

With your data in hand, it’s time to start making decisions.

First, decide how much time you would spend on planned tasks during a typical week. Remember that leaders deserve a healthy work/life balance, and you set an example for your employees.

Next, sort your tasks into three categories:

1. Essential tasks

These are the tasks that you, and only you, have to handle. They may depend on relationships or knowledge that only you possess, or long-term planning that you’re not comfortable sharing. Prioritize fitting essential tasks into your weekly schedule.

2. Tasks you can delegate

These are the tasks you currently handle that you feel capable of, if not entirely comfortable with, delegating to other members of your organization. Remember that growth rarely comes without discomfort. Delegating more tasks is an opportunity for you to grow as a leader and nurture your team.

3. Tasks you can drop

These are the tasks you can stop doing without having a material impact on the business. You probably don’t have many of these, but after taking a bird’s eye view of your week, you may find more than you think.

Plan your week

Were you able to fit your planned week into your ideal working hours? Or do you still have more essential tasks than you have time for in an ideal week? Save your plan as it is now, then go through the process again to build a “target” version where you delegate or drop more of your workload. Now you can build toward that target by preparing employees to handle more of your current responsibilities.

Save time with Walmart Business

Don’t stop at optimizing your schedule. Sign up for a free Walmart Business account to find even more time savings on essential tasks. You can sign up for subscriptions¹ on the supplies your business needs to thrive and delegate purchasing decisions through multi-user accounts with shared payment options and budget management tools.

You’ll save even more time when you sign up for one of three Walmart Business+ membership plans. Each tier empowers your business with free delivery from store, $35 minimum,² and free shipping, no order minimum.³ That means less time restocking and more time working toward your strategic priorities.

¹ Shipping, delivery, and minimum order fees may apply. Eligible items only. Terms apply. 

² Restrictions apply. 

³ Excludes most marketplace items. Freight & location surcharges may apply.