We’re all looking for ways to boost small business productivity. The good news is that it’s an achievable goal. Here are a few proven strategies (rules!) to help you get more done in less time:

Rule #1: Plan your work around your positive cash flow.

This means focusing on tasks, meetings, activities, calls and follow-up that will generate and bring in most revenue as opposed to those that are purely administrative. It is important to avoid procrastination or delay taking actions (however challenging) till the last minute. Success is your business comes when you are proactive and spend more time with your customers now (not later). This will help tomorrow’s work get easier because you would know which of your actions from the previous day are going to generate maximum revenue for your efforts.

Rule #2: Plan out tomorrow’s schedule tonight.

When we write down what we intend to do, we’re far more likely to actually do it. Use productivity tools like speech-to-text (the native apps you see on your iPhone or Android) to speak things to yourself. If you are a slack user, one powerful habit is to note your prioritized to-do list into your own channel (i.e. typing to yourself). Feel free to also check out other free apps like Evernote, Google Keep, even basic apps like notepad. The idea is to get into an easy habit that you can do every day without the mental block of needing to push yourself to do it.

Rule #3: Develop rituals for different kinds of work.

Rule #4:

Avoid being 100% booked. If your calendar looks full, deliberately schedule time to do nothing. You can use this time as a buffer between meetings to tackle unexpected tasks that crop up during the day. One of the most effective ways to not only relax during the work day but also make that time rewarding for your business is to call previous or current customers and have a friendly chat with them.

This kind of action goes a long way in the minds of your customers. First off, they’d appreciate talking to a friendly voice. Second, they will be open to sharing more with you since you don’t have a hidden agenda. Third, you get to know and learn more about the state of the industry and things that you yourself might need to work around, for your own business. Finally, this was your time to decompress – nothing better than having a relaxed conversation with someone you like and have them talk more (while you listen!).

Try at least one of these strategies this week, and notice any differences in your productivity. You got this!