You're a business development professional with a busy schedule. How can you make time for yourself?

2 Plan your schedule

Another way to make time for yourself is to plan your schedule in advance, and stick to it as much as possible. This means allocating specific blocks of time for your work tasks, such as calls, meetings, emails, and research. It also means carving out some time for your personal activities, such as hobbies, exercise, relaxation, and socializing. By planning your schedule, you can optimize your productivity, efficiency, and creativity, and avoid distractions and interruptions.

3 Delegate and outsource

A third way to make time for yourself is to delegate and outsource some of your work tasks, especially those that are repetitive, low-value, or outside your expertise. This means identifying and trusting your team members, partners, or freelancers who can handle some of your responsibilities, and giving them clear instructions and feedback. It also means investing in tools, systems, or platforms that can automate or simplify some of your processes, such as CRM, email marketing, or project management. By delegating and outsourcing, you can free up some of your time, energy, and resources, and focus on your core competencies and strategic initiatives.

4 Review and reflect

A fourth way to make time for yourself is to review and reflect on your work progress and results, and celebrate your achievements. This means setting and tracking your key performance indicators, such as revenue, profit, conversion, or retention. It also means acknowledging and rewarding yourself and your team for reaching your milestones, such as closing a big deal, launching a new product, or expanding to a new market. By reviewing and reflecting, you can evaluate your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, and adjust your strategy and actions accordingly.

5 Learn and grow

A fifth way to make time for yourself is to learn and grow as a business development professional, and as a person. This means seeking and embracing new challenges, such as entering a new niche, developing a new skill, or pursuing a new certification. It also means seeking and applying feedback, such as from your mentors, peers, or customers. And it means seeking and sharing knowledge, such as from books, podcasts, or courses. By learning and growing, you can enhance your value, credibility, and reputation, and achieve your career and personal goals.

6 Have fun and enjoy

A sixth way to make time for yourself is to have fun and enjoy your work and life, and not take yourself too seriously. This means finding and expressing your passion, purpose, and vision, and aligning them with your work and personal values. It also means finding and connecting with your tribe, such as your colleagues, friends, or family, and supporting and inspiring each other. And it means finding and creating moments of joy, gratitude, and laughter, and appreciating the journey and the destination. By having fun and enjoying, you can boost your morale, motivation, and satisfaction, and live a fulfilling and meaningful life.