4 Tips for Better Time Management

You meet with clients, work on design projects, handle workflows, respond to an avalanche of emails, and market your business to keep your pipeline flowing. Running your interior design business can feel like a never-ending juggling act. I’ll bet you feel like there’s not enough time in the day.   

I have good news. By tweaking a few habits, you can stop spinning your wheels and actually feel in control of your time (and I have a free resource to help you do that).  

First, let’s dive into 4 tips for better time management to help you wrangle your schedule and reclaim your day. 

Prioritize Like a Pro

You’ve heard it a million times: prioritize your tasks. But that’s easier said than done, when everything feels urgent. It can be challenging to figure out what to focus on first. To get started, put things into three categories: 

• Must-do’s: These are non-negotiables like finalizing that proposal or prepping for a client presentation. 

• Should-do’s: Important but not urgent, like updating your portfolio or brainstorming social media ideas. 

• Can-waits: Low-priority tasks, like reorganizing your sample library or perfecting that Pinterest board. 

For better time management, start your day with your must-dos—the tasks that move the needle for your business or have hard deadlines. Knocking these out early keeps you on track and builds momentum to power through the rest of your day.

Batch Similar Tasks

Ever feel drained just from bouncing between tasks? It’s called “task-switching,” and it’s a productivity killer. Instead of jumping from emails to social media to invoicing, try batching your work. For example: 

• Dedicate a block of time to answering emails—then close your inbox! 

• Set aside an hour to schedule your social media posts for the week. 

• Spend a focused chunk of time sourcing materials for more than one project at a time. 

You get more done in less time by staying “in the zone” (focusing on one type of task at a time). Batching tasks is a game changer.

Automate the Boring Stuff

Let’s talk about automation. If you’re not using it, you’re leaving hours of your week on the table. Think about those repetitive tasks that eat up your time: 

• Sending the same types of emails over and over? Use templates or an automated system like Mailchimp or ActiveCampaign. 

• Posting to social media daily? Schedule those posts in advance with a tool like Later, Planoly, Buffer, or Cloud Campaign. 

• Constant back-and-forth to book client calls? Use a scheduler (Calendly, Acuity, etc.) to let clients choose their own time. 

Automation doesn’t just save you time—it saves your sanity. When you streamline the repetitive stuff, you free up mental space to focus on the creative, high-impact work that actually fuels your business.

Delegate, Delegate, Delegate

I get it—you’re a rockstar, and it’s hard to trust someone else with your baby (aka your business). But let me be real with you: you can’t do it all. And you shouldn’t. 

Think about the tasks that don’t require your personal touch: 

• Administrative work? Hire a virtual assistant. 

• Social media management? Outsource it to a pro. 

• Bookkeeping? Let an accountant handle it. 

Delegating frees you up to focus on things only you can do—designing, building client relationships, and growing your business. Plus, it’s a better time management strategy that keeps burnout at bay, which means you’ll actually enjoy your work. 

Time to Take Back Control 

Better time management isn’t about cramming more into your day. It’s about making your time work for you. By prioritizing the tasks that matter most, batching your workload, automating the repetitive stuff, and learning to delegate, you’ll get more done and feel more in control of your time and your business.  

Oh, let me tell you about that free resource I mentioned earlier! Design Your Time is a quick video training specifically created for interior designers. It’s free, it’s fun, and you can grab a copy here.  

It’ll help you determine the most effective time management strategies FOR YOU based on YOUR personality. Use it to boost your productivity, reduce your stress, and start working smarter, not harder. Get Design Your Time and check out all my free resources here.