What to focus on first (and what to drop)

January has that clean notebook energy. New year, new plans, big intentions… and a very long to-do list to match. Everyone’s talking about goals, growth, fresh starts and “this is the year I really get organised”.

But a few weeks in, reality usually kicks in.

You’re back in the day-to-day of running the business, juggling everything at once, busy from the minute you sit down… and already wondering how it’s only 11am and you feel behind. Familiar?

Running a business can feel like juggling flaming torches at the best of times. You’re constantly doing, constantly reacting, constantly moving. Yet somehow, it still feels like you’re not making the progress you thought this year would bring.

And here’s the thing most people don’t like admitting in January: a big chunk of your time is still being eaten up by work that doesn’t actually move the business forward. You’re busy, absolutely… but busy doing what, exactly?

The real problem, working in vs. working on your business

You spend all day putting out fires, replying to emails, sorting customer problems, fixing tech issues, packing orders, and before you know it, it’s 5pm and you’ve barely looked up.

That’s working in your business.

But working on your business? That’s when you step back and think strategically, building systems, improving processes, planning growth, and actually shaping the future of your brand.

It’s the difference between being self-employed and being a business owner. If you never carve out time for that bigger picture work, you’ll stay stuck on the hamster wheel forever.

But, I don’t have the time…

You best buckle in for my response to this!

I can hear you now through the screen…but I don’t have time. Well let me tell you this…you have no choice but to find the time! It’s harsh but it’s true. You can ALWAYS make the time. I know what I’ve grown and achieved and I’ve done it with 4 kids (I’ve had them all of them throughout that time too), I know it’s possible. You have to make a sacrifice of some sort along the way, it’s not what you want to hear but it’s true.

So… what should you actually focus on?

Here’s a simple filter to start with.

What tasks directly generate revenue or build long term value?

Because here’s the thing, not everything that feels urgent is important. That email can wait. That minor tweak to your website? It’s not changing your life.

But developing a new product line, improving your customer retention, or building better systems that save you time every week? That’s the good stuff.

Try time blocking for this. Set aside chunks of time every week just for strategic work. Treat those hours like gold, no meetings, no emails, no “just a quick question.” Protect them like your business depends on it (because it does).

Get ruthlessly organised

If you’re starting each day thinking, Right, what now? You’re already behind.

A bit of structure changes everything.

• Plan your week in advance. Know your priorities before Monday hits.

• Use a proper system. Whether that’s Asana or just a notebook, have one central place for everything.

• Batch your tasks. Do all your emails in one go, your calls back to back, your admin in one chunk. Switching between tasks is a productivity killer and it’s time consuming.

Be strict with yourself

This is the tough love bit. You probably know what you should be doing, but distractions always find a way in.

Set some boundaries. Say no more often. You don’t need to attend every meeting or reply to every ping on your phone.

If you’re not strict with your time, no one else will be.

Get someone to hold you accountable

Honestly, this is a game changer. Find a mentor, a business coach, or even a fellow small biz owner who’ll keep you accountable. I have a friend who does this for me and I do it for her - we’re in completely different industries but that doesn’t matter. We challenge each other all the time.

It’s way too easy to say, “I’ll sort that strategy next week”, and suddenly it’s two months later. But when you know someone’s expecting an update, you’ll magically find the time.

Regular check ins make you stop, reflect, and ask, “Am I actually focusing on what matters?”

What should you drop?

Be brutally honest, what are you doing that someone else could do better, faster, or cheaper?

If your afternoons vanish doing admin, hand it over. If social media takes you hours, outsource it. If bookkeeping gives you a headache, find help.

Your time is valuable. Stop spending it on £15 an hour tasks when you should be doing £150 an hour work.

The bottom line

You can’t do everything, and trying to means nothing gets done properly. I know this first hand.

Focus on what only you can do, the strategic, creative, high value stuff that drives your business forward. Block out time for it and guard it like it’s sacred and then delegate or ditch the rest.

Because being busy isn’t the same as being productive. Working harder isn’t the goal, working smarter is.

So, here’s a question to leave you with:
What’s one thing you could drop this week to make space for what really matters?