No matter how much we wish it weren’t true, there are only so many hours in a day. As a busy business owner, you’re probably using just about all of them. If you want to continue to be successful, it’s important that you are able to really get the most out of each and every moment of your day; otherwise you risk becoming overwhelmed and letting things fall through the cracks. Here are a few helpful tips on maximizing your time to get the most out of your days.

Start with a list. Seems kind of obvious, but many people forgo this step figuring they can keep track of everything they need to do in their heads. Unfortunately, the lengthier your to-do list the greater the chances of you forgetting something important. At the beginning of each day (or at the end of the previous one), make a list of all of things you need to accomplish, in order of importance. As you go through and complete each task, check it off and move to the next. This will keep you focused and on target.

Cut yourself some slack. It would be awesome if every day you were able to tackle every item on your task list, but we all know that sometimes it’s just impossible. Things pop up at the last minute and priorities shift from day to day. If you can’t finish an item on your list, just tack it on to the next day’s list and cut yourself a little slack. Tomorrow’s another day.

Be flexible with your schedule. If there’s one thing about business it’s that it’s fluid. Things change all the time, so you must be able to adjust accordingly. If something suddenly crops up that takes priority over other things on your list, don’t panic and abandon your whole schedule for the day. Simply take a moment to look things over, determine what things you can move around or postpone until tomorrow, and rearrange accordingly. You’ll be back on track and your day won’t be thrown completely off course.

Multitask whenever possible. This is especially easy now with the mobile technology that we have at our disposal. Instead of juggling a schedule that requires you to be stuck in the office all day, use technology to maximize your time. A virtual phone system can help with this, offering features like group calling and find me/follow me. This way you can still stay connected from wherever you are, allowing you the freedom to be on the go and tackle what needs to be done!

Learn to let go. There comes a time when we have to admit we are overwhelmed and do something about it. If you have other team members, pick one or two that you trust and train them on a few tasks that you feel comfortable delegating. If you don’t have employees, consider outsourcing through a site like oDesk. Once these tasks are off your plate you will be freed up to focus on more important things, like growing your business.

Unfortunately, as much as we will it to be true, there will never be any more hours added to the day. Make the most of the time you are given by implementing these strategies. They will help you to maximize your time, stick to your schedule and ensure that everything that needs to get done does.