Ever wondered why, as a business owner, you can’t get everything done despite giving it your all? I’ve been there. Running an SME often feels like you’re always playing catch-up. But here’s the real question: Is it just about managing time, or is there more to the equation?

Let me guide you through the connection between time and energy management and how the right approach can make you more productive, less burned out, and put your business on the path to sustainable growth. Drawing from my experiences in My Dates with SME Owners and Dan Martell’s Buy Back Your Time, I’ll explore how mastering both time and energy can elevate productivity and drive long-term success.

The Common Struggle: Is Time Slipping Away?

Time management has been my Achilles’ heel. No matter how early I started or how hard I worked, time seemed to slip away. Was I doing something wrong, or was this just part of running a business? Turns out, many SME owners feel the same way. In *My Dates with SME Owners*, I share stories of entrepreneurs constantly firefighting despite their best efforts.

But is time the only issue? Dan Martell, in Buy Back Your Time, argues that time is just half the battle—it’s about managing energy too. That’s when it hit me: It wasn’t that I was doing the wrong tasks, I was doing them at the wrong time.

Time Management: A Good Start, But Not Enough

Time management is essential, no doubt. Prioritizing tasks and working on what matters most is foundational. Techniques like the Pomodoro method and task batching, which I discuss in My Dates with SME Owners, have been game-changers for many.

The Pomodoro method—25 minutes of focused work with breaks—helps maintain momentum. Task batching, grouping similar tasks, minimizes the distractions of switching between activities. But even after mastering these techniques, something still felt off.

That’s when Martell’s energy management insights hit home. I wasn’t managing my energy efficiently. So, how do you get that right?

 Energy Management: The Overlooked Key to Success

Have you noticed certain times of day when you’re more energized or creative? For me, it’s early mornings. Dan Martell points out that understanding your energy levels is crucial for productivity. In Buy Back Your Time, he explains that different tasks need different energy—creative, analytical, or physical.

It’s simple: You wouldn’t use your high-energy hours for routine admin work, right? Reserve that time for strategic thinking or problem-solving. Once I began aligning tasks with my energy peaks, everything changed.

The Perfect Combo: Time + Energy = Success

The magic happens when you combine time and energy management. I started by auditing how I spent my time and how my energy fluctuated. What I found was eye-opening. I had been using my high-energy mornings for low-impact tasks and struggling to complete important work in the afternoon.

So, what’s the next step after identifying your energy patterns?

1. Batch High-Energy Tasks Together: Now, I save my most critical tasks for peak energy periods—strategy and creative work in the morning, routine tasks in the afternoon.

2. Delegate Low-Energy Tasks: A key lesson from Buy Back Your Time. I realized I was holding onto tasks I didn’t need to. Once I started delegating admin work, I unlocked extra hours in my day. For SMEs, outsourcing tasks like bookkeeping can free up time for growth-driving activities.

3. Create Routines with Breaks: Building short breaks into my day has helped sustain my energy levels. Structured routines, as I discuss in My Dates with SME Owners, prevent decision fatigue and make it easier to stick to this energy-driven workflow.

The Long-Term Payoff: Sustainable Growth

Mastering both time and energy management isn’t just about getting more done—it’s about feeling less stressed, avoiding burnout, and experiencing a greater sense of accomplishment.

By aligning tasks with peak energy periods and delegating low-value activities, you reclaim time to focus on what matters—strategic thinking, growth planning, and innovation. This is what propels your business to the next level.

Conclusion: A Smarter Way Forward

Here’s the key takeaway: Time management is only half of the equation. To unlock your full potential, you must manage your energy too. It’s not about working harder—it’s about working smarter. By combining time management techniques from My Dates with SME Owners and energy strategies from Buy Back Your Time,  SMEs can elevate productivity and growth without sacrificing well-being.

So, how are you managing your energy today?