Entrepreneurship is a constant challenge. Unlike the corporate world, where each professional has a defined role, in a startup the founders must assume different responsibilities.

In the first months (or even years), the generalist entrepreneur is the one who starts the business, validating the market, developing the product and managing operations. As the business grows, it is time to delegate and specialize.

But until then, organization is key to avoid saturation and burnout. At Bcombinator, we have seen how entrepreneurs who manage their time better are able to move forward faster and with greater clarity. That’s why we share with you these strategies to optimize your productivity and stay focused on what really matters.

1. Set deadlines and manage your time

Deadlines are essential to keep up the pace of work and avoid procrastination. Whether for you or your team, having clear deadlines helps to prioritize and distribute tasks efficiently.

To better manage time, we recommend tools such as:

• Trello or Asana: They allow you to divide tasks into visual boards and assign people in charge.
• Slack: For internal communication with reminders and notification automation.
• Skello: Ideal for organizing schedules and shifts in work teams.

Choose the one that best suits your workflow and make it an essential part of your routine.

2. Identify your priorities and learn how to say “no”.

The day-to-day life of an entrepreneur is full of distractions and urgent tasks. However, not everything that seems important really is. Before you start each day, ask yourself:

• What are the three tasks that, if completed today, will have the greatest impact on my business?
• Which ones can wait or be delegated?

The famous Eisenhower method helps to classify tasks into:

1. Urgent and important: Resolve them immediately.
2. Important but not urgent: Plan them with clear dates.
3. Urgent but not important: Delegate to your team.
4. Neither urgent nor important: Discard or reduce the time spent on them.

3. Don’t fall into the multitasking trap.

Although it may seem like a valuable skill, multitasking often decreases productivity. Studies show that the brain takes time to readjust each time it switches activities, leading to mental fatigue and errors.

Instead, try the Pomodoro technique:

• Work in blocks of 25-50 minutes focused on a single task.
• Take short breaks of 5-10 minutes.
• Every four blocks, take a longer break (15-30 minutes).

This will help you stay focused and avoid mental exhaustion.

4. Your calendar: the most powerful tool

A well-organized calendar avoids meeting overload and helps to better allocate time. Some best practices include:

• Block hours of deep work without interruptions.
• Automate meeting scheduling with tools such as Calendly.
• Use labels and colors to categorize events (meetings, focus time, networking, etc.).
• Set aside time for contingencies and avoid overloaded agendas.

Reviewing your calendar each morning will give you clarity on the day’s priorities and help you avoid unnecessary meetings.

5. Taking care of your energy is part of the job

Being productive does not mean being busy all day. To maintain a sustainable pace, it is essential to take care of your physical and mental health. Some key practices are:

• Sleep well: Sleep deprivation reduces decision-making ability.
• Eating right: Maintaining stable energy levels prevents fatigue.
• Take active breaks: Getting up and stretching every hour improves concentration.
• Practice mindfulness or conscious breathing: Apps like Aura help reduce stress.

Conclusion

Entrepreneurship is a challenging journey, but good organization can make the difference between success and burnout. At Bcombinator we believe that the balance between productivity and well-being is key to sustainable growth.

By applying these strategies, you will be able to optimize your time, focus on what really matters and enjoy the process of building your startup.

Now it’s time to put them into practice! Which of these tips will you start applying today?