How Should a Business Owner Spend Time?

Time might just be your most valuable business resource—but it’s also the one that slips through your fingers fastest.

Between juggling day-to-day tasks and chasing long-term goals, figuring out how to spend your work week can feel like a constant balancing act.

The key? Focusing your energy on what actually moves the needle. When you prioritize with purpose—think strategic planning, relationship-building, and smart delegation—you can create space for growth without burning out.

It’s not about doing more. It’s about doing what matters most.

How You Spend Your Time Matters (For You and Your Business)

How you spend your time as a business owner doesn’t just shape your day—it shapes your entire business. You don’t need to clock endless hours; you just need to make your hours really count.

When you focus on high-impact work instead of just the never-ending to-do list, you give your business a real shot at meaningful growth.

Smart time management can help you zero in on what actually drives results—whether that’s boosting revenue, growing your customer base, or launching your next big thing. But without a strategy, it’s easy to fall into the trap of reacting to everything and achieving very little.

The trickiest part? Telling the difference between seemingly urgent tasks and what’s actually important. Emails, calls, and curveballs will always come flying in—but just because something’s loud doesn’t mean it’s always worth your attention.

So, How Should a Business Owner Be Spending Their Time?

When you’re running a business, you have to spend your time wisely, or you’ll burn out fast. Here’s how to make each day count:

1. Prioritize high-impact work. Not all tasks pull their weight. There are only so many hours in a day, so focus on the things that actually drive growth—like developing new products, forming strategic partnerships, or creating marketing that brings in new customers.

2. Align your time with your goals. Get clear on what you’re working toward, both short-term and long-term. Once you’ve got that down, it’s easier to spot which tasks are helping you move forward—and which ones are just noise.

3. Set aside time for strategy. It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day, but stepping back to plan and reflect is just as important. Block off regular time to review your progress, update your goals, and adjust your game plan.

4. Build a team you trust. You don’t have to do it all. Hire smart, invest in your people, and create a company culture that supports collaboration. The stronger your team, the more you can focus on big-picture thinking.

5. Use smart tools to lighten your load. Time-saving tech—like Ohai—can help you stay organized, automate the small stuff, and keep your schedule running smoothly. So you spend less time juggling and more time growing.

What You Need to Know About Delegation

You don’t have to do it all—and you shouldn’t try to. Delegating is one of the smartest ways to reclaim your time and focus on the work that really moves the needle. Whether you're handing off administrative tasks, bringing in outside experts, or outsourcing a whole function, freeing up your schedule starts with letting go of the right things.

What to Hand Off (And Why)

Start by looking at the tasks that eat up your time but don’t actually need you to do them.

Think admin, data entry, or scheduling. These jobs may be essential, but they don’t tap into your expertise.

Then there are the things others can just plain do better—like hiring an accountant to handle your books or a designer to spruce up your brand.

That’s not cutting corners, it’s just working smarter.

Put That Time to Better Use

Once you’ve cleared your plate, make it count. Use your extra hours to zoom out and focus on growth, like planning your next big move, launching new products, or building partnerships.

With scheduling tools like Ohai, you can also automate scheduling, surface action items from emails, and keep your team aligned—all without missing a beat.

Your Delegation Options

You’ve got a few routes when it comes to delegation:

• Hire in-house if you need consistency and want more control.
• Work with freelancers or contractors if flexibility is key and the work is project-based.
• Use a virtual assistant—like O—if you’re after ongoing support without the overhead.

The best fit depends on your goals, your budget, and how much oversight you want. The right setup will give you the freedom to lead—not just manage.

How to Use Tech to Buy Time

Running a business involves a lot of moving parts. Luckily, when you have the right tools, you don’t have to juggle everything manually. Using AI to handle the busy stuff, from automating the boring tasks to keeping your calendar on point, tech can give you back your most valuable resource: time.

Automate the Everyday

Repetitive tasks? Set them on autopilot.

Tools like marketing automation platforms can handle emails, schedule social posts, and nurture leads while you focus on the big-picture work.

You can also automate invoicing, data backups, and even parts of customer service—so you’re not stuck doing the same thing over and over again.

Keep Your Calendar in Check

Your time’s too precious to waste on scheduling chaos. Calendar tools help you manage meetings, deadlines, and to-dos without dropping the ball. Smart features like automatic scheduling, time tracking, and shared calendars make it easy to stay on track.

And with Ohai, you can sync your personal and work life in one place—so your business goals don’t compete with family time.

Streamline the Back Office

Managing money and operations can eat up hours if you’re doing it all by hand. Luckily, software exists for just about everything.

Accounting tools help you invoice, track expenses, and stay on top of reports. Inventory systems manage stock levels, orders, and shipments. The result is fewer mistakes, faster workflows, and more time to focus on growth. There’s literally no “lose” here.

Is Personal Time Allowed?

That’s an obvious “yes,” and it’s actually super important.

When you love what you do, work can easily spill into every part of your day. But if you never switch off, burnout isn’t far behind. Setting boundaries isn’t about doing less—it’s about protecting your time so you can show up fully, both in business and in life.

Create a Clear Divide

Your business deserves your focus, but so does the rest of your life. Set defined work hours (and stick to them), build in real, scheduled breaks, and take time off without guilt. This is essential for a healthy work-life balance.

Whether it's a weekend getaway or a midweek yoga class, personal time helps you recharge so you can lead with energy, not exhaustion.

Make Room for What Matters

Spending time with loved ones, chasing hobbies, or simply doing nothing for a bit—these things aren’t distractions, they’re fuel. And when they feel impossible to fit in? Your personal AI assistant can take a look at your calendar and show you where to slot in some breathing room.

When you make space for joy and connection, you come back to work sharper, calmer, and more creative. Personal growth matters just as much as business growth.

Learn to Say “No” (Without the Guilt)

Every yes comes at a cost.

If something doesn’t align with your goals or drains more than it gives, it’s okay to pass. Saying no protects your energy and helps you stay focused on what really moves the needle. Boundaries are where good business (and good mental health) begin.

Use Regular Reviews to Reclaim More Time

Even when your calendar’s running like clockwork, there’s always room to fine-tune. Building in time to review how you work helps you spot what’s working, what’s not, and where your energy is getting lost in the shuffle.

Audit Your Hours

A time audit sounds fancy, but it’s really just taking a closer look at where your day actually goes. Track your tasks for a week or two—then zoom out.

Are you spending significantly too much time on things that don’t move the needle? Is a simple task turning into a time sink? These little insights can lead to big changes.

Keep Shifting

Once you’ve got the data, don’t let it collect dust. Use it.

Maybe it’s time to delegate more, reshuffle your schedule, or invest in a tool that makes the busywork disappear. What worked three months ago might not fit anymore—and that’s okay.

Staying flexible keeps your systems sharp and your time well spent.

Treat It Like a Tune-Up

Think of it as a regular check-in, not a once-off overhaul. A small adjustment here, a smarter process there—it all adds up.

And with Ohai helping you stay on top of your day-to-day, it’s easier to keep things running smoothly without missing a beat.

Making Every Minute Count For Your Business

How you spend your time can shape the future of your business. When you focus on what truly matters—like high-impact tasks, smart delegation, and continuous improvement—you set yourself up for long-term success.

But let’s be real: time management takes more than good intentions. It takes structure, strategy, and a little help.

That’s where Ohai comes in. With AI-powered scheduling, task prioritization, and smart reminders, Ohai helps you stay focused on the work that moves the needle, without letting the rest fall through the cracks.

Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been in the game for years, it’s never too late to rethink how you manage your time. Be intentional, stay flexible, and let Ohai help you turn busy days into productive ones.

You’ve got big things to build—try Ohai.ai today to help you make space for them.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

Where do business owners spend their time?

Mostly on big-picture strategy, day-to-day operations, customer relationships, finances, and marketing. In other words, juggling a lot.

How do I manage my time as a business owner?

Start with clear priorities. Delegate where you can, automate what you should, and use smart tools to help you stay on track. Ohai can help with all three.

What do most small business owners struggle with?

Time management tops the list, followed by financial consistency, marketing, and balancing short-term demands with long-term planning.

How should a small business owner pay himself?

Set a salary that reflects your role, fits your business's financial health, and meets any legal or tax obligations. A little professional advice here can go a long way.