What is your time actually worth?
- Steph
- May 11
- 4 min read
Not in terms of just money billed or earned, but how you spend it every day. If you've ever found yourself wondering where the time went, or time really flew today! - your time might be disappearing in small, unnoticed tasks that steal focus from what really matters. These little smidgens of time eventually add up and can take away from what you really want to be focussed on... so what is your time actually worth?
It took me until I ran my own business to be able to truly conceptualise this, because there is now an actual value on the hours I spend doing things. Whenever I need an example for this, I always go back to my doors. I probably could have fitted them myself - I'm pretty savvy when it comes to DIY - but was it worth my time? I'd have to work out the right tools, where to purchase the doors, ironmongery, what if something went wrong, how many hours and when would I be able to fit these hours in?
It has taken me years to break the habit of 'I can't (see also: not allowed) spend money on that when I can do it myself.' - I grew up surrounded by accountants, money spending was only ever for essentials. However, now I really understood the value of getting someone in to do it, specialists who do it as naturally as I organise, I got in the people who knew what they were doing from the beginning. The team replaced all my internal doors in far less time than it would've taken me to DIY the job, finished to a much higher standard than I would have achieved personally. And, the real bonus, I barely had to think about, or deal with any of the logistics aside from organising the time, date, and opening the front door - that brain space alone was worth paying for!
Where do your hours go?
Business owners often find themselves trapped in a cycle of low-value activities:
Responding to emails that could be handled by someone else
Following up on overdue invoices or client responses
Tackling small tasks that take longer than expected
These activities are necessary but can take up more time than they should. When you add distractions - like interruptions from pets, friends, family, or just thinking yeah I can multi-task this whilst watching the telly (guilty!) - the balance between work and life can feel off. If you're spending hours on administrative tasks like answering emails, chasing payments, or completing small “quick” jobs, you might be missing out on more important work. These tasks might end up quietly consuming large parts of your week without contributing directly to your goals - not business mentor approved that!
What you can do
If you find your day taken over by tasks that don’t require your unique skills, it’s time to reconsider how you use your time. Delegating or outsourcing these tasks can free you up to focus on what only you can do.
Ask yourself:
What tasks consume most of my time but don’t directly grow my business?
Which activities could someone else handle just as well or better?
How much is my time worth compared to the cost of outsourcing? (see the doors!)
By answering these questions, you can identify areas where you’re spending time inefficiently and make changes that improve your productivity and work-life balance.
How to take control of your time...
...because we all love a how-to guide to free up brain space!
Track your time
Spend a week noting how you use your hours. Include everything from meetings to breaks and distractions - I use clockify to track my hours, and did just this, clocking everything like getting distracted by how cute the dog was sleeping... it's enlightening.
Identify low-value and time-consuming tasks
Highlight tasks that don’t require your expertise or don’t contribute significantly to your goals, or even the ones that you struggle to do efficiently or think this really shouldn't take this long.
Consider delegation
Look for reliable people or services to take over these tasks. This might include virtual assistants, accountants, or specialised contractors. If you need help finding people, I can help with some recommendations.
Set boundaries
Limit interruptions and create focused work periods. This could mean setting “do not disturb” times or managing notifications. I've found the easiest way for me to do this is first thing in the morning (when my phone isn't already pinging). I get a couple of hours focus work in before I even look at my phone, and then catch up on what's come in after that.
Review regularly
Time management is ongoing. Regularly check where your time goes and adjust as your business and life change. You may also find it helpful to factor in some 'buffer time for spanners' as it is in my diary - the unexpected things that need your attention that end up throwing your whole day off track.
The benefits of putting in this effort
When you treat your time as a valuable asset, you make decisions that protect it. This leads to:
Better quality work because you focus on what matters most
More free time for rest, family, or hobbies
Reduced stress from juggling too many tasks
Increased income by spending time on high-value activities
Understanding the true worth of your time helps you build a sustainable and fulfilling work routine.
If you haven’t yet looked closely at where your time goes, try tracking it this week. You might be surprised how much you can gain by simply shifting your focus and delegating the right tasks. Sometimes, a simple conversation (over a decent coffee) can help you realise ways to reclaim your time and improve your balance.
If you're up for a chat - mine's a decaf latte 😉
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