Entrepreneurs Lose 3 Weeks Every Year, according to a Survey—Here’s How to Reclaim That Time

Entrepreneurs across generations are losing over three weeks of productivity each year due to wasted time, according to a survey by Talker Research commissioned by Slack. The study of 2,000 U.S. small business owners found that the average entrepreneur spends one hour and 36 minutes daily on unproductive tasks.

From distractions to tech inefficiencies, these time-draining habits prevent business owners from focusing on growth.

What the Survey Revealed

The study uncovered several key challenges:

• Non-work-related distractions top the list, affecting 57% of respondents.
• Procrastination slows down 47%.
• Waiting for status updates wastes time for 28%.
• A growing issue is context switching between digital tools (17%). Many entrepreneurs use an average of four tools daily, with a third using five or more.

This constant juggling leads to inefficiencies, with 30% searching for information in the wrong places and 29% finding themselves repeating messages across platforms.

Generational differences also play a role:

• Gen Z: 47% said they are confident in their time management skills, focusing on setting boundaries.
• Millennials: Rely heavily on technology to stay on track.
• Gen X and Boomers:  Reported that setting boundaries and saying "no" when they're not able to take on more work is important to them.

Regardless of approach, 69% agree that focusing on what's important is key to productivity.

How Bitdefender Saves Time and Money for Entrepreneurs

Introducing new tools is a strategy many business owners are adopting, with 59% of respondents implementing technology this year to simplify tasks (62%), save time (59%), and improve their products or services (51%).

Bitdefender Ultimate Small Business Security checks all these boxes. More than just a cybersecurity solution, it actively saves time by preventing disruptions, offering seamless protection, and safeguarding your reputation for delivering quality products and services.

Here's how:

1. Scam Detection:

Fraudulent emails, texts, and chats waste precious time. The Scam Copilot scans communications for scams and provides instant guidance, preventing your team from spending hours verifying or recovering from fraud.

2. Digital Identity Monitoring:

Data breaches and unauthorized use of your business identity can take weeks to resolve. Bitdefender monitors your digital footprint, including the dark web, and alerts you to risks, saving you from costly damage control.

3. Email Protection:

Phishing attacks are a significant time-waster. With Email Protection, suspicious emails and links are blocked before they reach your inbox, ensuring employees don't waste time on potentially dangerous messages.

4. Password Management:

Forgotten passwords or weak security can lead to frustrating downtime. Creating strong, unique passwords for every account takes considerable effort, and not remembering them often traps you in the dreaded "forgotten password loop" — a notorious time-waster.

With Bitdefender's Password Manager, you can simplify this process. It generates and securely stores complex passwords, giving you seamless access to your accounts while ensuring top-tier security.

5. Secured Remote Work:

A built-in VPN protects your team's communications over public Wi-Fi, avoiding data breaches that could take days or weeks to resolve. Your team stays productive no matter where they work.

6. Device Protection:

Malware can grind your operations to a halt. Bitdefender offers real-time detection and removal of threats like ransomware, ensuring your devices stay secure and your business runs smoothly.

Reclaim your lost hours today with Bitdefender. Check out our plans and see how we can save you time, money, and stress.

Check out our comprehensive security plans here, tailored to meet the unique needs of small businesses, here.