How do I know if I am busy or productive?

motivation, time management

Are you busy or productive? There is a difference!

What do clarity and productivity have to do with each other?

Are you clear on your life goals and values? Do the tasks on your to-do list support these goals? Or are you just doing things without really thinking about them?

It’s ok if you haven’t thought about it much. But let’s take a few minutes to do just that. If you’re only doing things on your list because they are there, without thinking about how the tasks fit in the larger plans of your life, then you are simply busy. Not productive.

And that’s no way to live.

Busy or productive Coffee cup saying: Don't be busy. Be productive.

Taking time to think about where you want to be in several years, or even six months ensures that what’s on your to-do list supports these plans.

It motivates you when you don’t want to do something on your list. It helps you clarify the next step.

Let’s Clarify

If you want to play tag with your kids or hike all summer, then taking a walk or exercising in the depths of winter is on your list. You might not want to do it today, but you know your future self will thank you.

If you are looking for a promotion at work or to grow your client base, then make sure the small steps you take today support that goal. It might mean a conversation with your supervisor or a business coach to understand those steps. It might mean stepping out of your comfort zone. Again, that clarity guides you.

That clarity guides you when you lack the motivation to do anything. Maybe you’re tired. The weather is crummy and you want to curl up on the couch and watch a movie. Maybe the weather is nice and you want to go play outside.

When you’ve done the work to clarify your values and where you are headed, you have clarity around today’s tasks. You know what needs to be done and you can take those next steps.

And when those tasks are small, you almost have no excuse to not tackle them!

If you want more information on how to start this work, sign up for a free coaching call! Or, sign up for my private podcast for more ideas!

Let’s Talk About Productivity Myths

Help, time management
productivity myths

Let’s take a look at some productivity myths. It might seem like while we are drowning in our tasks and commitments, we can’t take the time to fix things. We just stumble through, feeling like someday things will get better.

But they don’t. Because we’re not making any changes. We’re too overwhelmed. We don’t know where to start. We don’t feel that things are going to get better.

Productivity Myths

I can’t take a break or even get a good night’s sleep. I must keep working and crossing things off my to-do list.

Actually, at some point, you stop being productive because you’re so tired and exhausted.

Taking restorative breaks and even sleeping helps you get more done.

The world will not stop spinning if you take a few hours or possibly a day to take care of yourself.

And, when you rejoin the world, you’ll be more productive!

I didn’t cross everything off my list. I’m such a failure. Why can’t I get anything done?

First off, you are not a failure! My guess is you get more done each day than you give yourself credit for.

You likely have more on your list than you can actually accomplish on any given day. We only have so much time and so much energy.

Figuring out what tasks need to be done each day and letting the rest go is a big step toward changing your relationship with time.

I’d like to hear where you struggle with productivity! Connect with me on your favorite social media platform and let me know!

If you’re ready to change these myths in your life, start here.

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How Do You Know You Are Busy?

mindset shift, time management

I was recently talking to someone about being busy. She said she knows she’s busy when she’s been working 7 days straight for weeks on end. Not making time for anything fun. 

And yes, that is busy. I also wonder if being busy includes those fun activities that we said yes to long ago but no longer find fun. 

If you’re used to plowing through each day, hauling kids from one activity to another (or running to your own), crossing tasks off your list as fast as you can, falling into bed exhausted at the end of the day, then you might not even be aware of how you are spending your time.

We committed to something and continue to do it because we feel we should or we don’t know how to say no. 

We do what’s on our task list because it’s there, not really thinking about why we are doing it and if it’s worth the time. 

How do we break this cycle?

What if you tracked your time, every 30-60 minutes for one, maybe even two weeks? (Find resources on how to do that here.)

Then spend time evaluating where your time is really going. 

know you are busy

When we track our time, we know where it’s going. We might think we’re spending a lot of time working, but we’re really not (or vice versa). Or that we’re rarely on social media, but in reality, the amount of time we spend mindlessly playing on the Internet surprises us. Or that all we do is laundry and dishes. But in reality, it’s less than 20 minutes a day on both. 

Then, what if we took that information and started being more intentional with our time? Finding ways to stop doing the things that no longer serve us. Focusing on the tasks that are moving us forward in our lives, both professionally and personally. Wrapping up the projects that we’ve committed to but they linger because we’re not invested in them anymore. (and, wrapping up could include delegating or deleting, if that’s possible). 

What does your time look like? Are you busy? Or are you spending your time intentionally?

If you want to talk about tracking your time and what to do with that information once you have it, schedule a 30-minute call with me!

Sometimes I Think Busy Is A Four-Letter Word

habits, mindset shift, time management

Yes, I said it. I think busy is a four-letter word. And not a good one.

Are you constantly doing something? A task on your to-do list? A commitment or activity?

busy is a four-letter word

Is everything that you’re doing moving you forward personally or professionally? Or the required parts of living, like dishes and laundry? 

Or are there things on there that you do but aren’t really necessary? You’re going through the motions, without thinking about what you’re doing? (It’s ok, be honest with yourself here). 

Sometimes, I think our society treats being busy as a badge of honor. 

We’re a country that doesn’t guarantee time off. Most companies who do offer vacation time only offer about two weeks. And those of us who have vacation rarely take that time. And if we do, we’re checking emails and taking calls. 

We never really rest. 

Outside of work, we have ourselves and our kids signed up for every activity under the sun. Every minute is a scheduled play date, sports, or music activity. Weekends are full of birthday parties, more play dates, and more sports. 

We can’t let ourselves or our kids ever utter the sentence I’m bored. (Side note here, I’ve read it isn’t actually that they’re bored, but that they want connection with you. And giving them connection, and sitting with them in their boredom for a few minutes, moves them out of it). 

We never stop that constantly running list in our heads. When we’re working, we’re thinking about the house tasks and if we’ve spent enough time with our kids. When we’re with our kids, we’re thinking of all the other tasks we’re not doing. 

So we’re never really present in our lives. This is part of our overwhelm. This constantly feeling like there’s something else we need to be doing.  

And we complain about it, but in a way that makes it seem like there’s really nothing we can do about it. (Or that we enjoy it, maybe, we’re not sure. We’re too tired to really figure it out). 

So what do we do?

So, what happens if we say no to a few of those birthday party invitations? To all the activities? Picking one or two for each family member each season? 

What if we make time for leisure? For rest? 

Those to-do lists are always going to be there. There will always be something that needs to be done.

If you have ways to manage your tasks (something I talk often about here and in my virtual community, Stride Together) you know that your big stuff is taken care of. It’s documented. It’s scheduled. There’s time. So you can focus on the work task or spending time with the kids.

What are you going to do with this leisure? 

Want to keep reading? Here’s more!

If you’re struggling with how to make time for leisure or letting go of the guilt of it, schedule some time with me!

Next week, we will look at how to know if you are too busy!

Here’s Why I Want You To Stop Reloading The Dishwasher

habits, mindset shift

Stop reloading the dishwasher after someone else has loaded it. Stop picking up the toys your kids need to pick up. And, stop taking on more tasks around the house or at work because you think no one else is going to do it as well. 

stop it.

You are wearing yourself out. 

Sure, you might be able to fit more dishes in the dishwasher if you loaded it. But, if someone else already loaded it, then the task is done. Cross it off the list and move on. 

In college, I had a roommate who would reclean the bathroom after I did it. Because he didn’t think I did a good enough job. So I stopped cleaning the bathroom. What was the point? I wasn’t wasting my energy doing something that wasn’t respected. 

And I wonder if this happens in our own houses. As women, we take on tasks or redo tasks because no one else is going to do it up to our standards. 

But how is that serving you or those in your household? What is that teaching your kids? 

Of course, your kids aren’t going to put their toys away exactly as you would. But if they’re put away (even if they’re in the wrong boxes), does it matter? Sure, your partner does things differently. He or she is not you. My husband folds towels differently than I do. That doesn’t mean it’s wrong. I occasionally fold them that way now too. 

The point of all of this is a mindset shift. Find a way to let go of the way others do things. Let them be a part of the household and help each other get things done. 

If it’s important to you that something is done a certain way, explain it to the rest of your family. Help them learn it. Then let go. Or, if it’s really important, do it yourself. But you don’t get to complain when no one else helps. 

I’m not saying this is easy. I still struggle with it on occasion. But I’m working on saying to myself, Great, that’s one thing I can cross off my list.  

And I move on to the next task. 

Let me know what your mindset shifts need to be! What are you working on this week?

Here’s more on this topic.

Or, connect me on Instagram and share your thoughts on this topic with me!

Mindset Shifts: It’s All In Your Head

motivation

Let’s take a look at Mindset Shifts. Mindset is a big part of productivity. 

What? It’s not just getting as much done as possible every day? Finding tweaks to be more efficient? 

No, not to me at least. And no matter how efficient you are, there will always be more to do than we have time for. That to-do list will never end. And that is ok. 

My goal is to focus on getting the right things done each day.

Those tasks that move me forward, both professionally and personally. That I’m not just putting out fires every day. I’m making progress on projects and making time for myself and the things I enjoy doing (even if that means letting the laundry sit for a while). 

In trying to keep up with house cleaning, we clean half the house each week. It feels less overwhelming this way. In an ideal world, we work together as a family.

Recently, my five-year-old had no interest in helping us clean. I had asked her to pick up some toys that needed to be put away. She threw a fit, I got mad. No toys were cleaned up. 

A little while later, I hear her picking up the toys. She said she was cleaning up to make mom happy and help mom clean. 

The way she said this bothered me. 

We don’t clean the house to make mom happy. Yes, I might be the one leading the troops through it. But we all work together. We all help each other. It’s not just for me. It’s for all of us. We all live in this house. 

We say it’s great when a husband or dad helps out with house chores or the kids. But the men live here too. They are parents, not babysitters. My husband is my teammate, not an employee. We may have different levels of cleanliness. One of us may be more particular about how something is done than someone else. But we are a team. 

I’m talking about a subtle mindset shift here. That it’s not one person demanding everyone else clean to his or her level of cleanliness, on their timeline. It’s not taking on this level of stress making everything happen ourselves as the women in the household. 

It’s working together as a team and communicating with others in the household. 

One way to do this is through family meetings. 

Change is a Process, not an event. mindset shifts

Family meetings are so helpful in keeping the house functioning and everyone on the same page. What you talk about will change from week to week and season to season. 

Start having weekly family meetings. Our meetings are maybe 5 minutes long, that’s all my kids can handle. And right now, all we really talk about is cleaning tasks and what one fun thing we each want to do over the weekend. We also ask the kids about what went well for them this past week and what they’d like to see us do differently next week. 

Here are some other things you can talk about during a family meeting. 

  • Division of household tasks
  • What’s going well / what’s not working
  • Upcoming schedules
  • Discussion of bigger family issues – vacations, new routines, changes to a schedule, etc. 

What would a family meeting help you accomplish? Schedule a free coaching call with me to get started today! Or, sign up for my private podcast for more ideas.

Are You Ready For the Holidays? They’re Almost Here!

mindset shift, routines, time management

Are you ready for the holidays?

The pandemic is still complicating things. It might still be a year for social distancing and smaller parties. Or more of staying at home and visiting friends and family on Zoom. 

the holidays are here!

Regardless of how you spend the holidays, here are a few ideas for thriving, not surviving. 

Simplify

Maybe you’re one to go overboard for the holidays. Everyone gets gifts. You mail cards to everyone you know. And your family is wearing matching PJ’s in the photo that’s on the card you send. 

If you love doing this, please keep doing it. If you do it because you feel obligated, take a step breath, and keep reading.

Make a list of everything you do during the holidays. Look at the list. Examine it. 

Do these tasks make you happy? Or are you doing them because you feel you need to? Are there a few that you can skip? 

Pick the few items that make you happy. Cross the rest off.  No one will notice! 

Ask

Ask each family member to pick one activity they enjoy and want to do during the holidays. 

Schedule it. 

Stick with the activities that your family enjoys. Skip the rest! You will all be happier. 

You do not have to say yes to every event that comes your way. If you love attending all the parties and it fills you up, then go! 

But realize that might not be true for everyone in your family. Or you. And that’s ok. 

Say yes to the events that you and your family get the most out of. 

When you’re overbooked, you don’t enjoy the holidays. It feels like one thing after another and before you know it, it’s January and you’re left wondering what happened. 

Being intentional about the events and activities you take on helps you feel present at each of them. Sinking into the fun of the moment. 

Simplify Some More

Are you hosting a meal? What can you do to make it easy? In our family, the person hosting makes the main dish and everyone else brings a side dish. Everyone signs up for something so we don’t end up with 6 side dishes of mashed potatoes. And it takes the pressure off the host to not be in charge of everything. 

Maybe it’s never been done this way in your family. Maybe it’s always been on you to make the holidays happen. That doesn’t mean you can’t request a change. At least start the conversation. It could be as simple as everyone else bringing appetizers or desserts. 

After The Holidays, Evaluate

In January, spend some time thinking about what worked and what didn’t work in December. What did your family enjoy? What do you wish you had skipped? Take notes and put them somewhere you will find next November. 

Try a few of these ideas this year. The key is to only do the things that make you happy. Don’t wear yourself out doing everything! Doing a few things allows you to enjoy those activities and tasks and get the most out of them. 

If you want more ideas on how to simplify your life, schedule a Get On Track call with me and tell me you want to talk about the holidays!

Are Lists Helpful? I Say They Are!

motivation, time management

Are lists helpful? Yes! We recently bought a new house and moved and I made so many lists to make the process easier.

We knew we wanted to move early in the year before we’d even applied for mortgages or found a realtor. 

We started by cleaning out closets. One shelf at a time. We donated so much stuff! 

are lists helpful

Then we moved on to finding a realtor and making a list of what we wanted in a house. Where we wanted to live. The non-negotiables when it came to location or the house layout. 

And there were so many lists. Address changes to make. Documents to gather to apply for our mortgage. Items to figure out the best place to donate. 

The lists helped us know the next steps to take. I could sit down and spend 10 minutes changing addresses. I knew the order we wanted to pack the house so I could work on 1-2 boxes each day. 

So are lists helpful?

Knowing the next step of any project helps it be less overwhelming. 

When you get a new project or are stuck on a current one, take time to identify all the steps. As small as possible. 

Then do the first one. And the next one. Slowly but surely, you will get there.

Want to get started with your next steps? Sign up for my private podcast today!

Sourdough Starter. Growth. Finding Your Passion.

mindset shift, motivation, time management

Many articles from the past year would make you believe that you are not doing enough. With so many people being home during the pandemic you suddenly had time to clean out your closets, finish all those personal projects that have been lingering on your to-do list, and learn a new language. And if you didn’t suddenly find yourself motivated to tackle all of these things, well, that’s on you. It’s not that you haven’t had time, you’re just lazy and lack discipline. 

Huh. Really? 

lack discipline text says: your worth is not equal to your productivity. How much you get done each day does not make you sho you are.

Because you weren’t also taking care of kids while juggling full-time work or just trying to get through the day because it seems as though the world is coming down around us. 

I have shared how I feel this pandemic has wiped the slate clean for many of us. How this is a great time to think about what we want our lives to look like as we move forward. And not to rush back to the craziness of life BC (before Covid). 

It’s ok if that hasn’t happened. If you’re aware of it but not ready to process it or figure it out. 

We are going to be processing the trauma of this pandemic for years to come. Disruption is everywhere. And the changes keep coming. 

The pandemic is still here. And as long as people are still refusing to get vaccinated and wear masks, it’s not going anywhere. Until more of the global population has access to vaccines, it’s not going anywhere. 

And we are going to struggle to move forward until that changes.

There are many articles out there related to your productivity and the pandemic. Getting motivated to work during the stress of a pandemic. (here are my thoughts on that) That with no commute, you have so much more time on your hands! You should be working more! 

Because our society will have you believe that the more you get done, the more you produce, and the more you cross off your to-do list, the better! Because our value is all about productivity. 

No. It’s not. 

You are not your productivity.

If at the end of the day, your kids are loved and fed, you are doing enough. 

Surviving a pandemic is enough. 

One of the things we talk about in my virtual community, Stride Together, is that knowing what’s important to you helps you prioritize your tasks. You focus on the things moving you, your family, and your business/job forward. Productivity is not about getting it all done every day.

If you’re struggling with this, let’s talk. I want to help you clarify these things for you. Even if it’s to set you up for success as we move out of the fog of this pandemic.

The Sunday Scaries and the Need to Escape

mindset shift, routines, time management

It’s Sunday night. I’m wondering what the heck happened to my weekend. What exactly did we do? I think I crossed a bunch of tasks off my list. The laundry is washed and dried, not necessarily put away. I’m tired. And I’m starting to dread Monday.

I’m looking at my calendar and tasks for the week. The week looks full. Maybe even overflowing. How am I going to get through this week? I’m tired just thinking about this week. I already wish it was Friday! 

dread Monday. woman looking overwhelmed at the clothes and mess in her living room.

Sound familiar? 

Life doesn’t have to be this way! Because we don’t have to continue to be so busy that we’re exhausted simply thinking about our week. 

We don’t need to dread Monday!

What if you designed a life you don’t need to escape from? 

If you knew your daily priorities and that you were able to complete them? 

Maybe you even have time for activities you love? For that ever-elusive ‘me-time’? (I promise, it is possible!)

I want you to do something for me. Spend some time thinking about what you want your life to look like in the (near) future. If you didn’t have the dreaded Sunday scaries.

Maybe it’s planning something fun that you look forward to for Monday or Tuesday nights. Nothing complicated. It could be a regular phone call with a friend. A virtual dance class or yoga class. 

Try saying no to any new activities that come your way, while you figure out what activities you and your family want to take on next. Not signing up for soccer, dance, and piano lessons for each kid. Pick one activity for each family member (which can, honestly, still be a lot to manage each week). 

I know that might feel like a lot right now. I’m just asking you to think about it. 

I think this pandemic has changed so much for all of us. In big and little ways. We’re physically and emotionally exhausted and drained. Our routines are a mess. Our ability to make decisions is fried. We never know if the decisions we’re making are right. 

Maybe you’ve spent the past year and a half barely surviving each day. It was all you could do to get your work done and take care of your kids. You looked at Facebook and felt like everyone else was taking on a new hobby or finding their passion (whatever that means!). 

And you know what? That’s ok. 

Simply getting through each day is sometimes enough. Sometimes that’s all we can do.

Let’s stop talking about getting back to normal. I don’t want to go back to normal. I’m not even sure what that is. I don’t want to go back to who I was in 2019 or even February 2020. I’m not the same person. 

For me, this pandemic has wiped my slate clean. It’s clarified so much for me. What’s important to me. Who is important to me. What I want my life to look like in the future. 

Honestly, rebuilding from scratch sounds less exhausting than going back to the way things were. Where you ran from one activity to another without really thinking about it. Attending every birthday party, sports activity, and event you were invited to. Using retail therapy as a way to feel better about how crazy things were. And talking about being busy like it was a badge of honor. 

How about creating your life with intention. Building a life that you don’t need to escape from. That doesn’t require weekly massages or bubble baths to relax or feel slightly better about things (next week’s topic). 

What steps can you start on now? They can be the smallest steps necessary! Take that first step and see where it leads you!

Keep reading here and here.

Kids Don’t Want To Clean Their Room.

mindset shift, routines, time management

A few weeks ago, we were all picking up the house so that we could more thoroughly clean it. My 5-year-old daughter refused to participate. She’s 5. She’s stubborn and she’s not going to do anything she doesn’t want to do. 

So I let it go and we all moved on. 

A little while later, I hear her saying she’s cleaning up to help me. Because mom needs it. 

helping is a lifeskill. boy cleaning up toys

Now, I understand that often our kids do stuff around the house to help mom. Mom’s the one who manages the chores and house cleaning (more on why this is a problem at a later date.) 

But I didn’t like the way she said this. I didn’t like that she was only doing it because Mom was mad. 

My kids need to learn how to pick up after themselves. Participating in a team (family) is a life skill. Helping is a life skill. So is cleaning up after yourself. Our kids need to know how to do this stuff on their own. 

We need to all participate in keeping the house functioning. 

Here are some ideas to get everyone involved: 

  • Make it fun. Don’t tell your kid to go clean their room. Their brains will shut down and it won’t happen.
    • Help them play the seek and sort game.  
    • Turn it into a game. We play basketball with my kids’ laundry. You can do the same with any toys that go into a bin. (side note, don’t use bins with lids. 
    • Have kids race against you (never against each other. Siblings are already competitive enough). See if they can put something away faster than you. 
  • Make it easy to put things away. (Lids add one more step). 
  • Have special time with them first. 
  • Do something fun together as a family once you’re done. 

If your kids are older, these same guidelines apply. Get them to participate. Ask them how they want to participate (and skipping out is not an option). 

Keep it small. We clean half the house each weekend so it’s not overwhelming. We pick up most of the mess each day so it doesn’t get overwhelming. 

How cluttered your house gets is up to you and those who live there. What is your level of acceptance of mess? I don’t have the energy for a spotless house every day. I do like a weekly reset. Figure out what works for your family. 

What steps can you take this week to get back on track? If you want help with this, schedule a free coaching call or sign up for my private podcast.

How To Deal When You Are Feeling Overwhelmed By Everything

habits, mindset shift, motivation, routines

As we’re coming out of the pandemic fog and intentionally rebuilding our lives, let’s look at our task lists. There might be piles of things that need to be cleaned out or purged. Maybe you have lists of house projects you wanted to do during this past year but never got around to. You might have activities you want to get yourself and your family back into. Are you overwhelmed by everything?

man looking at stickie notes of question marks on the wall. Overwhelmed by everything

Around here, we had delayed doctor’s appointments (dentist, eye doctor, physicals, etc.). We had closets full of things we’d purged but hadn’t donated. There are projects around the house we’ve been delaying. All of these are decisions weighing on our brains that we’re not taking care of. So they rattle around in our heads because our brains wonder why we’re not immediately taking care of them. 

We’ve been talking about what we want the next few months to look like.

Our kids won’t be vaccinated for a while, so not much is going to change for us. We’d like to spend much of the summer camping. There are a few friends we’d like to see. Otherwise, we’re going to continue staying home, hanging out in our backyard. Making homemade ice cream and playing in the sprinkler.

Last week I asked you to start thinking about the things you want to keep or shift going forward. How’d that go?

Are you diving back into everything or taking it slow? 

One of the things I’ve most appreciated about this past year is how it forced families to slow down. To stop running from one activity to another. Families are no longer spending their weekends attending birthday parties, soccer games, or other sports. And no longer reaching Sunday night exhausted and not ready to start the next week. 

I think society has us conditioned to believe that we must say yes to everything that comes our way. Our kids won’t get into a good college if they’re not playing multiple sports in elementary school. That our kids are going to cause trouble if every moment is not scheduled. 

But what does that do to our family time and our sanity? When we simply become activity directors and drivers for our kids. Scheduling playdates, music lessons, sports, etc. for every minute of the day? When do our kids simply get to be kids and learn how to entertain themselves? Your kids can learn how to entertain themselves. It might take some time, but it can be done. 

As you discuss what you’re going to start doing over the next few months, think about creating family meta-decisions.

This is an overarching guideline used to make decisions. It could be that each family member gets one activity per semester, including parents. Maybe it’s one sport and one other activity. One could be that each parent has one night each week when they are out of the house. Every Friday is a family movie and pizza night. Whatever works for your family. 

Create these guidelines and they’ll make your schedule easier to figure out. These guidelines create guardrails against the craziness of diving right back into everything we think we missed. They will help contain the chaos! 

Read more about meta-decisions here.

If you want to talk more about Incorporating meta-decisions in your life, schedule some time with me.

Coming Out Of The Fog

habits, Interruptions, mindset shift, motivation

We’ve all been in a fog this past year. There has been so much unknown, fear, and uncertainty. As we move forward to the next chapter, it’s like we’re coming out of the fog. Let’s make sure we come out of this fog with some intention and focus.

I’ve heard from many moms how much they’ve enjoyed having family dinners together on a regular basis. Not rushing around from so many activities. Not being so overbooked on the weekends. I’ve enjoyed not rushing around in the mornings getting everyone ready for the day. I like that we all sit down for lunch together.

stone steps through green grass. coming out of the fog

Yes, moms have been overwhelmed with so much this past year. The unknown. Remote learning. Decision fatigue. Working while your kid is sitting next to you at the dining room table. The piles of laundry and dishes that seem to accumulate when you’re not looking (which, let’s be honest, is not just a pandemic thing). The fact that everyone has to eat what feels like all the time. The worrying about the health of loved ones. The laying awake at 2 am worrying about everything. Again, the unknown.

So what’s next?

As life around us starts to open up, what are you doing next? Take some time to answer these questions. Ask your family these questions! Use them as a starting point for what’s next.

  • What is it you want to keep about this past year? (For me, it’s Sunday night card games with my husband).
  • What from your pre-pandemic life do you not miss? (For me, it’s saying yes to things because I feel I should. I’m going to be much more intentional about how I spend my time).
  • What do you want your life to look like going forward?

Let’s not go back to the crazy, overwhelmed, rushing around we did pre-pandemic. Say yes to what is important to us. Let’s build back better than we were in 2019. Let’s get intentional about our lives.

Who’s with me?

Keep reading about this topic:

One Big Interruption

Feeling Uprooted? Start Planting New Seeds

If you want some guidance on getting started on these ideas, schedule time with me.

What If You Have No Motivation To Complete Your To-do List?

mindset shift, motivation, time management

Do you have days where you stare at your to-do list, unsure where to start? There are so many things on the list. You don’t want to do any of them but you know you need to complete at least some of them if you want to keep your job or the roof over your family.

But really, you want to crawl back in bed with chocolate and a book.

I get it. At this point in the pandemic, I need almost daily pep talks to get out of bed. Every day feels the same. I usually like snowy weather, but this year, I’m over it. I’m ready for sun and warm days. (It’s currently April and snowing here in Denver).

Complete to-do list slow progress is better than no progress.

And if you could see the toys spread around the house. I’m worn out from getting the kids to pick up every day. Sometimes, I wonder why I bother asking them to clean up (and some days I don’t). They’re just going to make a mess again tomorrow!

And everyone needs to eat. All the time apparently, by the number of dirty dishes in our kitchen!

So why am I sharing this?

Because I get it. I get the daily struggle of finding the motivation to get those work tasks done. Of finding the energy to have another pillow fight with the kids. Another game of tag. Figuring out what’s for dinner. And when did the kids last have a bath?

This past year has been tough. This pandemic shifted so many things for so many people.

And I think some good will come out of it. I think people have realized what’s important and who is important, in their lives. Families have enjoyed having a slower pace of life. And I hope that continues as we move into this next phase of life.

We’re moving towards another chapter. What do we want that to look like? (Read more on this here.)

And how do we get motivated today? Here are a few simple ideas to get you started. We’ll keep talking about this over the next few weeks.

Move your body. Have a dance party. Create a list of music that energizes you. Exercise. Take a walk. Play tag with the kids. Whatever it is, get your body moving.

Know your tasks. We’ll talk about values a bit more next time. But when you know what truly needs to happen today, you can focus on those tasks. What next steps need to happen today? Everything else can wait.

Know the next step. Break your tasks down to the smallest possible next step. Then take it.

Manage interruptions. If you’re struggling to focus, minimize interruptions. Find more ideas here.

Pick one idea. Try it. And, if you struggle through today, know that tomorrow is another chance.

If you want to talk more about any of this, schedule some time with me!

You Get To Be The Scientist and Experiment

change anything, habits

When you’re making changes in your life, it’s not just building willpower and repeating something every day until it sticks. It’s taking a look at all the activities and people in your life and changing these sources of influence to better support you.

One of my favorite books on habits is Change Anything: The New Science of Personal Success, by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, David Maxfield, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler.

It looks at six sources of influence and how they impact your life. 

Let’s start with willpower. Have you heard of the Marshmallow Experiment? The one where kids are told to sit in front of a marshmallow. If they can go 15 minutes without eating it they get a second one? The kids who were able to delay gratification of eating that marshmallow were shown to be more successful in life. 

Most people assume that means the kids simply had more willpower. But that is far from the truth. The kids who were able to delay gratification had skills that helped them. Skills that we can all learn. 

This means that your struggle to get up early every day, stop eating chocolate, or stop shopping at the $1 bins at Target has very little to do with willpower. When we blame our failures on willpower, we ignore all of the influences around us that impact our ability. 

We try the latest fad to lose weight (it doesn’t stick). Maybe we follow the KonMari method of organizing and get rid of everything that doesn’t bring us joy (then go out and buy more stuff). We wonder if we’re ever going to stop procrastinating or reach any of our big life goals because we can’t seem to get a handle on our to-do list. 

One thing that’s missing here is that everyone is different. What works for you might not work for someone else. We need to try things, see what works, and tweak where necessary. We need to constantly examine what we’re doing. 

Be The Scientist and The Experiment

It’s time to try being both the scientist and the experiment in your life. Start thinking about the behaviors you want to change. Where do you struggle?

Answer the questions below. These answers will help you on this journey. 

  • What are your crucial moments? Where is it that you fall short of your goals?
    • These moments may be physical, or emotional, or involve certain people or places. 
    • Start becoming aware of these moments.
  • What are your vital behaviors? What actions do you want to take when you are in a crucial moment?
    • These actions or guidelines help influence your behavior.

Keep reading about these ideas here.

If you want help with building new habits in your life, let’s chat!

Do you feel like you’ll never get caught up?

Help, time management

Do you feel like you’ll never get caught up? Here are two more productivity myths. How do they fit into your life?

I’ll never get caught up. Tasks just keep coming at me and I spend all day putting out fires!

What does caught up even mean? You’re never going to get to the end of that to-do list and that’s ok!

What if you knew that the tasks you worked on each day were the ones moving you forward in life? And over time, as you get better at planning your days, you get ahead of those fires?

It is possible to feel on top of your to-do list!

I have to do it all myself. If someone else does it, it won’t be done right.

What happens if it’s done differently or not up to your standards? And how exhausted are you trying to do it all and never letting anyone help?

overwhelmed mom with to-do list never get caught up

Hold a conversation about what a completed task looks like. It’s one less thing for you to worry about!

Yes, it does take a village. Your family or team should be helping – let them!

Where do you struggle with your productivity? And what do you think of these productivity myths? Follow me on Instagram and DM me your struggles! Or, sign up for my private podcast to learn more!

I Don’t Have Time For That

habits, Interruptions, time management

Do you make time for yourself? Do you keep appointments you make for yourself? What about making time to do those things that aren’t high priorities but are things you’d like to do someday?

The things you know would make you happy or contribute to society in some way, but you’re too busy cleaning the house, completing work tasks, and entertaining the kids to get to?

What if you made appointments with yourself that you kept as strictly as you would a client meeting, doctor’s appointment, or coffee with a friend?

I’ve had several people ask me how to make time for things they’d like to do but aren’t high priorities. Taking digital classes (personal or professional), volunteering, and doing things outside of chores and work lists.

I suggest spending just 30 minutes taking a class (maybe even 15, if that feels better). It’s not much, but over time you will make progress. Treat the time you schedule for yourself with as much respect as you would a client appointment or coffee with a friend.

Another suggestion includes letting go of the need to keep up with all the household tasks all the time. I’m not saying let your house grow mold. But what if you spend one afternoon a month volunteering, taking a pottery class, or hiking with your family or a friend? Your house isn’t going to fall apart during that time.

make time for yourself.

And at the end of your life, you’re not going to remember having a spotless, well-maintained home. Or how many things you crossed off your task list. You’re going to remember the things you did with your family and friends. The experiences you created.

I’m not saying you should skip out on your priorities. But we also need to make time for ourselves and time for fun. And it’s ok to schedule it. You should schedule it, otherwise, it’s not going to happen.

And, when you take breaks from your task list, you just might find yourself more productive when you come back to it. You might find that doing something else helps you solve some big client problem or gives you an idea for something at work.

Want to figure out how to put this into practice? Schedule a call with me! We’ll talk about the first steps in making this happen.

Are You Letting Tech Control You?

digital organizing, habits, Interruptions, time management

Let’s talk about technology. It can be a wonderful thing. Caller ID. Text messaging. The ability to see the faces of friends and loved ones who live far away. Any funny meme that helps you get through the day.

But technology is also full of time sucks and interruptions. Your phone constantly dinging with message alerts. Your email notifications popping up while you are working. Someone commenting on a Facebook or Instagram post.

All of this distracts us from our priorities. We can’t focus on deep work when we’re constantly being interrupted. Or, we think the interruption is a priority so we stop what we’re doing to answer the phone, read the emails, respond to the text messages.

What if you took back control of your time and focus? What if you turned off those notifications, closed the email programs, and didn’t have your phone constantly in your hand or pocket?

I’m going to guess that the world will continue on just fine. It won’t stop spinning. And, you are likely to be more productive and not feel pulled in so many directions!

Here are some more ideas to stop letting tech control you!

  • Respond to those messages and calls on your time.
  • Have auto-responders for your email stating you received their email and will respond within 24 business hours (or whatever your company requires for responses).
  • Have specific times of the day that you sit at your computer and process emails. Block the time on your calendar. Spend that time only processing your emails.
  • Turn off all notifications to email, text, etc.
  • Delete apps from your phone to minimize distractions.
  • Turn your phone on silent or leave it in another room when you are doing some deep work.
  • Put an analog clock somewhere in your office so you’re not looking at your phone to check the time. Plus, analog clocks give you a better understanding of the passing of time!

What are you going to do this week to stop letting tech control you?

If you want to talk further about better control over your tech, schedule a call with me! Or read more about multitasking (which you’re likely doing with all those tech interruptions!)

But I’m Good At Multitasking!

Interruptions, routines, time management

Do you spend your days multitasking? Do you end your days feeling frazzled, like you got nothing done and wondering where your time went?

Are you constantly checking your email while on phone calls? Or jumping back and forth between tasks on your computer?

Studies have shown that effectiveness drops by 69% for women when we multitask! That’s huge! I’ve also heard that it can take 90 seconds to get back to a task for each email notification that distracts us (turn off your notifications!) Think about how many emails you get in a day and how much time is wasted with these distractions!

multitask

Imagine how much more you could get done in a day if you focused on one task at a time?! Our brains can’t work efficiently when focusing on more than one task at a time.

Yes, some things can be done simultaneously. Running a load of laundry while you’re cleaning the kitchen. Exercising while listening to your favorite podcast or talking to a friend. Stirring something on the stove while talking on the phone. Batch tasks that require little focus (or no focus, like laundry).

But if you’re working on a big work project, only focus on the tasks associated with that project. Processing emails counts as needing focus. (and please, no talking or texting while driving. Driving counts as one of those high-functioning tasks that you should focus on while doing it).

We’re so used to multitasking, what can we do about it? Here are some ways to break the habit:

  • Be aware of when you start to multitask. Catch yourself and get yourself to focus on one task.
  • Set a timer for 15 minutes and focus on one task. You can stop when the timer goes off, or you can reset it for another 15 minutes.
  • Focus on one task at a time. If another task pops into your brain while you’re working on something, quickly write it down on a nearby piece of paper and get back to the task.
  • Know your top 3-5 tasks for the day and have a general plan.

​Let me know how you feel about multitasking. Do you think you’re good at it or do you feel that it pulls you in too many directions?

If you’re ready to stop multitasking and start checking tasks off your to-do list, schedule a call with me.

Is The Pandemic Making It Hard To Plan?

Interruptions, Stuck at Home, time management

It feels hard to plan much of anything in the middle of a pandemic.

plan

If your kids are in school, you never know when you’re going to have them home for the next 2 weeks due to possible exposure to COVID-19.

It’s hard to plan for much of anything beyond the next few weeks because we just don’t know what life will look like this summer or fall.

This feels more complicated and disruptive than a snow day or a sick day. Maybe it feels heavier. Maybe the endless, monotonous days are getting to you! (They’re definitely getting to my family).

So how do you plan anything or pay attention to how you’re spending your time?

One way we can have more control over our time is to identify our daily and weekly priorities. When you know what you need to do each day, it’s a little easier to focus. If you’ve planned out your week (with room for things to shift) then you can handle last-minute surprises.

These last-minute surprises could include a snow day or a sick kid or your kids moving from in-person learning to remote learning due to COVID-19 exposure. They could also be a last-minute project your boss throws at you.

It’s easier to focus when you know your top priorities for each day. It’s easier to shift things around when you know your priorities for the week.

This does not mean planning every minute with tasks. This means planning your top 3-5 priorities and leaving room for things we didn’t plan for.

Take some time each day and start planning your top 3-5 priorities for the next day!

If you want help with identifying your top priorities for each day, schedule a call with me!