Have you ever sat down at your laptop, only to look up what seems like a few minutes later…and it’s the end of the day?
And you feel like you have very little to show for it?
Me too. I think it happens more than we’d like to admit.
We wear a lot of hats each day: business owner, mom, wife, partner, friend, caretaker, wanna-be athlete, etc. and often the lines get blurred. And sometimes, the lines are so fuzzy that it’s hard to see where one role ends and the other begins.
I’ve been guilty of spending the time it takes to drive my kids to their various sports activities having team meetings via Voxer. I’ve held client calls at odd hours. And I’ve moved the laundry from the washer to the dryer and the dryer to the bed between Pomodoro sprints.
So sometimes, at the end of the day, I look back and think, “What the heck did you DO today, sister!?” Even though I’m pretty good about sticking to my objectives and task lists, it’s still a hot mess from time to time.
If you’re in the same boat (be honest!), let’s talk about ways you can get your focus on and actually GSD each day.
Avoid Context Switching
As a rule, context switching doesn’t work. Trying to do one thing, then quickly switching to a new task (getting your kids a snack, answering an email, working on the laundry) takes your attention from the important work (whatever you were working on at the time) and your “zone and state flow.”
Delegate Work
Everyone has things in their business that they don’t like to do. Managing your projects, writing your social media posts, updating your website, managing your books. What is it that you’re always putting off? I can spend all day staring at a blank Google Doc, knowing that I should be writing an email but not able to even start. That’s a waste of time. If there’s something that you’re putting off because it’s painful for you to do, try delegating it out instead.
Block Your Time
Prioritizing time is one of the best ways to get real with your schedule, and that often starts with time blocking. This means you set aside certain days of the week or month to do specific tasks in your business and you organize your client calendar so your schedule isn’t wide open for client calls. Make it intentional so you can focus on similar tasks in larger blocks of time. If you’re working on a client project, silence notifications so you can give it your full attention. If you’re working on your own business, make sure client projects don’t interrupt you.
Get Away From Distractions
Avoiding distractions is easier said than done, but it’s also a necessity. I love planning a Get it Done Day away from my home office (and all the distractions that come with it). Another option is planning your work day and week around what’s going on in your life. I know when I’m traveling for my daughter’s gymnastics or when my son’s baseball season is crazy, so I make sure to plan around that. I’m not going to launch something when I’m traveling or when my kids are in busy seasons.
Of course, there will always be days that you’re not as productive and weeks where you’re not feeling it. That’s when having accountability buddies and biz besties is important. Surrounding yourself by the right people is essential.
This is exactly why I created the Get It Done Gathering, a three-day un-conference for motivated business owners who are ready to GSD and put away the distractions. And tickets are on sale now for the next gathering in October 2019. Find out more and scoop up your tickets today, before they sell out!
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