Where does all the time go? Hint: Check under your pillow.

It's time to get serious today.

2023 is just about done.

Many ask me how I juggle full-time work, fitness, eating healthy, opening an ecom store (inserting shameless plug here --> amplifyourhome.com), staying active on social media, coming up with content, and starting this career coaching/consulting gig.

FYI - I'm not posting this on social media - so let's keep this between us.

Here's what I've learned:

1. Make Time for What Matters: It all starts with prioritization. Identify what's truly important to you, and you'll naturally find ways to fit these into your schedule.

2. Work Expands to Fill Time: Set strict deadlines. When you give yourself less time, you'll be amazed at how efficient you can be.

3. Perfectionism Is a Trap: Don't get caught up in the details. You are just avoiding the things that matter. Progress over perfection is the key.

METHOD 1: Themed Days

I use "Themed Days" to keep things organized:

1. Figure out what your non-negotiables are for the week.​
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   For me: Exercise at least 4x a week; Full-time job 5x a week; 1 day off from screens
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2. Bucket your remaining goals/to dos into categories.
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   ​For me: Store; Content Consumption; Content Creation; Connecting on Social Media; Have a life
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3. Map out your calendar.

The "Themed Days" allows me to focus on particular categories of tasks vs touching a little bit of everything everyday.

Switching between tasks can rob up to 40% of your productivity.

You can apply this concept to your work schedule as well. Group all your meetings in a day or two. Let the other days be work only. Yes, it sounds impossible but you can try your best to move and block time.

METHOD 2: One Must-Do Goal + Two Nice-to-Haves

I use this A LOT on a day-to-day basis.

Every night, I write down one thing I must get done the next day - along with two additional tasks that are nice to complete. This keeps your focus sharp and your objectives achievable.

Too often are our schedules changing based on emails that rolls in or "fire drills" that are due ASAP but not looked at by managers days after.

This uncertainty likely makes you anxious and stressed. Ruins the day. No bueno.

METHOD 3: Embrace "No" and "Good Enough"

There is not enough time in the world to do everything perfectly.

Approximately 20% of your efforts produce 80% of the results.

The idea is that out of your entire task list, only a few items will yield the most significant results. This is where saying "No" to less impactful tasks and embracing the "Good Enough" philosophy becomes crucial.

Focus on what truly moves the needle.

Keep asking "Does this matter?" and "Why are we doing this?"

It's not about being busy; it's about being productive in ways that matter.

You may be "busy" from your calendar full of calls.

But are you even doing anything meaningful?

Protect your time at all costs.

If you're looking for more personalized strategies to enhance your productivity and make 2024 your most effective year yet, I'm here to help.
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Cheers to 2023,

Mary F