Question: “Are you addicted to “being busy?”
Does it feel like you are always working…and yet, not *really* moving forward on projects that truly benefit your business?
First of all, we recommend you set up Rescue Time so you can start to get a clear picture of where your time goes (it’s free!)
You may be surprised at the results (and we bet it will be a good reminder to shut down social media sites + email when you are supposed to be working on productive things!)
Recently, we came across a book entitled “The 12 Week Year: get more done in 12 weeks than most people get done in 12 months”
Bold title – BUT there were some really great points in there!)
But the key takeaway is this…you need to set goals that require DAILY action vs a ‘long-term goal you hope to achieve ‘some day’
– AND you need to ensure the work you are doing is actually helping your business (vs just contributing to your “busy-ness”…there is a BIG difference!)
What we’ve tried, is the following 3 steps
(we’re just a few months in, but so far, it seems to be working better than ‘long-term yearly plans!)
Step #1: Create Your 90 Day Plan
Pick the areas of your business you need to work on that will have maximum impact.
Outline what you’ll accomplish in the next 90 days.
THEN…figure out what steps need to happen in the next 30 days, 60 days and 90 days (so, essentially, you are setting your goals on 12 weeks…vs 12 months as often is the case) – this keeps goals in sight and every day becomes VERY important in achieving those goals.
Step #2: Set up Weekly To-Do lists (that align with your plan)
Each week, create your ‘important to-do’ list (that has at least ONE item on it that will get you closer to accomplishing your 90 day goals…ideally 3-5 items).
BUT….and this is CRITICAL…you must be realistic in what you can achieve, given the time you have available for work (leaving time to sleep, eat, exercise and hang out with friends and family)
We can accomplish a great deal…by taking small consistent steps (but if you burn out, well, instead of taking small steps, your body will be crumpled on the floor!!
If you have 3 hours available for work, shut OFF email + facebook, set a timer for 30 or 45 minutes and JUST focus on the task at hand…you’ll be astounded at what you can accomplish.
Step #3: Review your Week
At the end of the week, look at your ‘important to-do’ list. Did you cross off all the items? Don’t get discouraged if you didn’t…but ask yourself,
- ‘Did I put too much on the list?’
- Did I get other things done that wasn’t on my list?
- ‘Did I spend too much time ‘frittering away’ on social media?
Then adjust next week accordingly!
Key points to remember: There will ALWAYS be ‘more to do’…that’s a good thing! Don’t let the fact that you’ll “never be finished” discourage you. And, drop the expectation that you’ll ‘get caught up on everything’ – because you will ALWAYS have new ideas you want to try and implement.
Remember…not everything has to happen (at once).
Set achievable steps, celebrate the wins…and for pete’s sake…take time off from your business :
