3 Ways to Help You Get in a Productive Flow With Your Schedule
One of the big challenges of starting and running your own business is transitioning from working on someone else’s schedule to making (and sticking to) your own. When you’ve got your own business, especially when you're just starting, it can seem like there’s a never ending to –do list (because…there is!) and it can often cause a back and forth dance of overwhelm, burnout, procrastination and watching hours of Netflix on the couch (followed by guilt and stressing more about how there is so much to do).
If a lot of the business/online marketing is new to you, there can also be confusion around what’s a priority, what to do and when (do I learn about YouTube videos, Facebook ads, copywriting, launching or sales conversations?!).
Needless to say, it can be overwhelming, over stimulating and confusing.
Sound familiar? Here’s 3 ideas that will help you get in a feel good, productive flow with your schedule and to-do list.
1. DESIGN YOUR SCHEDULE
Daydream about what your ideal schedule looks like. All those things you used to wish you could do when you were working for someone else? Take those into account. Remember, it’s your business now so you can make it how you want. Do you enjoy working in the evenings? Or maybe you never want to work evenings. Do you want to work 3 days a week or 2 hours a day 6 days a week? Want time for yoga breaks, lunch with girlfriends, or siestas? Schedule them in.
2. PRIORITIZE YOUR ACTIONS AND FOCUS
With all the options of things to learn, try and do in your business there can be a little bit (or a lotta bit) of shiny object syndrome that sets in. Resist the urge and stay focused by prioritizing your actions and to-do lists based on your current goals. Equally as important is saying “no” or “not now” and taking things off your to-do list that aren’t an immediate priority.
For example if you want clients like yesterday you may want to focus on things like scheduling free consultations into your calendar, learning a bit more about enrollment conversations then focusing on getting the word out about these free sessions and getting them booked. During this time you may want to resist the temptation to learn about making a 7 figure business, how to design your own website, how to do a salespage launch and advanced Facebook advertising. Those probably wouldn’t be top priorities for this time in your business and for this current goal (most likely).
3. BREAK IT DOWN AND BE SPECIFIC
The more specific your to-do’s and action steps are the easier it will be for you to stay focused and check them off. The more general an action step is the easier it is for you to feel unclear on exactly what you need to do next, and the task can feel more daunting.
For example: You could have your action step be: “Launch free consultations” OR
Write free consultation/breakthrough session salespage
Upload it to website as a new page
Create application form in google docs
Embed application form into webpage
Schedule/block off all consultation spots in calendar
Write 10 promo posts for Facebook and Twitter
Share 2 posts a day on Facebook and Twitter
Send email out to list with invitation
See how easy it would be to think “oh, I have lots of time to put out these consultations I’ll do something with this later” if you just had launch free consultations on your calendar vs. having each of these specific actions broken down and placed into timeslots on your calendar?
Implement these 3 steps and watch yourself beam with the sense of accomplishment of getting something done instead of watching 2 Seasons of New Girl in a row, not to mention reap the benefit of reaching your goal!
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