Getting more done, getting through our to-do lists, getting everything finished is at the top of our lists when it comes to running our businesses. There are a million little things always being added and one more thing we would like to do with our businesses to help ourselves find success.

Some people seem to be able to get everything and more done in a day and you feel like if you get your teeth brushed and get a shower in you’re doing great. So what do they know about getting stuff done that you don’t?

Here are 5 “secrets” those productive people know that you might not!

Take Breaks

Take breaks Did you know even short breaks during your day can boost your productivity?

Do you take breaks during your work day? Do you try and knuckle down only to take a break when you’re done for the day?

When I started my business full time I brought a lot of baggage with me. My now husband and I decided that it was better for me and for us if I quit the job that I had at the time.

At that point, I didn’t have the skills or the degree to start offering my services so I dove into learning everything I could, all day every day. I would also do all the grocery shopping, cooking, laundry, dishes, vacuuming, basically all the cleaning. Not because my husband wouldn’t help I was trying to PROVE to everyone that I was pulling my weight even though I wasn’t bringing any income in.

I worked all day and all night just to crash and start it all over again. And while that worked for a season it wasn’t sustainable and I came very near to burn out a couple of times. It wasn’t until I started taking breaks seriously and listening to my head when it needed a break rather than pushing through.

When you take a break you
✨allow your brain a rest
✨new thoughts can surface and inspiration can strike
✨know that you’ve only got so long to work on it before you take a break

What can you do during a break?

✨give yourself a manicure
✨reach out to a friend
✨take a walk around the block
✨bust a move
✨turn off all electronics for 10 minutes

What is your favorite way to take a break? Let me know below!

Block your time

This is why you will LOVE time blocking your day.

You get a boost in your productivity. You know what you are working on and when.

Time blocking does not mean scheduling out every minute of your day. It is more like scheduling the categories of your day. Like from 7-9 I’m doing my morning routine, grabbing a coffee, checking emails, working out, walking the hubs to work. Then from 10 – 12 I block off as my work time. 4 – 8 is husband time. Ect.

Like from 7-9 I’m doing my morning routine, grabbing a coffee, checking emails, working out, walking the hubs to work. Then from 10 – 12 I block off as my work time. 4 – 8 is husband time. Ect.

The best part of scheduling your day this way is that when you are in that time block whatever it is you are focused on just those activities. This can still be flexible if you have animals or kids that need attention but for the most part it allows you to create boundaries for yourself. And say this is my work time and this is not my work time. Therefore allowing you to set your phone down and not pick it up when you are cuddling your littles.

This can still be flexible if you have animals or kids that need attention but for the most part, it allows you to create boundaries for yourself. And say this is my work time and this is not my work time. Therefore allowing you to set your phone down and not pick it up when you are cuddling your littles.

When you’re in one time block then you’ve already cut out a bunch of distractions and can get down to work on that one activity. It also will help you hold yourself accountable to your to do list if you know you’ve blocked out 3 hours to work on one project.

Do you have a scheduling routine that works for you? Let me know below!

Overcome procrastination

This is one of the biggest enemies of productivity

Procrastination

Putting off your tasks aren’t going to get you closer to meeting your goals. So how can you overcome it?

Honesty policy: I am not a procrastinator… I’m whatever the opposite is.

If I can get it done now I’d rather do that and then have a big long bit of resting before I need to do the next thing. I’m just as lazy as the next person I’d rather be sitting on the couch binge watching Supernatural than folding the laundry… but I hate having it hanging over my head so I get it done first then binge watch the rest of the night. In some ways, I’m not the opposite just a highly functioning procrastinator because I’ve found hacks to get through my to do list and avoid procrastination.

✨ keep a running to do list that way when “new” ideas pop up you can write it on your list so you won’t forget but quickly go back to what you are trying to work on.
✨ ask yourself why you aren’t motivated to work on it, face the answer
✨ connect your tasks to how you want to feel
✨ cut out the “busy” work that doesn’t really help you move toward your goals but you are putting in your to do list to keep you from focusing on what you are putting off.
✨ take baby steps when making changes to avoid overwhelm

I love when I’ve got a bunch of things on my to-do list and I’ve marked them all off by 1 PM. It gives me the ability to then binge watch Netflix even more… Got any good shows? I’m running out and need suggestions!

Are you a procrastinator? What hacks do you have to get through your list? Comment below!

Don’t multitask

You’ve heard this about productivity before…

Stop multitasking. Just stop doing it. Spending 10 focused minutes on one task is way more effective than spending 30 minutes on 3 tasks. You’re going to be able to get way more done this way and actually feel like you are making progress, rather than getting stuck in the cycle overwhelm with your to do list.

Our brains can only take so much stimuli and problem solve at one time. It’s the way we are wired to keep from being overwhelmed and exhausted from analyzing the world we live in all day every day. One of the best things that I did for my productivity was cut out multitasking. By focusing on one task at a time I’m able to get into the flow of my task and get it done faster than if I were to try and split my time between two or three tasks and never hit my groove.

I don’t really have any tips for you about quitting multitasking. Other than do your best to notice when you are letting other tasks creep in and redirect yourself back to the task at hand. It will take a little time to break the habit but once you do your productivity will soar!

Let’s day dream for a moment, what would you do if you knocked you to do list out by 1 PM? Let me know below!

Say No

One of the best things you can do for your focus and productivity is… say this one word…

No.

Say no to the tasks on your list that aren’t helping you get closer to your goals. Say no to opportunities that aren’t in alignment for you…even if it feels socially awkward to do so. Be polite and be honest, it will be better for both parties that way. Saying no is going to be better for your focus, your list, and your productivity if you aren’t filling your todo list with fluff.

In my first year of business, I did a lot of what new entrepreneurs do. I said yes to every opportunity that came my way… talk about a scarcity mindset. All this did was give me less than ideal clients. Clients that wouldn’t get me and try to make me run my business their way. Or clients that would disappear for months… only to show up and want web changes right away, then disappear again.

So I started saying No. No to these clients and no to these less than ideal opportunities. It was scary…I was worried I’d not get a client and that I’d fail. After I started saying no, I had the easiest month making sales in my business, I attracted my true ideal clients, and running my business became easier than ever before.

When I started saying no to these opportunities it left me open to focus on what I really wanted for my business and my life.

Now it’s your turn!

What was your biggest takeaway from the list above? Let me know in the comments!

---

Have a hard time prioritizing that massive to do list?

Get access to my FREE Prioritize your Day Mini-Course below!

And Finally work through that massive to do list!

[convertkit form=4961261]