It’s time you stop wearing busy as a badge of honor! There is a big difference between being busy and being productive. So get ready to ditch the popular “HUSTLE” mentality!
We need to break the cycle of the “hustle mentality” because it’s keeping you busy but you’re not getting any results from all of the energy you are using and you aren’t getting things done that help your business grow so you’re frustrated. But I’m going to help you change that!
Why do people seem to take so much pride in saying how busy they are anyway? It’s almost like people are competing over bragging rights for who is the busiest.
It seems to me that people feel business is a badge of honor that means you are important and successful. You don’t have to be busy to be important and successful people aren’t always busy.
So really, it’s a mindset shift that we need to make. We need to talk about being more productive and getting things done. My goal is to influence as many women as possible and get them out of the “hustle hard” mentality and help them adapt to a more balanced way of living. So where does this process start?
Step 1: Put Boundaries Around Your Schedule
Before I started time blocking my schedule, I wore busy as a badge of honor. But at the end of the day, I felt like I had accomplished nothing and I was always wondering where my day went. Time blocking has changed that and I get much more accomplished without having a never ending to-do list.
Time blocking forces you to limit the number of tasks you work on and determine how long it will take to complete it to place it on your schedule and get it done. And since your priorities are constantly changing, this method will help you keep up with things so they don’t fall through the cracks.
For more detailed steps to help you try time blocking, check out this blog post.
Step 2 : Make Time for More Important Things
You didn’t start your business so you would have little to no time for yourself or your family. More than likely it was to work less and live more. Right?!
“Either you run the day, or the day runs you.” – Jim Rohn
You need to decide where you are going to spend your time. There are some automatic priorities that are set like, the hours you work your day job, the time you take the kids to dance, gymnastics, piano lessons or whatever extra activities they participate in…you get my drift. Where you spend the time that is left is up to you. We make time for what is important to us. So arrange your days so that you can focus on what is important to you.
Priorities changes and that is ok!
No one else can tell you how to manage your time because no one else lives your life. And honestly, I don’t know one single person that doesn’t struggle with this. Life is constantly changing and so are our priorities. So remain flexible and stick to your core values. Embrace the season of life you are in and create goals that compliment that. Then based on all the things going on in your life, determine what you will realistically have time to focus on in your business. This is one thing that if achieved, will make everything else easier. Ignore what is going on in everyone else’s life. And create a plan that allows you to take small steps that have impact.
Step 3: Create Routines In Your Life
This step goes hand in hand with step 2. It’s a struggle for us to prioritize our health, routinely spend quality time with our husbands and children, make time for personal growth and grow a business. That’s why we need routines to help us get things done more efficiently.
One routine that sets the tone for me is my morning routine. Starting the day with intention puts us in a state of mental peace and we’re ready to take on whatever lies ahead in the day with less side effects. Not to mention a lot of what we do is automatic and helps us conserve energy. So why not create a process that helps you connect more deeply with yourself and your purpose. Check out this post if you would like tips to help you create your own.
Then there’s my evening routine. Mine helps me sleep through the night and wake up refreshed in the morning to start my morning routine! And because my day is planned out, I can hit the ground running because I know what I need to focus on to be productive.
Having a routine before you go to bed at night will help you unwind and get mentally prepared for the next day. It will also help you disconnect from work and get a good night’s rest. Check out this blog post for a few ideas that you can use to create one for yourself.
In a nutshell, if you’re truly happy with being so busy all the time, then forget everything I’ve said. But you need to be honest with yourself about the lifestyle you want. Either way, be about how much you take on at one time.
Don’t adopt the hustle mentality. Be intentional about how you spend your time and work smarter so you build a thriving business AND have time off to spend however you want.
If you would like to hear the audio version of this episode, be sure to check out episode 54 of the podcast. Tune in on your favorite platform by clicking one of the links below.
Connect With Me Online
Follow Me On Instagram: @the_shannonbaker
Follow the Facebook Page: The More Than Capable Mompreneur Podcast
