Hello again…

How often do you feel strangled by your to-do list to the point where it leaves you paralyzed and then you end up completing absolutely nothing?

Read on for more (or don’t if this will also add to your to-do list.)

I could imagine you nodding your head so I guess we’re probably all living the same lives.

I’m not here to pretend that I’m the busiest person on the planet.

I just want you to confirm that, though we have all the advanced technologies in the world that are suppose to make our lives easier, it surprisingly does just the opposite.

So many things to keep up with, along with everything else in our regular lives. Is work/life balance a thing of the past?

This actually came up in a zoom meeting with my business coach, where we were discussing how many of us are suffering from burnout.

During this discussion, the famous book came up, “The One Thing” by Gary Keller, which gives practical tips on how to overcome scheduling challenges and learn new behaviors.

The one quote that essentially sums up the book is

“What’s the ONE thing I can do such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary?”

These are the things that are currently on my to do list in no particular order:

1.    Organize sticky notes on my desk to my calendar

2.    Mail my sister’s Brownie Pan Set (this has been on the list for a couple months)

3.    Call doctor to re-schedule appointment

4.    Find a networking meeting to attend for my business

5.    Find an electrician to fix some outlets

6.    Change the wifi password on my tablet

7.    Clean the air fryer

8.    Buy ink for the printer (these things never last long)

I could go on and on, but I don’t want you to suffocate because you probably have your own list that you’re ignoring or don’t feel motivated to do.

More than half of the things on my list would not help me to be productive in my business.

As a virtual assistant, my one thing that I always make sure that I get done is my newsletter. No matter what is going on, I always make sure that it gets done. YOU also have to prioritize YOUR most important ONE thing. Do not get into the habit of putting it on a back burner or saving it for later.

These are some of the habits that I practice to make sure that my ONE thing gets done:

1. Create a schedule; Create time blocks on a calendar for everything you have to get done. I use Google calendar and it works just fine for me. You can even set reminders so that you stay on track.
2. Practice saying NO; Everyone should not have access to your time anytime they want, at any time in the day. This takes away from you completing your priority list.
3. Get it done right the first time; If you’re going to decide to complete a task, get it done right the first time. Do not complete a task half-heartedly, it can backfire and then you’ll have to go back and do it over. This will also take time away from your important tasks.

Keep in mind that being or feeling busy does not necessarily mean that you’re being productive.

And for that reason, as a solo professional, I choose to separate those tasks from those that will pay the bills and those that will not.

I’ve come to the realization that everything is not an emergency!

Hats off to you if you’re able to work your 9 to 5 or run your business or both, and walk into an immaculately clean house at any time of the day—teach me your ways!

But for now, I’ll just focus on one thing at a time.