A New Approach to Getting Things Done

For many, many years now, I have talked about a few foundational practices that I have used to get things done.  To be productive and efficient.  

Time blocking, batching, focusing your energy, prioritizing your tasks, etc.  

And they’re all really smart strategies and have worked in a nice combination for me over the years. 

Until recently.  

Blocking out time, dedicating certain times and days for certain activities, batching content creation...none of it’s working for me right now.

With an 8 month old baby and a 3 ½ year old daughter, mommying has taken up more of my time than usual.  More times than I can count, my perfectly planned blocked times have been pushed aside to accommodate sick kids, changing schedules or have even been exchanged for “catch up” time for me to chill and recover before I can shift my energy into business.  My ideas to batch content and create 4 podcast episodes at once are thrown out the window because I am exhausted after just one interview or writing just one meditation for the Women’s Meditation Network. 

I found myself angry and bitter and consistently beating myself up that things weren’t working the way I wanted them to and that I couldn’t get the things done I needed.

So, I had to find another way.

And then...I remembered a conversation I had with Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes - the author of the foundational Feminist book, Women Who Run With the Wolves.  I happen to run into her at a podcasting conference when I was pregnant with my first and so we spent some time talking about how to make the time to work and raise kids.  

She told me, “I wrote that book in 5 minute increments here, 20 minute increments there...any time I could find while I was raising my kids.”  

That concept stuck with me all these years and I wanted to bring it to you as a new way to approach getting things done. 

If batching content and blocking time aren’t conducive to your lifestyle right now, how can you move things forward in little “bitesize” moments?  

For me, it requires TRUSTING that I will get things done, instead of being so rigid on the to-do’s of the day and week.  And also...and this is probably even more important...letting go of the expectation that I’ll get multiple things done at once.  

Last night, I had a bit of energy after I put the kids to sleep and so I immediately turned on my computer and wrote a meditation.  It felt so good to get it done. In my old way of doing things, I would tell myself to stay there and write 2 more so I could batch and be efficient.  But you know what? I was exhausted by the time I was done, so I let go of the expectation to do more and just let that bitesize work be enough.  

I believe that ALL time management and productivity strategies are wonderful and can work for you at any given season of your life.  Perhaps working in bitesize moments can be helpful for you right now or can be integrated into how you’re moving your business forward!

PS: If you’re currently stuck in your business or just not feeling like you’re living into the full potential it has, then I invite you to book a 2 Hour Intensive Strategy Session with me!  In 2 hours, we can get clear about what it is you want and help you focus on the strategies that help you get there. You’ll leave with a practical action plan to move you forward with purpose and joy!  You can book your session today at http://bizwomenrock.com/workwithkatie.