1. Make a To-Do Schedule

My idea of a schedule is a mix between a to-do list and an itinerary. First, start by making your daily to-do list. Ideally, you’ll want to make your list the day before. Next, you’ll want assign each task to a time slot in your daily schedule. And remember, you always want to do the most annoying/difficult task first, so you get it out of the way and instantly feel accomplished! So for example, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. you’ll have answer emails, make that phone call, and begin writing that proposal.

2. Be Mindful

How many times do you start one task and then five minutes later you find yourself on a completely different task without finishing the first task? I hate that, and sometimes it’s inevitable. But try to be mindful in what you’re doing. Really focusing on every task. Be aware of every word you are writing in that email. When you’re aware of the task, you’re less likely to jump to another. Plus, being mindful will help you produce better work.

3. Are You Reaching Your Goal? Are You Making Money?

We have tons of tasks on our daily lists, but not all of them are helping us reach our goals or make money. When writing down a task, ask yourself “Will this help me reach my goal?” “Will this help me make money?” if not, add that task to the bottom of the list. You must prioritize your tasks. Of course, there will be those items like grocery shopping or completing that favor for a friend. Those are important, too, but make sure you do it a time that works for you and your schedule. And if there is anything with low priority that you can delegate to someone else, do it!

4. Stop Wasting Time!

Never stray from the to-do schedule unless it’s absolutely imperative. Most of the time we waste time by checking Facebook 20 times a day. If using Facebook is not making you money, then you shouldn’t be checking it 20 times a day. If you want to schedule in some “break time” in your schedule, go ahead and do so. If that makes the distractions lessen, then I recommend it. But overall, be mindful of the amount of time you waste in a day and then cut it in half. Once you’ve made that agreement with yourself to be more efficient, you’ll begin to see that those things that use to waste your time begin to disappear. Have the courage to let them go.

5. Log Your Time

During the first few weeks of adapting your new efficient plan, you’ll want to log your time. Like an attorney, take note of how many hours you spent on a certain task. The reason for this is first, you want to see where you’re spending too much time. And secondly, knowing how much time you spend on certain tasks will help you make a better to-do schedule. And sticking to the list is key.

Enjoy your progress from good to great! Send me a tweet @LorenRidinger if you have any questions.

xoxo,

Loren