3 Tools to Manage Your Life Like A Boss

Feeling stressed or crazed because there's too much to do and not enough time to get it all done?

Our 24/7 world is taking a toll.

But if you’re ready to work smarter rather than longer or harder, I have 3 simple ways you can begin to do that RIGHT NOW.

Sound good?

1. The One Thing

This particular one has been my mantra for the past few years. It’s based on Gary Keller’s bestselling book of the same name.

He asks you to answer this question (and I’m paraphrasing), “What’s the 1 thing that if you do it, it will change your business/life?”

It might sound crazy, but I dare you to try it. 

When I did, I got an answer and it’s been the SAME for 3 years now!

What I like about this is that it gives you a focus, an orientation so you're 100% clear about where you’re going.

2. Take Action

Alright, so now that you know that ONE thing you need to do to move the needle in your life -be it your relationships, health, finance or in your business- the next question is, what action or actions can you take to move toward that goal?

Try and think of 3.

It’s okay if you only think of 1. 

Because when you’ve completed it, then you can do another one!

Here's an example: Let’s say you’ve decided the 1 thing you have to do is find a life partner. 

As you dive into that, you may discover that what you really want is to feel loved, connected and happy. So, instead of making your one thing finding a partner, it shifts to being happy.

So, what's an action step you can take right now to help you to feel more connected, loved and happy?

See how it works?

3. Prioritize

I’m a firm believer in less is more and that if you focus on the few key things, the rest takes care of itself. 

Some people call this the 80/20 rule. I’ve found that it’s more like 90/10. Either way, here’s how I’ve learned to deal with this.

After you’ve decided on the 1 thing and the action(s) you need to do, make a list of everything else that has to get done. I have a business list and a personal list. Because let’s face it. This modern life has a lot of demands.

Once you’ve got it all written down – and that’s important – WRITE IT DOWN, now start prioritizing. 

What has to get done first, second, third?

Years ago, I worked with a coach who wanted me go one step farther. I had to label everything that was priority as 1, then 2, etc. Then I went back through the list and put an a,b,c, etc. next to each number so I knew which one I had to do asap. 

Her system was super efficient and rocked which is why I pass it on to you.

It helps you see the major things that simply must get done.

But I digress...

Come back to the basics. If you only get 1 thing out of this email, do the first one. Choose the ONE thing that’s gonna make the biggest difference in your life.

And don’t act like you don’t know what it is, cuz you do. HINT: It may be the elephant in the room.

And I promise, that if you do, if you focus on that 1 thing, your life will begin to change in remarkable ways.

Try it and let me know how it goes.

AND if you haven't already checked out my NEW course on Insight Timer - 10 Strategies for Mastering Uncertainty- now's your chance! Click Here

Stressed by Your To Do List? 4 Simple Strategies to Lighten the Load

I recently got back from a family holiday in France. Because I wanted to be “on vacation,” I’d decided to get a bunch of work done early so I wouldn’t have it hanging over my head while I was away. Sound familiar? We all do this, right?

Naturally, I made a list.

My list included what I needed to do for my business as well as all the personal issues that had to be addressed. Things like paying the mortgage, the electric and cable bills, getting cash for travelling, stopping the mail, etc.

I wrote my list about two weeks before we left. Almost immediately I was stressed out. My mind whirred with, “I have so much to do. I have to hurry to get it all done. The clock’s ticking. I’m running out of time.” My chest started contracting and it was hard to breathe. I’m sure my blood pressure spiked too.

For the first time since I started writing a weekly blog 18 months ago, I had writer’s block.

I literally sat down to start an article and my mind was a complete blank. I had no creativity, no ideas, nothing sounded interesting or compelling.

I just stared at my computer as the panic rose and the chant continued. “You can’t do this. You have too much to do. You have to get this piece written. Your list is waiting… And nothing.

I finally got up and walked away.

Later that night I confessed to my husband that I had writer’s block. But then I also began to recognize my other symptoms. Stress was causing my mind to short circuit in this panicky thinking. And I felt incredibly uncomfortable in my body.

That’s when I remembered – this is how I used to feel a lot.

I’d forgotten because a few years ago I made a radical shift in my schedule and opted to slow my work life down to feel more sane, whole and loving.

This awful feeling of stress, angst and physical discomfort was how I’d felt for years. It had actually become my norm. There was sooooo much to do and not enough time. I’d run around crazed, in a blurred rush, trying frantically to multi-task and get everything done.

With my list and the time crunch of my impending trip, I’d fallen right back into that place.

That’s when I made a decision because I hated feeling this way.

What was it?

My list had projected me straight into the future. All I had to do was come back to right now, this moment.

How did I do that?

Breathing.

That’s when I had another a-ha.

I couldn’t write because I was stressed. My brain was already onto the next thing on my to-do list when I hadn’t even started the first task, writing. As I allowed myself to relax and breathe, that creative flow began to re-awaken and the next day I was able to complete my piece.

If you can relate to being stressed out and unable to turn off the list in your mind, see if these strategies help:

1.     One Thing at a Time

For all that we love the notion of multi-tasking, (especially as women) we can really only do one thing effectively and well at a time. Choose to be present and focused JUST on the activity at hand – be it writing, talking on the phone or cooking dinner.

2.     Prioritize the List and Delegate

Does everything really need to get done now? Can someone else do some of it for you? Can anything wait until later?

3.     Relax

This was my big key. I had to relax into knowing that everything was fine, everything was going to get done and if it didn’t, oh well. Guess what? Once I relaxed, I knocked off all the stuff on my list no problem and without all the chaos and drama I’d kicked up previously.

4.     Breathe

Take nice deep breaths into your body and feel the tension dissolve. Breathing oxygenates the body, clears the mind and re-focuses us right back to now. It gives us instant clarity and a feeling of wakefulness.

Try these and see if your list suddenly becomes manageable and do-able. We always have the choice to fall into stress or to stay present. When we choose presence, we're often surprised at how calm and clear we feel and how effective we can be. Before you realize it, everything’s done!

How do YOU handle stress? Leave me a comment just underneath this blog post!

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