Do you have a few minutes?
Just a few? That’s it.
That’s all it takes to get something done, and I’m going to show you how.
Let me set the scene. You roll out of bed. You brush your teeth, do your skincare routine, get dressed for the day. Maybe you can already hear the kiddos stirring (is “stirring” too mild of a word?). Maybe they’re actually sleeping in a little (glory!). Maybe you have some quiet time, time to start a warm drink.
Then you grab your pen and paper and write out what you need to accomplish that day. Maybe you choose one thing, maybe two or three. Then next to each task you write how much time you’re able to give to it. You realize you put 5 minutes next to one task, so you set your timer and you get to work. For 5 minutes all you do is focus on that one thing. Guess what? You finished it in 3 minutes and now you can check it off. DONE.
“Mama, I need a drink.”
“Mama, I’m hungry.”
“Mama, I need you.”
The chorus begins and you’re off to the races. BUT you accomplished one thing on your list, you built momentum before the day really even started and you know you’ll be able to tackle anything else that comes your way.
Is that you, mama? Did I describe your mornings? Or maybe I didn’t. Maybe you feel overwhelmed at all the things you need to do, paralyzed by all the things you want to do. Maybe you are ready to dive in, but you just don’t see how it’s possible when you feel pulled in a dozen different directions. You have no time and less energy.
Side Note: There is a season for everything. There is a season of more capacity and a season of less capacity. I’ve been deep in the baby season (which seems to last for the first two years of my babies’ lives) four times now. All I can focus on is feeding myself and feeding my babies and loving us all. And that is enough.
But then, somehow, you come into a season with more capacity, and you can expand your goals. I’ve been there, too. It’s all an ebb and flow, mama. Honor where you’re at today. End Side Note.
Whether you are in a season of small capacity or large capacity, my #1 productivity hack is for you, mama.
There are three simple steps to follow.
First, decide on your top 1-3 to do items. One to three things that are really going to move the needle in your life, right now, today. Even if you are in a large capacity season, I would try to cap the list at 3 items to begin and expand from there.
Second, decide how much time you have to give to each item on your list. Maybe you have 15, 10 or 5. Maybe you only have one minute. I wasn’t joking at the beginning. Don’t underestimate the power of one focused minute.
Third, grab a timer and get to work. I like to find a quiet place to work if my item is something that requires that for my best work. Maybe before I greet my kids in the morning, or at nap time or stealing away to my bedroom if I’m able.
If your item doesn’t require quiet, then you can set the timer for the time you decided on and get to work. The big idea is to focus. To work on that one item until the timer goes off or until the item is finished and nothing else. From one mama to another: if you get interrupted, pause the timer and pick back up when you are free again.
What to do if you didn’t accomplish the task? You have a couple options:
- You can keep going if you feel like it and have the capacity (many times I do! But many times I also find I didn’t need all the time I gave myself)
- You can keep the item on your to do list and work on it again when you have the capacity.
Why is this my #1 productivity hack? What’s so magical about it?
It’s all about the focus. There is so much power in focusing on one task until it’s done. The timer gives boundaries so that you know you’re not signing up to work for the next 6 hours. It also creates a little urgency or challenge that subconsciously tells your brain to “get it done.”
I hope you give this productivity hack a try, mama. I’ve used so many tactics, but this one gives me the best results by far.
Everyone has a few minutes. And once you get going, I think you’ll find that it’s easier to keep going than it is to stop.
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