How to Save Time and Have Peace of Mind

Let's do this, y'all. This episode is brought to you by the GSD Academy. The step by step business productivity online program, we'll share with you exactly how to shift your mindset. set boundaries, build rock solid processes, customize your message in order to strategically grow your revenues and get shit done. Visit Angela Proffitt comm slash GSD Academy.
Hey, y'all, it's Angela, I'm back for another episode of business unveiled. I'm on my own today. And I'm going to be talking about one of the most fundamental tools in my business and life, the thing that allows me to lead my team show up with excellence for my clients do the things that I need to do to keep my business growing, and still have the time for my family and everything else. That is part of a balanced life. This practice we're talking about today is foundational to my massive productivity. If you're like many of my clients, you might be sitting at your desk right now surrounded by piles of post it notes, or notebooks full of to do list. It's great to get things written down. But even when that thing you need to do is on a list, you can't really have peace of mind about it unless it's done. Or you know, when it's going to get done. That's where time blocking comes in. There's so much that we need to get done in a day. And I don't know about you. But in the past, I used to look up and wonder where the day had gone. Because I was in meetings all day, I then would realize that I had so much to do on my to do list that was full of things that I needed to do that day, and there was no time to do them. At the end of this episode, you are going to have a practice to put in place that will change the game for you. Just like it has for me and my company, and so many of my clients. This one thing, if you do it consistently will get you closer to your goal of having the balance and the peace of mind that you crave. So why don't you have peace of mind? Why do you feel like you're running around like a chicken with your head cut off half the day or the whole day, or filled with anxiety because of the list of things you have to do. And the number of projects that you have on your plate. Anxiety leads to procrastination and poor prioritization. When you have a lot to do on your plate, and you have so many things to do on your to do list and post it notes everywhere you get overwhelmed too. And then you don't do any of it. You wind up scrolling endlessly on social media, looking at what everyone else in your industry is doing. Or you start binge watching Netflix because you just can't face the to do list. And it's not a matter of having more lists, or even a better planner. The problem is the disconnect between your to do list and making sure you have the time to get all of those things done. just writing things down does not get shit done. You've got to make a plan to actually get the work done. So you want more freedom in your business and in your life. Right? But you need to GSD you need to get shit done. The answer is time blocking. I'm living walking proof of it. This isn't time tracking where you're figuring out how long something will take you to finish this is actually blocking the time and there is a difference. So if you're asking yourself, what is the difference? With time blocking, you're blocking off the time and your calendar to get the work done. We're removing that disconnect between writing things down on your to do list and then actually making time to accomplish those things. So I'm going to give you a few examples. When you actually have the time on your calendar to do the things you need to do. So for example, recently, I needed to write a sales page. And I needed to really think through a new offer for something that we were putting together for a client. Or when you have the time on your calendar blocked to brainstorm ideas for your next month of social media posts, that should actually gets done. So again, writing it down, doesn't mean you're going to get it done. But then putting it on your calendar actually helps you get it done. So why does the to do list thing not work? Well, time and task expand to fill the container we give them. So if you have two hours open on your calendar, and a list of things to do, you either have to get started on the list and not finish everything. Or you'll be so thrilled with all the time that you have to get things done, that you start scrolling on social media, and then you look up into hours has gone by, or you decide to check your email and find your work time sucked away by other people's priorities and agendas coming into your inbox. When you actually block off the time to complete the task on your calendar, even 15 minutes at a time it changes the game, you know that you have a lot of time to complete the task you need to complete. And even better if you've blocked the time on your digital calendar, you don't need to worry about losing the little pieces of paper all over your desk, because everything is backed up in the cloud. And listen, life happens if you have to shift, you can simply move the task that is on your digital calendar to block time elsewhere. Time blocking is the foundational practice and habit that turns your frustration into freedom. I'm going to walk you through what to do at a very high level, because I know how powerful this practices and I want you to start doing it right now. But if you want to watch me go through these steps on my computer. And if you want to get actual downloads and tools that can help with the step by step processes, you're going to want to join me in GST Academy, that is where all the step by step magic actually occurs. Okay, so here's the big concept. We're connecting your to do list to your calendar, you can have a to do list, but it doesn't stay there. We need to assign time to a live calendar and give those tasks a home. The first thing you're going to do is block off the things that you need to do for yourself and for your family. As an entrepreneur, you are the machine that keeps the business running. And if you don't take care of yourself, the machine breaks, the whole thing falls apart. You might even need to block off time to eat to exercise, whatever it is that you need to do. You might even need to block off time to sleep but block it off if you need to. The next thing that you're going to do is to block off all the meetings and appointments you need to be in attendance that need to be on your calendar. So if they're not already on your digital calendar, let's start today so that you make sure the time is accounted for including the time to drive to the meeting or appointment. If you're not doing it via zoom or Google Hangouts, then with the time that you have left, look at all your to do list and a lot time to complete those tasks right in your calendar. If you're not sure how long it's going to take you to complete something, make your best guess just guess for me. If it's not on my calendar, it doesn't exist, you can always add a block of time later, add the list items to your calendar until everything has a time assigned to it. Now your mind doesn't need to be anxious, you can just move from thing to thing on your calendar. And you know you aren't missing anything, and you have time to get everything done. It is so freeing. And if you don't move something from your to do list to your calendar, that may mean something that's telling yourself that it's not important right now and it doesn't need your time. So first the things that you need to do for you. Then the meetings and appointments then the to do list items, and they can even be all different colors. Why do we put these things in the calendar in this order? Have you ever heard the story about putting the big rocks first? There's a story that has been around personal development for years about the teacher leading his class through an object lesson at the front In the room, the teacher has a glass jar and a bunch of rocks, pebbles, sand and a pitcher of water, the teacher says that he is going to fill all of these objects into the glass jar without spilling anything. He had the students help him figure out the order. If the water goes in first, and then you try to add the pebbles, or even the sand, the water spills out of the top. If you put the pebbles in the sand in first, and then try to add the big rocks, it still won't fit, then the teacher puts the big rocks in the jar. First, the big things that matter most, then the pebbles go in and fit around the big rocks. Then the sand goes in and fills in the little crevices and cracks that the pebbles missed, then you can add the water and everything fits. That's why time blocking works, the habit of doing it in the order you add things to your calendar makes it possible for everything to fit in. I know if you try this, it will make all the difference in the world. This habit and this practice is what allows me to show up in all areas of my life, be present and be focused with the confidence that I am getting shit done. So my challenge for you is to just give it a try. This episode is airing on a Thursday. So plan some time tomorrow to block out the next week. Put in the big rocks that are for you, then at the meetings that you have to do, and then the to do items so that you can enjoy the weekend. Knowing that even if you lose a post it note or to your task and obligations are all accounted for on your digital calendar. Make sure it's backed up in the cloud. You can be present and balanced and have a great weekend. If you give this a try. Now, again, life happens there might be some time on the weekend that you're going to have to get some of your work done. Or depending on what industry you're in, or what your job actually is. You might have to work weekends. But it's really important that no matter what day of the week it is you are still fitting in time to take care of you do the things that you need to do to make sure that you show up your very best every day for your company, your team members and your clients. Now if this is a completely new concept to you, I would love for you to give it a try. Take a screenshot and share it with me on social media. tag me at Angela Proffitt on Instagram and I'll share it on my stories that your time blocking and you were actually GS Dean, I want to share it with the world. It's such a good feeling to know that you're a GST leader. And if you need more help just like this in your business, but really need the step by step guidance and processes to ingrain these habits and practices in everything you're doing. You're going to want to sign up for GST Academy, go to GST secrets right now, and make sure that you get your email address in there. Depending on when you hear this episode, you may have a chance to sign up for the waitlist, but we're going to be opening the academy really soon. And you don't want to miss out. I'll see you back here next week. Thank you so much for listening and have a GST day. Bye y'all. What's up GST leaders thank you so much for tuning in. And I would love for you to text me your number one takeaway, any feedback that you have, and we're also starting a new series called The number one time suck how you can be more productive and GSD and everyday life so you can be present. So if you can help us out and let me know just text me your number one time suck 6155 to 78755.