It may seem obvious, but it still needs to be said. If you want something, you need to work hard for it. As a mom, we know you can work hard. “Talent” will not save us from it. Most perceptions of talent are from ill-informed people who did not see the hours of work and practice that went into the ease and “talent” they observe now. Those who do have a particular talent still need to work hard if they want to be extraordinary. You don’t want it bad enough if you aren’t willing to work hard for it. It is as simple as that. Or is it?
You don’t wake up daily and say I am ready to work harder than ever. If you are like most moms, it is hard to drag yourself out of bed, and the busier the schedule ahead, the more difficult it is to get started. So, how are we expected to achieve the extraordinary?
There is a trick to get yourself up and moving when you don’t want to. This trick discovered by Mel Robbins is called the 5-second rule. She describes it in her book, “The Five Second Rule.”
The essence of the trick is if you have something you need to accomplish, count backward from 5 to 1 instead of thinking about it! The counting distracts your mind from talking yourself out of it. The method is golden. I have been using it for years, and it works. I have made progress on my novel and children’s book, and I got out of bed this morning and cleaned my messy house. The first ones were easy, but the last two were very difficult. I worked on my novel until 2:00 am, and my kids woke me up at 6:00 am. I do not do well without sleep, but I made it!
Mel Robbin’s book will teach you more about the brain science behind it. You will also learn how others have used it and to what extent it changed their lives. Regardless of whether the task is big or small, the trick works. Irrespective of whether you are energized or sleep-deprived, the trick works. If you believe in it or not, the method works. It seems silly that 5 seconds can make such a difference, but it can, and it will. Try it for one week and then tell me what it has done for you. It will not disappoint you.
Here is a list of additional tools to help you work smarter.
1. If you do not have the time to dedicate hours to something, try to spend shorter periods of 20-30 minutes with an intense focus on only the task at hand.
2. Measure your effort in the work you do. You will not see improvement unless your aim is measurable. For example, you can measure your writing efficiency using the time to write a blog post. Someone may initially need a day to write a blog post, but after six months, they can write a post in 2 hours—progress you can see and measure.
3. You should also automate or delegate. Your time is valuable. You can hire a Virtual Assistant to complete your least essential tasks or assign them to another family member, which frees you up to spend your time on the important stuff. Virtual assistants aren’t just for executives anymore.
4. It is essential to use technology to streamline your work. There is an app for practically everything, both personal and professional. You need to find the ones that work best for you. You can download grocery list apps that will send the last list to whoever does the shopping, apps to hire virtual assistants, online banking apps, social media syncing apps, exercise apps, etc. Use them and stop wasting your precious time.
5. Our final tip is to define processes to complete repetitive tasks. Establishing a defined method will help in two ways.
1) Processes will increase efficiency.
2) It will make jobs easier to delegate.
If you want to learn more about methods, check out The E-Myth by Michael Gerber
Increasing productivity is critical to working smarter. Here are some strategies to help boost productivity:
–Set clear goals: Define specific and achievable goals that align with your priorities. Break them down into smaller, actionable tasks to stay focused and motivated.
–Prioritize tasks: Determine the most important tasks and tackle them first. Use techniques like the Eisenhower Matrix (categorizing tasks as urgent, not urgent, or essential) to prioritize effectively.
–Create a routine: Establish a daily or weekly routine that optimizes your energy levels and concentration. Stick to a consistent schedule to reduce decision fatigue and increase productivity.
–Minimize distractions: Identify and eliminate distractions that hinder your productivity. Put your phone on silent or airplane mode, use website blockers to limit social media usage, and create a designated workspace free from interruptions.
–Time blocking: Allocate specific blocks of time for different tasks or activities. This helps create focus and prevents multitasking. Use calendars or time management apps to schedule and track your time.
–Break tasks into smaller steps: Overwhelming tasks can lead to procrastination. Break them into smaller, more manageable steps to make progress easier and maintain motivation.
–Practice the Pomodoro Technique: Work in focused sprints of 25 minutes, followed by a brief break of 5 minutes. After four consecutive work sprints, take an extended break. This technique helps maintain productivity and prevents burnout.
–Delegate and outsource: Identify tasks you can delegate or outsource to others. This frees up your time to focus on high-priority tasks and activities that require your expertise.
Stay open to adopting new methods and refining your approach to maximize efficiency. Everyone’s productivity strategies may vary, so it’s essential to experiment and find what works best for your unique circumstances and preferences.
Although working hard is an unavoidable step towards an extraordinary life, use our tips and tricks to help you work smarter and more effectively. Your dreams are waiting. So, make the most of what you can accomplish.
