Hi Lauren, that is a great result — and the gamification idea is exactly why it worked. Setting a time for each task and trying to beat it turns a long list into a series of small wins, which keeps momentum going. On the Eisenhower matrix, I had the same problem with no one to delegate to, so I changed that box to 'automate, simplify or drop' — for example, a task I kept putting off either got a template, got shortened, or came off the list entirely. That made the matrix useful for one person. Keeping the timed challenge for one or two tasks a day, rather than the whole week at once, is what helped me keep it going after the first great day.

Hi Nadine, I relate to this — ticking things off on paper is satisfying in a way a phone list never was for me either. The part that changed things for me was the estimation and real-time comparison you mentioned: writing down how long I thought a task would take, then noting how long it actually took, showed me where my days were really going. After a week of that, my estimates got much closer and I stopped overloading the day. Keeping that comparison for a week or two is worth it, even on days when the list looks messy — the pattern is what helps.

Thanks for this session, Laura — planning the 6-month goals, the month and the week in one sitting is a useful order, because the week then has a reason behind it. What I found helpful is working backwards from a 6-month goal: one milestone per month, then one or two actions for that milestone in the coming week, so the weekly list stays short. The visual timer is a good idea too — I use short timed blocks when I plan, because it stops me spending too long perfecting the plan and leaves time to actually start the first task. I will catch the Friday session for next week as well.

I missed a few of these live sessions too, so I now block the time in my calendar as a recurring event with a reminder the day before, and I treat the replay as a backup rather than the plan — watching on Monday still works, as Nadine said, but it is easier to fall behind. One thing that helped me in the session itself was writing down just the three things I wanted to finish that week before the call, so even a short watch gave me a clear list to work from. Carrie is right that all the sessions are listed on the Calendar tab, so checking that tab at the start of the week is a good habit.

Thanks for running these sessions, Laura — planning the week live makes it much easier to stick to. What works well for me is choosing three priorities for the week first, then putting them in the calendar before anything else, so the important work gets a time slot instead of being squeezed in later. I also keep Monday as my planning day, like Nadine mentioned, and do a quick Friday check to see what carried over. Adding the session to the calendar in advance, as you said you will do, should help people find it too — I missed a few sessions myself when they were not listed ahead of time.