Day 9: Challenge 📋How I get sh*t done

Shaun Latham

3d (edited) • 💪🏼 Challenges

I've always struggled with time.

I was always late. I'd forget to pick up the kids. Miss meetings, appointments etc.

I never liked structure, but turns out that's what I needed.

Some guard rails to stay on track.

Who knew routine would set me free!

Bill just did a great post about picking the one thing you need to get done today.

That's such a powerful thing to do and one of the things I do daily.

Actually I pick it the night before.

Here's my current process for keeping on track and executing my goals.

You can implement this process digitally or with and old school diary.

First some environmental clean up.

- I don't have any social media apps on my phone.

- The home page of my phone is my Google task list.

- The default page of my browser is my Google Calendar which sits on it's own screen

- I make sure my desk is clean, no clutter / distractions before I start.

- My phone is turned off for the first few hours of the day

- Be clear on your goals and make sure the tasks are aligned with that goal.

The process starts at the end of the working day.

1. I review my priorities and pick the one 'needle mover' task that I need to do first thing in the morning when my energy levels are high and before all the 'noise' starts.

2. I then add that task to my Google Calendar with a time, you can drag and drop them.

3. I also have time blocks for 'like tasks' eg client review or admin tasks. These are events, but I may drop tasks in these blocks.

4. In the morning, I open my browser and there is the fist thing I need to do for the day. I don't have to think about it, I just get to work.

This sets the tone or the day.

5. I execute the tasks using the built in focus timer.

I'm on a ChromeBook because it's minimalist and less distracting for me.

But most OS will have a similar focus tool. The less apps the better though. Keep the system simple. The timer 'gamifies' it for me. And blocks out all notifications.

That's it, rinse and respeat.

Things will pop up, that's life, it's easy to drag the tasks around, but they stay there on the right of my calendar and email so they are always 'front and center'.

If something is not on my calendar it doesn't get done.

I also have to include simple things like check review mail.

The hard part is doing the review the night before. I've got this as task to do when I'm finishing up for the day.

But sometimes, I'll add it via my phone while I'm sitting on the couch in the evening. The task app is my home page so quick to do.

Below is what today looks like:

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