Revamp Your Schedule to Get More of What Matters Done

If you’re feeling busy but not seeing the results you want in your business, this is for you, dreamer.

For starters, you’re not alone and this is totally normal.

I know this stuff, I’ve read about it, I teach it, and I still need help to see my blind spots. So how do we get more of what matters done in our days?

Priorities. Priorities. Priorities.

I know, revelatory, huh?

Getting super, duper, crystal clear on what matters most to you and your business is the key to more productivity. In all seriousness, getting clear on your business priorities and keeping them front and center is the secret to GSD and having more freedom. It’s a not-so-secret trick of many of the uber-productive and successful women out there.

Here’s an easy cheat sheet for how to get more of what matters done in your business:

1. Get clarity on your business priorities

What’s actually important to you in your business? Whittle your list of priorities down to your top five. Write them out and keep them front and center on your desk.

If you’re having a tough time getting clear on your priorities, step outside of your day-to-day for a moment. Fast forward 18 months to three years. What do you want your business to look like, babe? Brain dump a list and narrow these answers down to create your top 5 business priorities.

So often we think we know what we want. We think we’re clear on our priorities, but the truth is we’re vague and have lukewarm goals. This is exactly how we lose hours to non-productive projects.

2. Make space

Are your current actions a reflection of your business priorities?

If not, time to get cracking. What do you need to eliminate to make room for your top five priorities to thrive? What do you need to say no to, stop doing, cancel, or omit?

You can steal a page from my morning ritual. Keep those long term goals front and center. Use these long term goals to influence your daily goals. Every morning, write out three daily goals that are aligned with your business priorities and long-term vision.

We Want to Hear From You, Lovely!
I’d love to know – what is one thing you are going to say “no” to this week so you can say “yes” to your dreams? Share your commitment in the comments below. Your experience might inspire another woman to reclaim her time! Let’s support each other.

3. Less is more

It sounds backward, but the key to getting more done is scheduling less. Fewer daily goals create focus and more output.

Productivity Specialist Franklin Covey surveyed thousands of teams and found that if a team has 2-3 primary goals, they are likely to achieve 2-3 of them. If a team has 3-10 primary goals, they are likely to achieve only 1 or 2 of them.

And, if a team has 11 or more goals, they are likely to achieve none of them. Read that again, ladies. NONE of them. (Read more here.)

What’s the payoff? Many of us are motivated by pleasure. Unfortunately, it’s this same lust for pleasure that keeps us from GSD in our business. What’s the payoff for getting these goals done? Conversely, if you’re motivated by avoiding pain, what discomfort will you avoid by focusing on and sticking to your goals?

Schedule it. You may think you’ll remember, but more often than not, if we don’t schedule it, we don’t do it. When, specifically, will you focus on and complete your daily goals?

4. Sprint

While I think life is a marathon, I’m all for “work sprints”.

Set a timer, turn off your ringer, close the tabs on your computer, and shut off notifications (read how multitasking is slowing you down). Work in uninterrupted, highly-focused “sprints” on one specific task for 20-90 minutes, then take a mini-break to check in with the world.

The key to a successful “work sprint” is the specificity of the task and shutting off distractions. You’d be amazed at how much you can get done in “sprints” of uninterrupted, focused time. It’s magic.

5. Review

Look back over your goals throughout the day. It only takes a few seconds, but it reminds you of your intention and keeps you from wandering off to work on a “shiny object” (one of my biggest distractions)!

6. Celebrate

Check in with yourself at the end of the day. How did you do? Celebrate the priorities you focused on and made progress towards. Celebrating our small wins is an act of gratitude that sets us up for increased happiness and future success. You deserve it!

Try this for a week, babe. I think you’ll be amazed at your productive output when you take the time to get clear on what your top priorities are and commit your goals to paper.

Time is our most valuable resource and it’s also limited. Stop giving it away to non-priority items. You are building something beautiful, so protect your time like the queen you are.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I determine my top business priorities?

Start by visualizing where you want your business to be in 18 months to 3 years. Brain dump everything you think you need to do, then filter that list down to the top 5 actions that directly contribute to that long-term vision. Anything that doesn't move the needle toward that vision is likely a distraction.

Why is scheduling less actually more productive?

It sounds counterintuitive, but studies show that having too many goals dilutes your focus. When you schedule fewer items (2-3 primary goals), you can dedicate high-quality focus to them, ensuring they actually get done. Overloading your schedule usually leads to burnout and half-finished tasks.

What is a "work sprint" and how does it help?

A work sprint is a block of time (usually 20-90 minutes) where you focus on a single specific task with zero distractions - no phone, no email tabs, no notifications. It helps because it prevents context switching, allowing your brain to get into a "flow state" where you produce higher quality work faster.