You might have noticed that I didn't send Implement This on Tuesday - a habit I've maintained for the last few months. Honestly? I just forgot. I was in Mexico all weekend without service and it slipped my mind last night. But a James Clear quote came to mind when I remembered early this morning, "Missing once is an accident. Missing twice is the start of a new habit."
It's not a big deal to fall off the habit bandwagon every once in a while, just jump back on.
So let's jump into a topic that has been on my mind after 2 trips this month - Bouncing back into motivation and productivity after taking time away.
Again, I'd love to turn to James Clear and combine his advice with some of my own.
If you're struggling to regain your clarity and motivation after a time away, there's no shame in it. Sometimes it just takes some self compassion and a few days to get back in the rhythm of things. But if you want to jump start your motivation, here are some practical tips you can implement right now (even if you haven't taken a vacation that you need to recover from).
Reflect and Reset: Take a moment to reflect on the purpose and impact of your business. Remember why you started this entrepreneurial journey and reconnect with your core values. Embrace the positive (if not slightly jet lagged) energy and fresh perspectives gained from your vacation.
Leverage the Eisenhower Matrix to Prioritize your To-Do List: As you might know, the Eisenhower Matrix is my favorite tool for prioritization and read about it here.
Establish Momentum with Keystone Habits: Introduce keystone habits that will set the foundation for success. Start each day with a powerful action that aligns with your goals, such as prioritizing your list and deciding what you can eliminate, automate, and delegate from your list.
Create an Energizing Workspace: Design a workspace that inspires and energizes you. Organize your physical and digital environments, eliminating clutter and distractions and surround yourself with visual reminders of your goals.
Pair Motivation with Inspiration: Immediately after doing something that gives you energy, like a client call, create and utilize buffer time to knock something important and urgent off your to-do list.
Cultivate Support and Accountability: Seek out like-minded individuals who understand and relate to your journey. Join a Mastermind or connect with accountability partners who can offer guidance, feedback, and motivation. Share your goals, progress, and struggles with them for accountability and support.
Utilize the Power of Body Doubling: Body doubling is a technique where you work alongside another person, either physically or virtually, to increase productivity and accountability. This is by far my favorite technique for getting stuff done. I just jump on a Zoom call with a friend, we set our intentions then a timer for 30 mins, then we do some head down work, and check in 30 minutes later.
Turn off Distractions: Did you know that your iPhone can automatically turn on "focus mode" at certain times or locations? Utilize that or other focus apps to eliminate certain apps and notifications (even certain calendars and inboxes) so you can keep your eye on the target.
💡 Why this is important: As James Clear says, "Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become." Each time you take an action toward your goals, you are becoming more closely aligned with the successful and impactful Time Rich LEADER you set out to become.
Try it out and let me know how it goes.
Here's to you getting Time Rich, Summer