Practical Strategies for Enhanced Productivity

Speaker 1 0:00

Welcome to this week's episode of the Systemized Business . Today we're diving into practical strategies to master our minutes , enhance our focus and supercharge our productivity . Whether you're working through a complex project or simply navigating daily tasks , tuning into your time can transform the mundane into the meaningful . Time can transform the mundane into the meaningful . Let's explore together how mindfulness and planned breaks can keep you sharp and centered . Welcome to the Systemized Business . Here we dive into strategic productivity to help you overcome entrepreneurial overwhelm . I am BK and I do not believe that you have to be a slave to your business . You can streamline both your business and your life with simple systems . So , whether you're a female entrepreneur navigating the fast-paced world of business , this podcast is your go-to resource for simplifying processes , optimizing efficiency and achieving more with less stress . Let's get started on building the systems that will take you from overwhelmed to in control .

Speaker 1 1:18

There are 1,440 minutes in each day . 440 minutes in each day . Most people are awake for about 16 hours of that day . That means you have about 960 minutes to do what you need to do in order to have a successful day . This might seem daunting or it might be inspiring , and how we see them can either set us up for success or leave us chasing that clock . That's why it is so important to be mindful of the ways that we spend our time . On average , humans are able to focus for about 20 minutes at a time . However , it's possible to be focused for 20 minutes and then repeatedly refocus . You can use this information to your advantage when you estimate how long each task will take . If something will take four hours , look at it in 20-minute sections . How much of this project can you get done in 20 minutes ? How much can you get done in 20 minutes ? How much can you get done in an hour ? And this is why the Pomodoro technique is so successful for so many people , because it allows you to focus for 20-25 minutes and then take a break , and then you refocus for another 20 minutes , and then you take a break . At the end of 90 minutes you can take a longer break . So 15 to 20 minutes is the perfect length of time to give your brain a refreshing break after a long period of focus .

Speaker 1 3:01

After that , 90 minutes of focus , of focus . After that , 90 minutes of focus . So you can practice being mindful of your time by being mindful during your timed breaks . Practicing this quick mindfulness activity is more effective than taking a break to get on social media or read the news . What mindfulness does is it helps you calm your mind and to be present in the moment . Social media , rather then , stimulates the mind and distracts from the present moment . So you see how you can really benefit from after a time of focus to really think about what you have just done , really ask yourself and evaluate your focus moments or your work moments that you've just had , being present in the moment .

Speaker 1 3:58

So a few ways you can do this is you can , just after you have finished your work , do this , is you can , just after you have finished your work , literally just for a few minutes , no-transcript , just be in that moment , notice that you are inhaling , notice that you are exhaling , just being present in that moment , just to feel how your body feels after you come out of your work session . Another thing you could do is go for a walk , take your break and go outside . Go for a walk , take your break and go outside , feel the fresh air and the sun and take a step back and away from your work by just leaving your phone behind , simply being and noticing what is around you the sound of the cars , the color of the sky , just again be present . You could try to do something , even creative . For example , you could take a coloring break , you know , set a timer for 10 minutes , use those minutes to just relax and to color something in . Relax and to color something in . This is an exercise that keeps your mind engaged without you actively thinking about other things or thinking about work . You can just feel , be in the process , be in the moment of coloring a page or even a section of a page , just being creative , right , and I guess it doesn't really matter what it is that you do .

Speaker 1 5:51

I think the bottom line is is just being completely present . I think the danger with having a lot of things to do is that we're always looking to the next thing and not really living the present thing . So take a moment , even just to notice all of your senses . What do you hear , what do you see , what do you smell ? Is there anything that you taste or feel ? Go through all your muscle groups and relax each of them , starting with your toes and ending with your ears of them , starting with your toes and ending with your ears . There are countless apps that can help you do this effectively in five , 10 minutes . Whether it is guided meditation , breath work , whatever it is that you might be looking for , you can find it , but the key is to give it a try and to see what works for you and to stick with it . There's a lot to be said about this concept of being present in the moment , and we'll talk about it more in other episodes too , but I think it is so important because , as business owners , as entrepreneurs , we are always thinking of the next thing and we hardly ever stop and just be in the moment and kind of relish what we have just accomplished . So I think it's worth giving it a try . I have found it very , very helpful .

Speaker 1 7:29

Another thing that you could do is set reminders for yourself to notify you of a transition that is happening in your day . These are small alerts that can serve as really accountability for when you're trying to practice a new habit . For example , use the alarm app on the phone . My alarm app is not just to wake me up , but I've set multiple alarms to remind me to do things throughout the day that I've committed to do or to practice new habits that I want to form . So you can do this , too with your calendar . You can set a notification for five to 10 minutes before you want to start the task , so that when you get that notification five minutes before it's time to move on to your next task , you can A find a stopping point to make a smooth transition to the next and then , b you have the opportunity in those five 10 minutes to come back and be present in the moment right , in the moment right , to use that transition to acknowledge your day , to check that your focus is on the task at hand , to quickly review how your previous 20 minutes have just gone .

Speaker 1 9:00

You don't always have to stop what you're doing in order to be mindful . You can take advantage of the moments at work when you can bring your attention to exactly what you were doing and to do a quick evaluation of how you were doing . If your next task calls for movement , for example , bring your focus to your body . Example , bring your focus to your body , focus on your walking , feel the ground beneath your shoes , focus on your breath . Even if it's just for a moment , it helps you align your body and mind and be fully present in the moment .

Speaker 1 9:41

It's easy to look to the future and concern ourselves with imagined scenarios that we really cannot predict and we can't do anything about . So these moments of mindfulness really provide for us a chance to let go of that worry and to focus on the task at hand without it disrupting our day . On the task at hand , without it disrupting our day , it can also give us a chance to realign ourselves with the goals that we set at the beginning of the day . Are you still on track ? Have you been derailed , and what can you do to recover ? This ability to be present in the moment is a really key skill , because it brings about a strong connection to the task at hand rather than to your entire to-do list .

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Being mindful increases our productivity by creating a manageable stream of thought that does not overwhelm us .

Mastering Time Management Through Mindfulness

Speaker 1 10:42

So , being conscious of what it is you're doing , how you are doing it , you're likely then to increase your ability to regulate your emotions , to think through objectively what you are thinking and feeling , and this helps you focus only on the thoughts that matter .

Speaker 1 11:03

So the best way to be mindful of your time is to be aware and conscious of what you do and when you do it and how you do it , and you can do this by creating a system or a routine for each day . We'll talk more about that in the next episode , but thank you for joining me today . We have talked about how mindfulness and understanding the rhythm of your focus can significantly impact your productivity and your satisfaction with how your day is progressing and how it's going . Remember , the key thing to time management is not about taking off tasks mindlessly . It's about treating your time with the care and attention that it deserves . So I encourage you to give these strategies a try to make every minute count , and join me again in the next episode , where we are going to go deeper into actually crafting your daily system , so you can master your day . Until next week , stay mindful , stay productive and continue transforming your day into a journey of intention and achievement . Talk to you soon .