How I Gained Control of My Busy Schedule

I Corinthians 10:31

"So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

This verse has meant so many different things to me over the years. As of the last decade, it's reminded me, as David Goggins says, "How I do one thing is how I do everything!" For me, this means that every day in everything, I need to do my very best.

It's all for the glory of God, and He deserves so much more than my best!

… But for many years, there was a big problem.

Procrastination and a massive to-do list!

For years I struggled to juggle my work schedule and all the goals with my everyday life of kids, wife, exercise, learning, and to-do lists. I couldn't keep it all straight. Instead, I became notorious for procrastinating and half-completed jobs. And then this verse smacked me between the eyes. Lucky for me, I came across Michael Hyatt on Michaelhyatt.com.

Michael Hyatt and his website changed my life.

In 2011, Michael Hyatt introduced a global prioritization system on his blog. He called it His Big 3. For years I wrote it out weekly on 3X5 cards until he finally created:

The Full Focus Planner.

Why this mattered to me

My struggle was simple: procrastination, managing multiple tasks, and a wicked case of ADD!

I'll let you follow all the links to discover this planner on your own, but here are the basics of how it changed my life!

Three Steps to Gaining Control of Your Busy Life

Step 1: Set Goals

It sounds simple, but I was reminded again to set clear annual goals.

Make them Smarter Goals!

Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Risky, Time-Keyed, Exciting, Relevant

Step 2: Prioritize Your Week and Your Day

THIS IS HUGE! PAY ATTENTION!

The truth is, you're only going to get three important things done each day. I know you want to push back because so did I, but think about it. We make lists a mile long and love to check them off, but how many of these items matter? I bet if you honestly looked at your lists, you'd discover that you complete 2-4 BIG tasks a day.

Here's how it works:

Weekly Big 3 – Each week, look at your schedule and determine your Big three items for this Week. Write. Them down! Next

Daily Big 3 – Each day, look at your schedule and determine your Big three items for that day. You'll think you can do more… but you can't.

Every other minor task should then be placed on your Other Task list.

You can check those off as you accomplish them, but you MUST work on the Big Three above everything else.

Step 3: Know your Daily Rituals

Daily Rituals are divided into four areas: Morning Ritual, Workday Startup Ritual, Workday Rituals, Shutdown Ritual, and Evening Ritual.

This helped my ADD. Patterns and rhythms are great for keeping me on track and starting the day with the right mindset.

Ex. Here's my Workday Startup Ritual:

· Into the office and put keys and wallet in a container.

· Get a coffee cup and start coffee.

· Set up laptop and pug.

· Set up iPad and plug.

· Place Planner in a carrier.

· Retrieve the coffee cup.

· Start my day – return email.

Every day… it's the same. It's just how I get going in the morning!

I know this post might seem a little bit too simple for some people, and honestly, it might just seem like a full-page advertisement for Full Focus Planner, but the truth is… it really did change my life.

I now live by my planner.

I've used it.

I use it.

I've given MANY copies to others.

I believe in it.

Thank You, Michael Hyatt and fullfocusco !