And so…sacrifice I did.

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I woke up at 4:00am every morning. I used the quiet mornings to work on my personal crediting business. And I worked that for the first 3 hours of the morning when the home was in silence.

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That could’ve been watching videos and learning the necessary skills to be great. At 7:00am, I got the kids ready for school. The bus arrived around 7:45am, so I made sure to get them breakfast and their lunches packed, if I didn’t complete the task the night before.

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The kids were off to school and I had an hour to get in a quick work out and shower so that I could start my 9-5pm. Nothing great about that job, except most days I can stick close to home and be home before 5pm, which left me to help the kids with the homework and get dinner prepared.

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After ensuring their homework was completed and they were fed, we played. Oh…you thought I was going to say that I worked back on the business. I wish, but it was impossible, which is why I take the first three hours of the day to tackle this task. Kids want your attention all the time, and they don’t understand what “I’m building something" means.

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Sacrificing the extra time went on for 6 months and then one day, I no longer needed the 9-5 job, because my entrepreneurial ventures were taking off positively. Did that mean no more 4am wake up calls. Absolutely not, it meant the exact opposite.

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It meant I was still waking up at 4:00am, to get my work done and taking care of the kids for breakfast and packing lunches. Some days, I still let them catch the bus, and then I would go back to work for an additional 4 hours after 8am, when they were well on their way to school, and by noon my day is done.

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Where Is Your time best spent?

Map out 24 hours in a day. What are you doing? How is it spent? Do you have room for anything new? To start a business? To be more productive?

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Mapping out 24 hours in a day is a great way to analyze how you are spending your time and to determine if there is room for something new. I recommend spending the first 8 hours of your day on the activities that are the most important to you.

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This could include work, school, exercise, or anything that brings you joy. For the next 4 hours, focus on activities that are necessary for you to complete, such as housework, errands, and taking care of your health. The last 4 hours can be used for self-care and leisure activities. That’s 16 hours, right? You should still be getting 8 hours of sleep at night.

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If you feel you have enough room in your day to pursue something new, start small. I was dedicating 3 hours to entrepreneurship in the beginning stages (5 times a week) and then more time on the weekends (maybe 5 hours). Dedicating this time to something new can make a big difference.

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This could be starting a business, learning a new skill, or taking on a side project. You will feel more productive and make progress on your goals.

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How to map out the day to get the best out of your personal productivity

Mapping out your day is a great way to maximize your personal productivity. Here are some tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your day:

• Begin your day with a plan. Take a few minutes to write down your tasks and prioritize them according to what needs to be done first and what can wait.

• Break up larger tasks into smaller, manageable ones. If you have an overwhelming task, break it down into smaller steps and tackle each one individually. This will make the task seem more manageable and increase your chances of completing it on time.

• Set aside time for breaks and rewards. I do that every two hours. Every two hours I stop for 15 minutes to regroup and go for a walk. It’s important to keep the energy and focus up. You can also reward yourself for completing tasks or meeting deadlines.

• Track your progress. Keep track of what you've accomplished throughout the day and take note of what is left to do. This will help you stay motivated and focused. I do so by creating a to-do list the night before. It helps me to stay focused on the day and all that needs to get done. My day is mapped out the night before which creates direction and no time wasted.

• End your day with a review. Before you wrap up for the day, review what you've accomplished and plan out what needs to be done tomorrow. This will help you stay organized and productive.

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Do you have room for something new in your life? New hobbies? Maximize your day to incorporate the new in your life.

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There is always room for something new. If you have been considering a new hobby, now is a great time to start. Whether you want to take up a sport, learn a new language, or try a new craft, there are lots of options to explore.

You can also maximize your day by incorporating something new, even if it is just for a few minutes. For example, if you are trying to learn a new language, you could dedicate 15 minutes each day to practice. The important thing is to start small and be consistent.

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What does a full 24 hour day look like for you?

No guess work. Take some time to put together your schedule. See where you may have time if you balance out your social media, or watching too much tv during the week. Could it free you up to start that new business, take up that new hobby, learn that new language, or even have more quality time with your family, and your daughter?

In this new year, let’s hold ourselves accountable to where our time is most spent, and let’s get to the end of year and look back in excitement with all that we accomplished rather than the dread of all we didn’t achieve.

 

The road to victory is wide open, won’t you take this journey?