It must have been about 5 years ago that I first came across a business owner who decided what task she was going to do next depending on her mood and to be honest, I never thought this would be for me. Having tried it over the past year though, I have found it somewhat of a game changer and have learned that capitalising on the natural ebb and flow of my energy and mindset has a positive impact on task productivity and saves me a whole lot of time.
Creative moments
When I am feeling inspired and creative, this is the time for me to look at new marketing ideas, design presentations or brainstorm new offerings.
Sharp moments.
Diving into data, finances, analysis and making strategic decisions are tasks that I save for moments when I am feeling at my sharpest and most analytical. Crucial decisions should only be made with a clear mind.
Articulate and energetic moments.
I have learned that being in the right mood can greatly enhance my ability to convey a message and enjoy a conversation.
Prioritising.
It has taken a while for me to organise my day around differing energy levels but in aligning my mood with the nature of the day's tasks I have found it easier to prioritise my to-do list. I tackle the most demanding tasks in the parts of the day during which I am most alert and I save routine or less demanding internal activities for when my energy levels are naturally lower.
Delegate the tasks that you don’t enjoy.
Every business owner has a unique skill set. If you have tasks to do that don’t align with your strengths and passions. DON’T DO THEM. Outsource these tasks to someone who does have the strength, passion and skill set and focus on what you do best and what you enjoy doing the most.
Know yourself.
Recognising when I needed to take a break has been the hardest thing to adopt. We have so much to achieve every day, but we do need to stop and recognise that burnout is a real concern, before burnout stops us in our tracks. In aligning tasks with my mood, I have found it easier to avoid pushing myself at the expense of my well-being and the well-being of my business.
Let’s give ourselves a break. Okay, this might have been the hardest thing to adopt. It is not always easy to recognise that not every day is the same and that the peaks and valleys of our energy and mindset are natural. It has been helpful to embrace the fact that some days I am bursting with creativity and on others I am feeling more measured and strategic. I have finally realised that I should not feel that I am being unproductive on lower energy days, I am simply channelling my efforts into tasks that suit the mindset at hand. Smaller business owners are allowed to grant themselves the grace to adapt and acknowledge that this flexibility is a component of success. If we can be kind to ourselves, understand our capabilities each day and align our tasks with those capabilities we can create an environment beneficial for personal well-being and business growth.
Remember
We don’t need to do it all every day.