You are most productive when you are connected to your true essence; that cannot be forced.

-Nancy Salmeron

I spoke with a potential coaching client who needed support in goal setting, organizational skills, and accountability. These types of calls are quite common in my coaching practice. This woman mentioned that she is unorganized and is easily distracted, now more than ever, due to having to work from home. I mentioned to her that we are all feeling the stress of working from home. It is incredibly challenging to stay concentrated on work when you have children running around and you have to pick up laundry and wash dishes as you take a water break. She also mentioned that her routine for what daily tasks to accomplish was not helping her be successful with meeting her daily goals.

I asked her to share with me what her daily routine looked like. As she visually gave me an idea of what her routine looked like, I realized that she was hustling her way through the day and was not being productive. She was checking off boxes and items on her to-do lists, but she was not fully enjoying or engaging in the events of her day and, so, was not productive. I reminded her that to write our daily, weekly, and monthly goals is the first step in goal setting, but that she should be flexible in her approach. I reaffirmed that the key to successful goal setting is to first identify our goals or desires, write them down, and then to take mini-steps or sometimes big steps everyday toward them.
On a day when she was not inspired to take any steps, she should forgive herself for that. It was perfectly normal and OK for her to step away for a day to get reinspired. This hustle-no-matter-what approach, in my opinion, was not productive. I also reminded her that it was important to understand that productivity comes out of inspiration and that this was essential to the successful completion of her goals. Discovering what time of day she was most productive was also important to her succeeding with her goals. I added that she needed to be forgiving of herself for not always checking off boxes on her list and that she should be content and proud of herself for whatever she accomplished in any given day.

Many people stress out or get upset with themselves for not finishing a weekly task. This could be a week that had a lot of unexpected life events that needed to be attended to. Yes, make a plan, but also realize that there may be days when life comes knocking when you are not at your best and you need time to get back in your groove. Sometimes goal setting means rediscovering when you are most inspired and full of energy to accomplish your dreams. Goal setting is about feeling OK with not feeling inspired all the time, trusting that tomorrow is another day, and knowing you will be able to accomplish your goal. Today, let us talk about how aligning yourself with your energy will make you more productive and effective in accomplishing your desires.

Drop the nine-to-five daily routine.
When talking about productivity and going with the flow of life, you need to identify when you are most productive. No one is productive the entire time during an eight-hour workday! Focus on when you are more alert or inspired and use that time wisely. For me, I am very productive and alive in the mornings. In the evening, my mind gets cloudy and I do not feel inspired to do much. Shift when you do tasks around if you must, remembering to shift your energy and go with the flow of your day.

Find time to reflect on your goals.
What do you wish to create? Why do you have such desire? In traditional goal setting it is important that you look at your goals for the day, month, and year. These are valid suggestions, but be flexible on how these goals will become a reality. As mentioned before, take steps to accomplish tasks, but be OK with stepping back, or not taking any steps at all. Trust the process, trust the flow of life, and genuinely believe that you will accomplish what you desire.

Cut out activities that do not inspire you and take time away from your goals. Time is precious. Look at the tasks and activities you wish to accomplish. Let go of those that do not bring you closer to your goals. Decide when you have the most energy and inspiration to accomplish tasks. Decide what you want to create and when. Be mindful and aware of when your energy is vibrant and your inspiration is at it is peak. Be OK with taking breaks and enjoying the small pleasures of life.

Productivity is not about approaching your day as a nine-to-five-workday. No one is productive eight hours a day. Productivity is about a way of being; it is about being flexible in your approach to goal completion. It is the way you identify when you are most vibrant, energetic, and inspired to accomplish any task at hand. You are most productive when you are connected to your true essence; that cannot be forced. Yes, set goals, but always remember to be flexible in your approach. Until next time, Believe. Change. Become!