We’re all a little too busy these days, and busy-ness can lead to overwhelm, which leads to exhaustion. My coaching clients and friends ask me how I schedule my day often. How did I get my book written? I’m certainly far from perfect, but I usually get what needs to get done, done. I thought it might help you to show you how I group my activities. I plan on this schedule 6 days a week, but I usually only am able to live it for 5 days because life is full of the unannounced and unexpected. Notice I don’t have times here. That’s because we all wake up and go to bed at different times. Consider each numeral to last 45-60 minutes.

1. Get up

Drink Lemon Water
Eat some oatmeal with nuts and fruit

Meditate

2. Drink two Cups of Coffee (not advising this…it’s just true.)

Exercise (I do core work, strength training and walk 2 miles)

3. Write in journal, then creatively 1.5 hours (I always write with music on, and I often use a meditative music called “binaural beats.”)
4. First look at my email list and social media of the day
5. MThF: Write marketing content and guest blog articles 2 hours
6. TW: Coach Clients  2- 3 hours
7. Lunch (I tend to forget to eat this meal, so I set an alarm.)
8. Either a medical appointment or Administrative (emails, invoices, coaching notes to clients, thank you notes, book and book marketing admin.)
9. Last look at email and social media for the day.
10. Walk another 1 or 2 miles
11. Dinner
12. Time with family, pets, a good book, or one of my three favorite television programs (Outlander, The Good Doctor,or This Is Us.)

I also straighten my house Tuesday mornings and Sunday afternoons. I do my best to get out of the house for lunch with friends or with my husband Brian one day a week. I have a medical appointment at least once a week, sometimes twice, but I always bring work for the waiting rooms. I stretch at my desk as often as I remember, and I also do 20 toe raises, 3 times daily, to keep my circulation going. (That last tip came from a doctor.)

This schedule may seem simplistic because…it IS. Yet it’s what I always start from. I’m fairly certain getting my yard torn up next week to repair leaking gas lines is going to cause some glitches, but I have three different plans of action ready, depending on the amount of havoc raised. You may not write, but as you can see, my writing and coaching is my work day. I try to focus on time at my computer for 6 hours a day, 6 days a week only: for me, that’s answering emails, posting on social media (part of my biz), writing and designing, writing my next book, coaching, and writing online and for marketing.

My morning rituals are critical to my success. I’m a morning person. An hour of down time before sleep is also key to me staying grounded and well…sane.

If you’re a parent, you can own your mornings, too, either before the kids wake, or while they’re in school. You might not have six hours, but you can definitely find two to write or do other work. That’s how I wrote The Shores of Our Souls, in 30-minute increments.

I have a virtual assistant, the amazing Tina Marie Hilton, on my team. I also have a wonderful social media assistant, Robin Hardy. Have you thought who you could hire or trade work with to find more time to do what you love or find your true passion?

Here’s the kicker: How do I know this schedule works? Because I myself got thrown off schedule during the three months of my book tour. I’m happily back on track, and not only is life more sweet, my productivity is better.

Does grouping activities into a daily schedule rather than randomly hopping from task to task resonate with you? How do you group your activities? I’d love to hear from you!

What can I do for you? I’d like to include topics that interest you or that help you solve a problem in your own life. Let me know how I can support you! You can reach me at info@shoresofoursouls.com. Just hit reply. I continue to need your support in terms of reviews if you read my novel. Thanks in advance!