Hello and welcome! We’ve put all 7 videos from our challenge here–along with the associated links to wonderful support resources. 🙂 Each video has its own community conversation inside our free LearnDoBecome Facebook Group, so please make sure you’ve requested access to the group before clicking those Facebook links!
Join the Free LearnDoBecome Community Facebook Group Here!
Day 1: Create Space Before Setting Goals
In this video, I’m sharing why it’s important to clear out the clutter in order to create a foundation for the new year. Your assignment is to clear out one small physical area (like a drawer!) that you use every day.
If you’d like more support, you can listen to this podcast: The “Clean-A-Drawer” Challenge and check out this printable PDF: Steps to a Clean Drawer
Celebrate and post photos on this post in the free LearnDoBecome Community Facebook group.
Day 2: Tame Your Email Inbox
I know this might feel a little overwhelming, but we’ve made this challenge simple. Your assignment is simply to do SOMETHING in your email inbox that will help you create more clarity. You may want to implement one of our ideas from the video–adding folders, rolling up email subscriptions, using the 2-minute rule, etc.
Or for bonus points and lots more support, watch the 13-minute video in our free “Emails to Zero” resource. (You’ll need the password… It’s “inboxzero“.)
The Facebook community discussion is here!
Day 3: Commit to Your Calendar
The goal for this challenge is to make sure your calendar is working optimally for you. A clean, mostly-open, functional calendar is the foundation for an organized mind.
I’m sharing 3 key principles in the video, and you can find more support in this post: Three Easy Ideas to Help You Love Your Calendar.
Your assignment(s):
*Select ONE place/calendar to record where you need to BE each day (all your meetings and appointments).
*Then create a different layer of your calendar (either an additional digital calendar OR a different color of ink) for events, reminders, etc.
*Finally, identify one place to record date-specific tasks.
Click here for the community Facebook discussion to read how others are implementing this!
Day 4: Build a Solid Routines List
When I first created my official “Routines List,” it felt like I’d freed up 25% of my brain. (This activity is THAT powerful.) Even if you think you don’t have routines–or that you’re too busy to actually write them down, I want you to take this challenge seriously, okay?
Your assignment: Create your own routines list (type it out or get a piece of paper). Record daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly things that you do over and over and again. This is a list you will review weekly. Keep your routines HERE–instead of on your daily “to do” list.
More support can be found in this podcast: A Fun, Logical Way to Set Up Your Routines List!
Click here for the Facebook Community Discussion!
Day 5: Identify This Month’s Current Projects List
Every single month, I create a simple Current Projects List on a chalkboard hanging in my office, and seriously, this ONE practice has the biggest impact on helping me stay focused each day.
Your assignment: On a piece of paper, a chalkboard, a whiteboard, etc., record between 3 and 8 projects–divided into “Me,” “Family,” and “Beyond.” These are the multi-step tasks you would like to complete by the end of the month. If you have extra projects, put them onto a “Next in Line” or “Someday” list. Keep this where you can see it!
If you’d like more support, you can listen to this podcast: Effortless Project Management for Leaders or watch a video where we break down and explain project planning (there’s also a written outline on the page).
The Facebook Community discussion link is here!
Day 6: Create Your Next Actions List
If you’ve ever forwarded a task from one day to the next. And then the next. And the next…you NEED a Next Actions List. This video explains 5 principles (and extra ideas!) that will help you create and use it effectively.
Your assignment: Create a Next Actions List that follows these five principles:
(1) It’s updated weekly.
(2) It’s portable. (If it’s on your phone, that’s a given…)
(3) It contains the appropriate contexts.
(4) It’s simple.
(5) It holds Next Actions for your Current Projects–OR for one-off tasks you need to complete.
Looking for additional support? Here’s a 2-Minute Planner Tour showing what my Next Actions List looks like and how it fits in with my full system.
And here’s a list of apps our community members love!
The Facebook discussion is here!
Day 7: Set a Routine of Having a Weekly Review
Just like we need to take care of our laundry, the food in our refrigerator, and our car, we ALSO need to take care of our minds.
Your assignment: Create a recurring event on your calendar called your “Weekly Review.” You’ll go through all the things we covered in the first lessons–your calendar, routines, projects, next actions, etc. You want everything to feel clean, current, and up-to-date so you feel ready for the week!
The “indicator” that will let you know you NEED a review is your stress level. If your mind is spinning in circles trying to remember tasks or random to-do items, this regular review is the solution. (Full Weekly Review support is inside Module 7 of the STEP program for those of you who are members.)
Share your questions, comments, and success on Facebook in the community discussion here!
P.S. While this is the end of our “official” challenge, please make sure you stay connected with us here at LearnDoBecome! Here are a couple of options for you:
(1) If you’re thinking now is the time to join our official “Steps to Everyday Productivity” program and build your own Command Central, we’d LOVE to have you! Check out this link for details. (There’s a link to sign up for our free class at the top of that page!)
(2) If you just want to stay connected with us (which we hope you do!), please visit our “Connect” page and make sure you sign up for our emails, subscribe to our podcast and YouTube channel, and follow our other social media channels. We are here for you, and we have an outstanding community ready to welcome you with open arms.