Planning saves time. Each month I check in on my vision and direction, and make decisions about what I need to focus on.

Having clarity in your direction on a day to day basis, as well as monthly helps me know what to say yes or no to.

I also use Management time for operational organisation jobs, such as recording a system, tidying up my Asana projects, managing my Inbox etc. If I didn’t schedule in time for these, my stress levels would go through the roof! They’re non-negotiable for me.

2. Marketing

Creating consistency in your messaging an essential element of the know/like/ trust process of building relationships. I’ve tried the daily marketing strategy, and it was exhausting and scarily off message!

I now commit to batching my content creation because it saves time, and I can follow through an idea more thoroughly.

For me, the energy and focus of doing it all at once and the efficiencies within this process are the biggest bonus. Trying to come up with inspiration daily just wasn’t working well for me – and now I find I’m much more on message – in less time! #winner

Establish a weekly or monthly schedule that allows you to batch your content, editorial calendar, writing, videoing or SM posts.

3. Meetings

Creating guidelines about when I am available for meetings really helped to manage my time. It also saved time being out and about, commuting, getting ready etc, so keep them all within a regular schedule saved loads of time.

If you need to meet people daily, then try and schedule them in to a consistent time i.e. mornings, so that you can still have a regular routine.

Keep in mind when you focus best too. If you need to do focussed, thinking work in the mornings, schedule your meetings for afternoons.

If you only have a few meetings a week, perhaps try to schedule them all on the same day, so that you can then focus on other consistent work in the other days.

4. Making

Block out time in your ideal weekly calendar for you to deliver your products or service. ‘Making’ time is for when you are working with clients, or delivering your service, or creating your product. Map out the regular tasks (such as responding to emails, writing out notes, delivery of service/ product, or writing course content) and systemise them into larger blocks of time can help to streamline the process, and take the relentless to do list off of your shoulders.

Note: I find it’s really helpful to have clear communication relating to your availability to ease the expectation that you need to be available 24/7. 🙂

5. Me Time

In my experience, if I work myself too hard (i.e. long, long nights, early mornings, weekends etc) I’m not producing work that I’m proud of. I know and trust 100% that self care allows me to be more focussed, more productive, to think clearly, work steadily (without rushing) and feel more sustainable.

I plan time for myself, so that I can work effectively.

If I feel that I don’t have much balance in my life, I get stressed, cranky, I’m less resilient when things go wrong – and let’s face it – more things tend to go wrong, because I’m stressed….and around it goes.

Self care and taking time out for me is a non-negotiable part of my business and my success. It’s my salvation,and it is one of my #1 priorities when I’m planning my working week.

So there’s my 5Ms. Here’s your Takeaway Actions:

1. If you haven’t already, map out an ideal week.

 

2. List all of the regular tasks you need to do over a week (or two weeks if that’s a better cycle for you)

 

3. Categories them into the 5 M’s

 

4. Map out your 5 M’s over the week (be realistic!)

 

5. Each week, plan what activities need to be done in each M, so that you know what you’ll be doing

 

Bonus tip: You can set up your model calendar in Google Cal, or on a template for the week.