15 Time Wasters To Stop Doing in Order to Make Progress On Your Goals (and One Energy Booster To Add In)

Your time is a precious resource. Once you use it, it cannot be given back to you. This is why it’s so important to really understand all of the time wasters to stop doing so you can really use your time more wisely and powerfully.

Certainly there are a lot more distractions now compared to a decade ago and focusing — especially if you work at a desk and computer and own a phone — is a challenge. Our information overload is causing exhaustion, burnout, apathy and an inability to focus.

Like everything, technology is something we need in moderation. We need to be able to temper our own sense of urgency and cope with the fear of missing out and we need to be able to prioritize.

But, let’s be honest. Our time wasters aren’t just happening by checking email too much or scrolling on social media.

Many of my clients come to me with a very clear mission. They want to make a big change in their lives but they feel utterly lost on the actions they need to take.

“Just tell me what to do,” they beg and plead.

My job as your coach is to help YOU know what your next move is.

But first we almost always have to do some other work — letting go work, especially around time wasters to stop.

Letting go, surrender and trust work has been a showcase of the work I’ve been doing for a decade with my clients who are ready to step more bravely and boldly into their next act in life.

Because the truth is that before we can move forward and truly thrive we must first do the work of letting go of what is no longer serving our businesses, our creativity or our well-being.

That might mean …

:: Letting go of a former identity that you can’t shake (I have a beautiful coaching session that I offer my clients who need to do this!)
:: Letting go of a program or offer that isn’t working out
:: Letting go of a job or career
:: Letting go of a person or team member
:: Letting go of a bad habit
:: Letting go of a pile of shoulds, coulds and what ifs
:: Letting go of an income stream that isn’t serving your heart-centered values

It’s only after we free ourselves of the weight of what is not working that we feel light enough to rise up and soar. Trust me, I’ve been there. Over and over and over.

Letting go work is not easy work but it’s essential work. Once we clear space, a new energy forms within us and in our creativity blooms and flourishes.

Sometimes, though, we have to begin at the very beginning — just starting with a promise to ourselves about what we will not do today. I asked my audience on LinkedIn about this very idea and they came back with some great responses — 15 energy zappers that we can all let go of today, I’m sure.

Here are 15 Time Wasters To Stop Doing in Order to Make Progress On Your Goals

• I will not check email outside designated times.
• I will not doomscroll.
• I will not ruminate and over-perfect.
• I will not work on projects that zap my energy.
• I will not spend too much time planning out every little detail.
• I will not obsess over things that are not in my control.
• I will not overschedule meeting time over maker time.
• I will not forget to look away from the computer if I have been working for at least 30 minutes.
• I will not let other priorities immediately drop into what’s on deck for the day as they arrive in my inbox.
• I will not stress about what needs to be done.
• I will not worry, doubt, let fear paralyze me, won’t scroll or skip meals.
• I will not have unnecessary meetings because I love talking to other people.
• I will not get sucked into fixing website issues.
• I will not spend more time than necessary going through emails.
• I will not forget to continue delegating.

Once we clear away the cobwebs of overwhelm and distractions — and what is not serving us — we are left with the essence. The nectar of a beautiful, powerful and productive day.

In other words, we begin to feel less lost and instead feel more focused.

But, there is ONE more idea to add in here — Your Energy Bliss List.

Since my clients are all high achieving creators and changemakers AND juggling self, family and home responsibilities — busy is an understatement. We need all the energy, space and clarity we can get to perform at our highest level to do bolder things.

Your Energy Bliss List is one of my own favorite practices — and one

I’ve been inviting women to use for years. It was actually one of the very first exercises we did in my popular online program starting in 2012.

**Your Energy Bliss List should be energy boosters you can do very simply and very easily in your home or work space.

These do not take up more time or energy. They BOOST your energy.

As I write this post, I have a candle burning and my writing playlist on — and a cup of coffee. This little ritual of these three things is an automatic creative energy booster for me.

PROMPT: Create your Energy Bliss list — a short list of a handful of powerful things that boost your energy and give you joy and delight in your day.

Originally published at https://shawnfink.com on September 17, 2021.