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If you are spending 20 mins deciding on what take away to eat and then where, that’s time that could be better spent enjoying the things you aren’t getting around to.

However, if it’s a major decision, then take the time to consider things properly. Get the facts (not your assumptions of what might happen) and be in a better position to make the decision. Don’t just sit on it and worry.

It might be a task you ‘think’ is going to take ages. In your mind it is going to take at least half a day – and when are you going to get that much free time to start it!

Perhaps it is something you don’t enjoy doing, so you procrastinate over it for a few days, or even a few weeks.
Maybe it is a task you are not sure you have the skill to do well, or the perfectionist in you assumes it won’t be good enough.

Perhaps it is a roller-coaster cash flow that you are trying to deal with, or too many tasks and not knowing which is best to focus on. Perhaps it is a supplier problem, or staffing issue. Perhaps you just feel as if you are running on a treadmill and not getting anywhere.

You may think you are alone, but you needn’t be.

One of the most common things I hear when working with people’s schedules is ‘but something always comes up!’ Perhaps it does for you? The ‘something’ that always scuppers your schedule – a client with an urgent need, a meeting request at short notice, a call from school, a last minute deadline.

And there it is – your day, and sometimes week, is then on catch-up and you feel like you are constantly struggling against the tide of work and life outside of it.

Don’t think of how little you can spend, but what potential customer value you can gain by having a bit more budget to work with.

Calculate your CLV’s – you may have more than one – and track what difference that makes to your marketing budgets.

In these days of immediacy and fast-pace we almost feel apologetic if we aren’t rushing around headless. The thing is, are you chasing the right thing? Are you busy doing the stuff that will bring in the right Clients and focusing on them? Have a quick think about yesterday, and see if it was spent in the most productive way, or just chasing things.

How can you minimise the distractions?

Put these simple things into practise today, and you will soon be claiming back more of your time.

Give it a go – For one week, ban yourself from the early morning email search and focus on something key for your first hour instead and see what difference it makes to your day. Let me know how you get on.

Let’s ditch the ‘Sloth’ and look to finishing this year with a flourish, and starting next with a bang.

Did you make any plans for this year? If they are written down, go and find them. Now is the chance to look over what you wanted to achieve in the year, and see where you are at.