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What Does It Mean to be Productive?

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Wouldn’t We All Like to Know That

We discussed productivity in this week’s mastermind. I initiated this topic with the group and there was a lot of good discussion. This is a topic that has been in the forefront of my world recently. It comes from some of my recent posts of routines and journaling.

One of the things that has become clear to me is that the word productivity is similar to the word success. From a worldly perspective both tend to be focused on things like money, cars, accolades, houses, jobs, etc. It’s not that any of these can’t be linked to productivity and success. Or that they are bad or wrong. It’s that this can be distracting and misleading if this is our focus.

Focusing on the wrong things will lead us down the wrong path.

Productivity is more than just getting things done. Productivity is doing the right things with efficiency and excellence, for a purpose that matters to you. I liked this definition from a Dave Ramsey, EntreLeadership post about productivity.

It asked the question: do you ever feel like there’s more to-do list than day to do it? Some days are crazy—especially when you’re running a business.

So how do you manage your day more productively? To have time to catch your breath and do the things you want to do most? By making some important priority shifts and habit changes. This isn’t about a scary or impossible overhaul. It’s about challenging the way you use the 24 hours you have in a day to get stuff done.

That challenge begins with how you view productivity.

Let’s take a look at what productivity really is and how to rework your priorities so you’re getting the right stuff done.

Ever heard that if you treat everything like it’s the top priority, nothing really is? It’s true! We’ve all been guilty of moving from project to project (or problem to problem) without bothering to prioritize. And all we end up with is a big mess and a lot of wasted time.

But all it takes to fix the problem is clarity on your daily priority. Notice we said “priority,” not “priorities.” You have plenty of things you want to accomplish in a day, but to boost your productivity, start with the absolute most important task you want to get done. 

Deciding what to do can be hard.

Being productive is not about getting a lot done, it’s about getting the right things done.

Here’s a list of tips for being more productive.

  1. Remove things that you shouldn’t be doing
  2. Schedule everything
  3. Use time blocking
  4. Turn off notifications
  5. Set boundaries
  6. Use an assistant
  7. Delegate more
  8. Stop multitasking
  9. Get organized
  10. Stand
  11. Get in sync

You can get an expanded explanation of these here.

Being productive is easier than it first appears.

You need to get clear about who you are and what your purpose is. This is the foundation of your mission. Once you’ve determined this, you can focus on what the first next thing you need to do is.

We will discuss more about how to be productive next week. If you have questions, you can send them in the comments below or schedule a free 30-minute meeting.

How You Journal Is Up to You

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Here’s How I Do It

Over the past few weeks, we’ve talked about what it means to journal and why so few people do it. One of the things I’ve concluded is that guys see journaling more like a diary. Keeping a diary seems more like something a girl would do … not very manly. At least that’s how I used to feel about it. But not anymore.

Now I see my daily routine of journaling as one of the most productive things I do.

It should be less about whether you call it a journal, a planner, or a diary and more about the benefits it provides. It can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be. It can be typed on a computer or written on paper.

Some of the benefits:

  • Process thoughts
  • Gain clarity
  • Reflect on experiences
  • Learn from mistakes
  • Celebrate successes

There isn’t one process that’s better than the others. It’s about what works best for you. It’s about doing it rather than avoiding it. It’s about starting.

So, where should you start?

I recommend starting simple. Like I said in the earlier post, my journaling started with the Not a Fan study in September of 2013. It was a simple process: a morning quote or verse, a suggestion or question to think on, something at noon to keep me focused, and a space in the evening to reflect. That was it. Nothing deep or profound, just a tool to help me think through my day.

Then after the study was over, I took that simple layout and started my own journal in October of 2013. It consisted of: morning thoughts to get clear on the day ahead, a mid-day pause to refocus, and an evening reflection to look back.

In January of 2016, I added some additional things to my journal. This was in part based on Donald Miller’s “Storyline Productivity Schedule”. It was also just a part of my personal growth. I started tracking a “Life Theme” as I worked to figure out who I was and who I wanted to be. I included a “Scripture of the Day”, started calling my morning thoughts “Revelations”, and added practical stuff like my appointments, projects, and tasks.  

Then, in January of 2017, I moved some things around again. I started reading Andy Andrews’ The Traveler’s Gift, and his Seven Decisions became a daily part of my daily routine. I added them to my journal and focused on how those ideas could shape the way I lived each day. I also started asking myself questions at night like, “What did I learn today?” and “What am I going to do with what I learned?”—not just what happened, but what it meant.

Midway through that year, I made some more changes. I changed “Life Theme” to “Life Mission”. I moved the “Scripture of the Day” from the beginning of the day to the middle to give me a second moment daily with God’s Word. And I started reading The Seven Decisions again at the end of the day, not just the beginning.

The next change came in November of 2021 from an Andy Andrews video course about The Seven Decisions. At first, I started the day by writing five things I was grateful for. Later on, in February of 2022, I moved it to the end of the day.

Most recently in January of 2024, I added a “Word of the Year”. This was something our pastor shared with us. She included a related theme and Scripture as part of her “Word of the Year”. So, I did the same.

This brings me to the daily journal that I currently use and it’s probably not the last one. Journaling is like life, we are continually learning and changing. But for now, here’s what my current journal includes:

  • Life Mission – this was more focused on who God had made me and what my mission in life is
  • Word for the Year – as randomly drawn from a basket at church
  • Scripture for the Year – a Scripture that supports the word
  • Theme for the Year – a quote or say that supports the word
  • Seven Decisions – link to the reading page – day number – title of the decision
  • Morning Revelation –
  • Looking forward today I will – a more precise focus for the day
  • Things I get to enjoy today – looking forward to the day in a positive perspective
  • Scripture of the Day – using the YouVersion Bible verse of the day
  • Mid-day reminder – a mid-day pause to get recentered
  • Seven Decisions – link to the reading page – day number – title of the decision
  • Evening reflection – reviewing my day and what stood out to me
  • Things I did well today –
  • What did I learn –
  • What am I going to do with what I learned –
  • If I could live today over again I would – a way to give myself grace for the things not done, shift my focus from work and worry and reset my mind for the next day
  • 5 things I’m grateful for –

My sharing all this is to show you that YOU TOO CAN JOURNAL.

Start with something simple and build on it. Add new things, remove ones that aren’t beneficial, move things around. This is about helping you to be the best version of yourself. To build on your strengths and work on your weaknesses.

It’s a place to sort through your thoughts and get them aligned and ready to go through the day. Looking back to see what you did well and where you need to do better.

It’s all about building the best version of yourself!

If you would like some help getting started, we are working on a journal template that could be done on your computer or printed and put in a binder. We’re also working on a physical quarterly version. We’ll keep you posted when they’re ready to go. In the meantime, if you would like to get started, set up a free 30-minute meeting and we would be happy to help you.

Why Do So Few People Journal?

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I Don’t Know, But Here’s Why I Do It

Last week, we discussed what journaling is and its benefits. There are several positive things that can come from journaling. I shared how I started, and this week I want to talk about how my journaling has changed over the years, and how it helps me stay focused and productive.

As I was looking back at how my daily journal has changed through the years, I began asking myself: why? Why is this daily process so important?

So, before I go into the changes, I’m going to take…

A deeper look at WHY I journal.

Since I started writing about journaling, it’s become a big topic of conversation. Something that I hadn’t considered before was how rare journaling actually is. Now that I’ve been doing it regularly for eleven years, it has become normal to me. But for most people? Not so much.

In conversations, I’ve found most people I talk to don’t journal. And most people I personally know don’t either. After doing some research, it appears that half of people have written in a journal at some point. But currently, only about…

1 in 6 people journal regularly.

I was one of the non-journalers before my accident in 2012. So much changed in my life after that. I felt like I’d been given a second chance to be who God wanted me to be. It helped me realize that I had control over my decisions. That I had the superpower of choice.

Reading was a big part of understanding that we all have this superpower, but very few use it. Part of this process was figuring out WHY I’m here and who God made me to be.

Now, journaling isn’t for everyone. Most people don’t see the benefits of writing their thoughts down.  

To them, it’s just one more thing to do in an already overfilled day.

My daily routine—journaling three times a day—has helped me clarify who I am and what my mission is. It’s a way for me to write down my thoughts and sort through them. It helps me prioritize things. It helps me get organized. For me, journaling isn’t a time waster, it makes me more productive.

In the article I referenced earlier, most successful people keep journals and there are many reasons why. A journal doesn’t only give you a place to record your thoughts, it’s a tool for reflection. It allows you to analyze where you are, where you are going and where you have been. Whether it’s a shift in attitude you seek or you’re trying to reach life goals. 

Journaling might just be the thing to help you build a better life.

BUILDing a better business and life requires you to BE AWARE of who you are and UNDERSTAND that. Then, you need to take INTENTIONAL ACTION to make changes. And from there, you’ll spend the rest of your life LEARNING more and more about yourself—who you are and what needs to change.

This is the only way you will achieve your DREAMS!

Journaling is a powerful way to work through the mess and BUILD the best version of you.

Next week, I’ll share how my journaling has changed over the years and how it helps me to be more productive.

If you’ve got questions about how journaling can help you and your business, let’s talk. Schedule a free 30-minute call and we’ll dig into it together.

What Does it Mean to Journal?

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Here’s Why I Do It

Journaling. What does it really mean to journal?

It’s a question I’ve been asking myself a lot lately. I journal three times a day and I’ve been doing this consistently for a little over twelve years.

But why?

Before then, I had made a few weak attempts at journaling. But to no avail. There were always other things that I needed to do, keeping me from making it a habit.

Then something changed.

We did the Not a Fan study at church. The point of this study was that it’s much easier to be a fan and watch from the sidelines. But it takes real intention to be fully invested in the process and become a committed follower.

That six-week study included a structured follower’s journal with daily entries like:

  • Morning quote – an insight from the author or a Scripture verse
  • Morning suggestion – a question or suggestion with space to write your answer or thoughts
  • Noon reminder – an insight or exercise with space to write your thoughts or do the exercise
  • Evening reflection – a space to review your day and write what stood out to you
  • End of the day thought – This is just what it says, a closing thought to consider as your day comes to a close

Once I commit to doing something, I’m in for the long haul. With my commitment to this process, I didn’t miss a day. All forty-two days, I filled out the journal.

This taught two important things:

  1. If I could do this for forty-two days, I could keep doing it.
  2. I was better after doing it.

This process helped me commit to building a better me.

As a young person, I never had a diary. I didn’t do much writing or reading. In fact, I saw them as distractions that kept me from doing the hands-on things I wanted to do. Younger me would never have imagined that I would be doing both every day.

Like most things in my life now, I attribute the change to the accident in 2012. That’s when God got my attention with a board upside the head. This was when I became aware that things didn’t have to stay the way they were. It was a turning point. I started paying attention to people that I admired, who had radio talk shows, blog posts, podcasts, etc. I began to see things differently and understood that something needed to change. So, I started reading the books they wrote or recommended. And I started journaling.

Back to the question, what does it mean to journal?

As I was researching this question, I found a post that answered this question well: What Is Journaling and Why You Should Try It?

“Journaling allows you to gain clarity on your thoughts and it’s a space where you can reflect on your experiences, learn from your mistakes, and celebrate your successes and accomplishments.

Journaling is different for everyone because it is such a personal and subjective practice.

For some people, it is a way to process their emotions and gain clarity on their thoughts and feelings.

For others, it is a way to document and record their experiences and memories.

There are many benefits to writing in your journal on a daily basis and it is an excellent habit to build for many reasons! Here are just some of the best reasons why you should try it:

Improves Mental Health – Keeping a journal can help reduce your anxiety, stress, and depression by allowing you to express yourself freely which helps you to process your emotions and thoughts.

Increases Self-Awareness – Writing in a journal can help you to gain insight into your thoughts, feelings, and behavior which allows you to understand yourself better.

Boosts Creativity – Journaling is an incredible creative outlet that allows you to express yourself through writing.

Creates A Growth Mindset – Journaling can help you to set goals, track your progress, and reflect on your experiences with gratitude which leads to personal growth and development.

Reflection – Using a journal allows you to record your memories and experiences allowing you to reflect on them in the future which is a great way to acknowledge growth and progress. It also allows you to identify your negative beliefs and thinking patterns. And once you know what these are it is easier to change them!

Strength – Keeping a journal helps you to deal with difficult circumstances and situations. By looking back at old journals and notebooks you will also be able to see how you’ve grown and changed thereby helping you to make better decisions in the future.

Spirituality – Starting a journal is a great way to connect with God in a meaningful and purposeful way which can help you discover what your purpose in life is.”

This is how my journaling began and some of the reasons why I do it.

Next week, I’ll share how my journaling has changed over the years and how it helps me to be more productive.

If you have questions about how journaling can help you and your business, let’s talk. Schedule a free 30-minute call and we’ll dive into it together.