I Had A Reality Check!
Good morning! I hope you all have a lovely weekend planned. I’m again spending time with family. Saturday is spent with my father-in-law, and Sunday is spent with my Grandma. Great times!
This week, I realized I had bitten off more than I could chew by starting a book niche on TikTok.
You might think I haven’t even really begun my new niche, so how did I come to this conclusion so quickly?
I sketched out all the tasks that need to be done each week. They are not yet routine to me, so adding a new niche isn’t viable yet.
I’ll share more.
My Need For Routine
I do better when my tasks are routine. I need to “take the choice out of them.” Do you know what I mean? I need to do them without thinking.
I’m not going to feel like it whenever it comes time to do most things, so I need to just do them without the need to feel good about it first.
Now, this doesn’t mean I don’t like to do anything. Simply, when it comes time to complete a task on a schedule, I’m probably going to feel like doing something else instead.
This doesn’t bode well for operating a business.
I can’t cross-stitch when I should be writing my blog, and I shouldn’t even be researching my YouTube video when it comes time to write a follow-up email.
I need to have a routine so that all that needs to get done gets done each week.
Hypothetically, I have five hours a day to work on my business during the week.
I’m not using these hours to the best of my ability. So much time is wasted because I haven’t removed the need to feel good from the equation. I haven’t made my tasks routine.
There’s still too much “I don’t wanna right now” in the equation.
I’ve got to master my routine.
What Routine Entails
So, I sketched out what needs to be done each day and realized I don’t have time to add TikTok to the equation when I struggle to complete my current tasks.
I’ll share what I found.
- Monday: meetings at 7 and 10 AM. Respond to blog comments. Publish a YouTube video at Noon. Share the video on social media. Write an email to my subscribers sharing the video. Write and film the next video. YouTube hopping (similar to blog hopping).
- Tuesday: Meeting at 10 AM. Edit the next YouTube video. YouTube hopping. Send subscribers an email sharing something valuable I’ve learned this week.
- Wednesday: meeting from 7 to 9 AM. Publish YouTube Reel. YouTube hop. Email subscribers.
- Thursday: meeting at 10 AM. Write blog. Prepare it for social sharing. YouTube hopping. Send an email sharing a helpful YouTube video I saw this week.
- Friday: meeting 9 AM. Polish blog post. Publish YouTube reel—email subscribers regarding the reel and what to expect in tomorrow’s blog.
- Saturday: Publish blog post. Share on social media. Send an email with a blog post link.
- Sunday: Respond to blog comments. Read friends’ blog posts and make comments. Plan the coming week in detail. Send an email wishing everyone a great week ahead and sharing my plan for the week.
What I’m Struggling With
I hesitate to send emails. For the longest time, I thought I was bad at sending emails because I’m not good at it. It’s a skill I don’t have yet.
It turns out the problem is much simpler. I’m too shy to put myself out there, which is just silly.
People have signed up to my list because they believe I can help them. Of course, I can.
So, I will. But it would help if I did it as a routine and didn’t have to work through the fear each day.
What else?
I really am struggling with routine. I dawdle. There’s a lot to do, and there’s not much room for dawdling.
Also, often, my migraine charts the course of the day. I’m really lucky. The afternoon will probably be easier if I’m having a rough morning. So when I feel better, I need to use that time to focus (F-O-C-U-S!) on work. And vice versa. When I’m clear-headed and able to work efficiently in the morning, I better get my tasks completed. I don’t know if I’ll feel well later.
To be totally honest, when I feel well, I don’t always want to work. Sometimes, I just want to sit and enjoy feeling better. There’s relief from the pain, and I go through this still phase. It happens consistently, so I’ve come to the conclusion that this is a valid piece of what happens after the pain. I shouldn’t beat myself up about it, but I need to maximize my work time.
In short, I need to get good at completing my current tasks of the week before I add something else.
Conclusion
I’ve given myself until the end of the year to master my routine. The start of the year sounds like a great time to broaden my niche. I’ll be flexible about it if needed, but about four months sounds like a good timeframe to master my routines.
- In the meantime, I’ll work hard at eliminating “the choice” from my tasks and doing them without thinking.
- I’ll work hard to do what I can when I can so my subscribers will understand and be flexible when I miss an email or am not feeling well.
- I intend to write three evergreen blog posts (posts unrelated to a specific timeframe), so I have something to post on Saturday, even if I’ve been unwell. This will ease my mind!
- I’ll get better at filming and editing YouTube videos, so I don’t feel like I’m just figuring it out by chance!
- Most importantly, I will learn how to write better emails for my subscribers. This is my greatest struggle. I’ve got to become more comfortable sending emails.
Please comment below and let me know how you’ve become a master businessman/woman. So much of tackling time is tackling mindset.
How do you master your time? Can you relate to the need to take the choice out of daily routines? How do you do what makes you uncomfortable in your business?
Thank you for your comments!
Ciao for now,
Nakina,
I totally relate to the need to take the choice out of daily routines. And I am a habitual one.
I appreciate your share of what your routine entails.
As I get closer to mastering this blog hopping thing, I think your idea of YouTube hopping is an activity I can add to my mix.
I do have uncomfortable tasks in my business and that stems from my struggles with tasks requiring quick repetition.
And the best I can do is to push through that and take it one step at a time and hope for the best.
Take blog hopping for instance, it has been suggested to me to hop and share ten blogs per day. Heck, some days I’m lucky to get through 3.
I just attacked it from a different angle today. I know all the usual weekly blog posters and I looked them all up before Dean even kicked off the blog posting this morning. Then I posted a link to all of the latest blog posts on three of my social media platforms. That ammounted to 18 blog posts! And here I am commenting on the sixth.
I’ll continue the commenting throughout the week but I believe I have now freeed up time to find more blog posts to share as well as content from YouTubers I find.
Ciao
Robert Klein recently posted…Health and Wealth For Pre-retirees
Hey, Robert!
I admire your dedication to blog hopping. I know I have felt the benefit of your efforts! I think I’ll have to reach out and get some real-world advice from you. 🙂 I’m glad you found some free time in your day for more activity. I guess the processes get easier with time, don’t they? Cheers!
Nakina
Hi Nakina!
Thank you for sharing your honest reflections and your journey toward mastering your routine! I can relate to what you’re going through, as I’m in a similar situation. I know exactly how you feel about balancing new projects while ensuring that your current tasks are managed effectively. It’s a real challenge!
Like you, I struggle with my routine and sometimes with the confidence to put myself out there especially since I haven’t made my first video yet. However, I’ve decided to view this as a journey that will take me 3 to 5 years, giving myself the time to learn and implement things step by step. Every day I feel like I’m getting better, and I believe you will too!
I love your idea of eliminating the need to “feel like it” from the equation—making tasks a routine can really help cut down on that inner conflict. It sounds like you have a solid plan laid out, and giving yourself until the end of the year to build these routines is a great strategy.
Also, it’s perfectly normal to feel shy about reaching out to your audience through emails. Remember, your subscribers believe in your ability to help them, and when you share your insights and experiences, you’re offering tremendous value!
Wishing you the best in finding that balance and maximizing your productive times. You’re not alone in this journey, and I’m excited to hear about your progress as you refine your routine.
Keep pushing forward! You’ve got this!
All the Best,
Ezequiel Wells
Ezequiel,
Thank you so much for your heartfelt encouragement! I had forgotten that it would be normal for me to be shy about sending emails, creating those first videos, and just in general putting myself out there. Of course it is! Lol! I laugh with relief!
I can put so much pressure on myself, I forget what I am struggling with is just part of the process. Thank you for reminding me: I’m not alone. That helps a lot!
I got the idea of eliminating choice in routine tasks from a mentor of mine. It has really helped with the stuff that has become routine, so I’m sure it will help with future tasks as well. I’m glad it helps you, too!
Let’s push forward! To a great week ahead!
Nakina
Hi Nakina,
Balancing everything and figuring out the best routine can be a challenge. I totally get how overwhelming it can be when you’re trying to juggle new projects while sticking to your current tasks.
It sounds like you’ve got a solid plan to focus on getting your routine down before taking on more, which is smart. I love your idea of setting up evergreen content and working on those email skills, that’ll help in the long run!
For me, breaking things into smaller, more manageable pieces has made a big difference. It’s all about finding what works for you and not being too hard on yourself if things don’t go perfectly.
Thanks for sharing your journey and asking for feedback. It’s really inspiring to see how you’re tackling everything and staying flexible. Keep up the great work, and I’m excited to see how things go!
Meredith
Meredith Moore recently posted…Pushing Through Discouragement: Lessons from My Mentor, Dean
Thanks, Meredith!
Breaking tasks into smaller, more manageable pieces… I’m going to try that. I’ll make a list of all the little tasks involved in making a YouTube video. At this point, the project is vague in my head. I am sure if I tackle it one step at a time, I’ll find it more manageable.
Thank you for the tip!
I’m so encouraged by your belief in me and your excitement!
Here we go! Cheers to another week of progress!
Nakina
Hi Nakina
I relate to the struggle of finding a routine, especially when there’s always something else to do! It’s awesome that you’re mindful of your time and energy, especially with migraines. I’m also improving my email-sending skills—it’s a challenge, but we’ll get there!
Thanks for sharing your process; it’s inspiring to see how you handle things. Good luck with mastering your routine!
Alberto recently posted…My Coaches Are Reviewing My Emails And My Ads
Hi, Alberto!
Thank you so much for your comment!
You’re also improving your email skills. That’s great to hear! I’m learning how to share my story with my new subscribers via Facebook lead ads, especially. Then, I also just need to be confident that my subscribers in my general sequence want to hear about my daily journey. Of course, they do! That’s what they signed up for after all!
Thank you for your best wishes!
Here’s to our success!
Nakina
Hello Nakina! You’ve done here a very nice work with this post. So why are you afraid at sending emails? It’s roughly similar except for the “I don’t want to disturb” kind of stopper. Go over this! Take confident that what you have to tell them is for their best interest. Don’t be afraid of being rejected by perfect strangers. It’s never personal. I tried to see establish a schedule but it didn’t work in my case. But just doing the exercise made me learn something about myself so it worth the effort. I do make a list on Sundays of important tasks I need to do during the week and then try to make through them.
Thanks again Nakina. Good post.
Martin
Hi, Martin!
Why am I afraid of sending emails? I imagine I’m in the school gym and need to introduce myself to a group of people and become friends. LOL! It’s not the same thing, is it? I am very shy, but sending emails is not a similar situation to a social situation. I really need to step out of my imagination and just send the emails, don’t I? Thanks for asking in more detail, because your question made me think about it more. People online are strangers. Being rejected by them is not the same as being rejected by the people you see every day at school.
Regarding the schedule, I do have to be flexible. I set my goals at the beginning of the week and at the end of the day (for the next day). If I miss some tasks, I decide if I’m letting them go or how I’m going to fit them in tomorrow. If, somehow, I have extra time, I jump ahead. But I do thrive on structure! LOL! It’s pretty funny if I step back and laugh at myself. Which, I think, is always good to be able to do. But it works for me! So, that’s good.
Cheers to you, Martin! Good luck in the coming week!
Nakina
Hi Nakina,
I so totally love the way that you went through the motions to find a solution – but also why you needed to review your daily agenda – and THAT is smart!
I’ve also had to cut back on my Tik Tok videos because of several things that I have to take care of here at home + starting Sophie’s Facebook Ad Lab but you know what? I still feel great and on top of everything!
Not because I had to work around and find a solution but because I knew that the decision I took was the right one to keep me going forward.
And that my friend, is what you are doing, continuing to go forward!
As always, looking forward to your continued success!
Thanks, Marc!
That’s a great way to look at it. I am moving forward, aren’t I? Awesome!
I know you will enjoy Sophie’s Facebook Ads Lab. It does take a lot of time, but it is SO GOOD!
In the end, her class saved me so much time by reducing the learning curve. Thanks to Sophie, my ad is doing really well. Afterward, you’ll be able to resume all your activities.
As you say, it’s not a pause. It’s moving forward!
Thanks, Marc!
Nakina
Nakina,
I can relate to having set tasks to complete in a day or even a week. I thought I was doing well with my task list until my husband fell ill in April. I still set tasks, but they do not all get done. Such as blog hopping. I really enjoy this and always learn something new. The past two months have been extremely difficult to keep up that task, but I am committed to getting better.
Sherri
Hi, Sherri!
Life has thrown you a curve. I hope it is getting better now that your husband had his transplant. I’m so happy for you. Such experiences can be frustrating when setting up a business, but I don’t think that’s the best way to look at it. Our businesses serve us as we’re available for them. In my case, I need to be more diligent. In your case, give yourself all the grace in the world. You’ve been there for your husband. And, on top of it all, you have shared your experiences online. So, you have done something very important for the community. As you have more time for your business, ease into it. Give yourself time to adjust your schedule. You’ll find what works well for you and your husband.
All the best!
Nakina
Hi Nakina- Thank you so very much for your honesty in this blog post as I can totally relate. Finding a routine is key especially since there are so many distractions out there. I am a creature of habit and once I find a routine and stick to it I find that I become more successful at doing whatever I want to do. It starts with being honest with myself and that I am easily distracted. Then, and only then, can I honestly ask myself what I want to do and find the routine to do it. It sounds like you are on a great path as well. I love that you are homing in on your niche and are passionate about making your business successful. It truly is inspiring, Nikina, and I wish you the best of success!
Hi, Ernie!
I’m so glad to hear I’m not the only one! I think daily routines are vital to being successful. I like how you describe that you have to be honest about what you really want, and then you can find the routine to achieve it. I have to be honest with myself and find what routine works for me rather than just picking some routine out of the air. I’m only going to do what I’m willing to do. That surprises me somehow. LOL! Seriously, I would expect to be able to write out what I’m doing the next day and follow it. Instead, I have to get really honest about what I’m really willing to do and consider am I going to do it? That sets me up for success. I haven’t heard people talk about this, but I think it’s a thing. Perhaps I’m just lacking the words to describe it. It’s almost like a negotiation with myself. What I desire to do has to line up with what I’m willing to do.
Well, I hope you’re having a great week and accomplishing your goals! Cheers, Ernie!
Nakina
I love your honest approach to managing your new book niche and routine. It’s smart to focus on mastering your current tasks before adding more. Balancing everything, especially with migraines, sounds challenging, but your plan to streamline and simplify is spot on.
Keep up the great work—I’m sure you’ll find your rhythm soon!
Hi, Sarah!
Finding a rhythm is a great way to describe what I’m after! I have a musical playlist I use in the morning that’s very happy and has great movement to it. Wouldn’t it be great if my routines were the same?
That is my new goal! I’m going to set my day to music.
Thanks for that way of framing it, Sarah!
Nakina
Hi Nakina,
Great post! It can be very challenging sometimes trying to get a routine in place, but surely not impossible. I have a hard time with that as well. It seems we have multiple things in common as I also deal with headaches a lot, but mine are more sinus and sometimes migraine related.
The “I don’t wanna right now” is something I should have on a T-shirt 😊
I appreciate your openness and honesty about what you know to be the real reason to not email more regularly.
I find that flexibility is key. If not well in the morning, then work in the afternoon. I can do this with my own business because I don’t have another job right now.
I’m far from mastering my time but continue as a work in progress trying to do better as time passes.
I hope it becomes easier for you and you have more good health days than bad 😊 🙏
Hi, Denny!
Thank you so much, and I am happy you enjoyed the post! I am glad you can relate – not to the headaches, but to the I don’t wanna. 🙂 That phrase is something of a joke in our house. We’ll say it to get the angst out of the way, laugh about it, and then do whatever it is.
You’re right. Flexibility is key. I have had such a better week this week. Thank you for the well wishes. I hope you are well, too!
Nakina