The Productivity Shift

Sometimes it's hard to make progress on what's most important to you when you feel like you spend your days drinking from a fire hose. Turn off that fire hose for a moment by signing up for a What Matters Most call with me.

 Head on over to https://eliseenriquez.com/whatmattersmost/ to apply for a spot.
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If you've been listening to this podcast for a while now, you know that I am big on words. I like to know what words mean and I like to use the "right" words to express what I am trying to say whenever possible.

It is through that lens that I looked at my business and realized that I wanted to make a change – a shift, actually. So, as of now, this podcast is now known as THE PRODUCTIVITY SHIFT...and in this episode, I tell you all about why that shift is happening.

I've come to realize that using the word “breakthrough” for my podcast may have been misleading.

Making a breakthrough and making a shift are two related but distinct ideas.

While breakthroughs and shifts can both lead to positive change and progress, they differ in their nature and the way they come about:

It's important to point out that both making a breakthrough and making a shift requires a willingness to experiment, learn, and adapt. That happens to be what I'm good at; helping you learn, experiment and adapt to help you make progress on what matters most while still being present enough to enjoy your life, your work, and your people.

And with The Productivity Shift, I can help you run little experiments that create big impacts. One episode at a time.

Let’s start right now with The Weekly Shift: What is the biggest productivity problem you are facing right now? Pick ONE small action you could take every day to improve.

And if you feel stuck, head on over to TheProductivityShift on Facebook and I'll get you what you need to run your productivity experiment.

If you need help with making a daily plan, my 5-day Dare to Prioritize challenge might be just what you need. Head on over to daretoprioritize.com

Link to the study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology:  https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2022-08530-002.html 
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“Studies show that we would benefit more from spending a little more time planning our work and actually doing the intentional work.” ~ Elise

Does it feel like you are constantly being interrupted?

You are not crazy...it's true. You are constantly being interrupted AND these interruptions DON'T have to ruin your productivity.

I had a hunch that women get interrupted more than men, and I already knew that studies show that women get interrupted in meetings and in conversations more than men do. According to a study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, there is a gender divide when it comes to work interruptions.

These aren't the kind of interruptions I'm talking about in this episode, though. In my GYST productivity program, I talk about 3 kinds of work;
1 - Planning your work: which means assessing everything that's on your plate, getting things out of your head, looking at the projects in front of you, looking at the time you have, and then deciding what you want to make progress on: 
2 - Doing Intentional work: executing the plan that you made.
3 - Doing unintentional work: doing work as it shows up. In other words, engaging with interruptions.

Now, doing unintentional work or engaging with interruptions isn't inherently bad, so in this episode, I share some ideas about how to better manage all these interruptions that are coming your way.

You’ll learn;

So tell me your response to this question of the week…What is ONE strategy you could put in place this week to better manage interruptions? 

Hop on over to Instagram and tell me all about it. You can DM me or find the question of the week post

Take on my 5-day challenge so you can start making progress on what matters most!
Head on over to DareToPrioritize.com
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Have you ever looked at all you needed to get done and thought "Man, I need a wife!"

It's a common sentiment even in 2023, despite the progress we've made in balancing household responsibilities.

I admit I've made that joke before, staring at a mountain of laundry, a pile of dishes in the sink, and undone errands. My mother and friends have made the same quip.

While many marriages are more balanced now than in the past, there are still plenty of women who wish they had someone to share the load. This sentiment was expressed in Judy Brady's satirical essay "I Want a Wife" back in 1971.

In this episode, I read the essay in its entirety in a bid to capture how accurately the author portrayed the burden of mental load that women have been carrying, both in the past and present.

This emphasizes the significance of changing our view of productivity from “Getting it All Done” to making progress on what matters most to us while still being present with the people, experiences, and opportunities that are all around us.

One of the best ways to do this is to start letting some things go and expect LESS of ourselves.

And on that note, what is ONE thing you could let go of this week?

Find me on Instagram and share your answer with me. I want to celebrate you!

If you think you are ready to explore getting your $#!T together, then check out my free challenge: Dare to Prioritize. It's a 5-day challenge to help you get back on top of things again.

Head on over to daretoprioritize.com to sign up.
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Have you ever noticed how good it feels the last workday before vacation? Do you know what that's about?

It's about clarity. It's about getting everything known.

To really go on a vacation and leave work and home behind, you’ve got to get everything known, updated and handed off or under control so that you can actually leave and relax.

Well, what if you could have that feeling every week?

In this episode, I wrap up a three-part series I've been doing on the GPS model. Don’t worry if you missed the first two episodes of the series. You can go back and listen to episode 67: Gather and episode 68 - Process.

So in part 3(that’s this episode), I talk about the S in my GPS model...which stands for two things.

I think of systems as a collection of tools and/or processes you use to stay productive and present and I’m one of those people who literally get shivers up their spine when we talk about systems and processes.

Here are my reasons for getting that excited about systems:

So let’s help you find out how building a simple system that supports you and keeping it current with a systems check can help you experience that holiday feeling every week.

Now it’s your turn to answer the Question of the Week…What simple system can you put in place to bring you more peace of mind this week?

Head on over to @productivitybreakthrough on IG and share your answer under the Question of the Week post.

Hey there. If motherhood has got your head spinning with all the to-dos while also balancing a business you care about, it might be time to stop the spinning...and that's what my Dare to Prioritize challenge is all about.

Head on over to daretoprioritize.com to join the challenge today.
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“Accept the reality of the seasons that you're in and give yourself grace for that.” ~ Jenna Hodge

In this episode, we talk about making you the thing that matters most...even when you have children to take care of.

Although I'm biased, I'd like to think I'm an amazing auntie to two incredible kids; however, I'm not a parent. So I brought in reinforcements in the form of a special guest - Jenna Hodge of Purpose Intended.

A mom of three little boys, Jenna’s experience of going through motherhood much earlier than her peers left her feeling completely isolated, so she decided to start writing about her experience on her blog. And after an intense postpartum period following the birth of her first child, she picked up a lot of knowledge about infant sleep, all of which she compiled into baby & toddler guides.

Jenna now coaches moms 1:1 to help them find time in their day to get the things they need to get done and the things they want to get done so that they can take care of themselves best and then be the best mom to their kids. She helps them advocate for themselves, live a healthy lifestyle and enjoy motherhood.

Here are just a few of my takeaways from our chat:
:: Accept the reality you are in
:: Acceptance is not complacency
:: Prioritizing your wellness and fulfillment models important behavior for your kiddos

Let me know your takeaways and your answer to the Question of the Week.

What is one thing you can do this week to take better care of yourself?

Come on over to  Instagram or Facebook and let me know.

Are you ready to get your shit together? The spring cohort of my GYST coaching group starts on March 6th.

To learn more and sign up, go to 

http://www.eliseenriquez.com/gyst

 
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Do you have a pile of stuff on or near your desk that you *think* might be important or *might* need your attention? You just grab stuff out of the pile when you need it...but the rest of the pile is always there. Staring at you. Daring you to not worry about what's in there?

Whether that pile is a real, physical pile, a pile of emails in your inbox, or a pile of thoughts in your head, we are going to talk about how to get rid of that pile in this episode.

In EP 67, I shared the GPS model (Gather, Process, Systems Check) that I teach in my GYST program and dove into how to make your Gathering more intentional.

This next step of knowing how to get rid of the pile of stuff you’ve *intentionally* gathered is what I refer to as processing. 

My GYST definition of Processing is giving all of your attention to one gathered item at a time so you can:

This is the key to making your gathering more intentional...emptying your gathering spots on a regular basis. Your gathering spots are a way to keep things at bay while you focus on what matters most and then take time to frequently look at and process what you were keeping at bay.

To me, processing is about deciding and doing.

So tell me, what part of your life or work could use some processing this week?

Come over to Instagram or Facebook and let me know your answer under the Question of the Week post.

If your life is full of fires that need to be put out all the time, then I'd like to invite you to join the next GYST Cohort.

We'll kick things off on March 6th, so be sure to head to eliseenriquez.com/gyst for details.
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Do you ever do something so often or talk about something so often that you don't even think about it? Does that make sense?

By the time this podcast first airs, I will have had my coaching practice for 14 years. I spent my first few years helping other people apply models for personal and professional growth. As I gained experience, my own models began to emerge. I talk about these models all the time, but not always in an obvious way. I can kind of take them for granted or forget that other people don't know about them yet.

So, I'm going to get obvious with you over the next few episodes and share one of my most fundamental models with you —The GPS Model.

GPS in my world stands for:
➥ Gather
➥ Process
➥ Systems Check

In this episode, I start with “Gather”.

“I think of gathering as placing undecided, unconsidered and/or non-urgent things in a safe place until you can do something about them.” ~ Elise

Your main takeaway from this episode – working on making your gathering more intentional.

So you know what's coming next right? The question of the week.

What is ONE way you will make your gathering spaces more intentional this week?

Come over to Instagram or Facebook and let me know.

If you’re ready for an experiment to help you be more intentional about where you direct your time, energy, and attention, then my ‘Dare to Prioritize’ week-long challenge might be exactly what you need.

Go over here to sign up: daretoprioritize.com
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Do you remember what it felt like as a kid when you experienced those moments of just not fitting in?

There have been times when I've felt this way. A huge part of it is because I'm an enneagram type 9. I like things to stay calm, be a mediator and not add to the fuss, so I can sometimes hang around the edges of groups. And in doing that, it can feel like I don't fit in anywhere.

It doesn't matter what your personality type is, we all feel like outcasts from time to time.

When I think about the world of "productivity" and the loudest voices there, I see a lot of us left out. And as much as I respect the work of the forefathers of productivity, the problem is that this space has been dominated by white-collar white men; men who had “secretaries”, college degrees, and most importantly, wives at home who would handle the household while they went out and made the money.

Thankfully, there are a lot more voices in the world of productivity now. More women. More people of color. More small business owners.

This space –this podcast– my world is for;

Listen, the old ways of productivity are not for you, and that’s ok. You are not going to fit into a one-size-fits-all kind of productivity. That pre-printed planner won't work for you. That book with the white guy in the suit and tie on the cover saying "Do what I did" is going to frustrate you.

It's time to make a shift. It's time to do productivity in a different way.

The best place to start is by being really clear about what you want and where you want to go with your life so that you can make the day-to-day easier.

Listen in and find out how else you can start to move towards a healthier shift.

Question of the week: Who do you want to be in this world and what is one thing you can DO this week to bring you closer to being that person?

Join me on Instagram @productivitybreakthrough and let me know your thoughts.

Have you signed up for the Dare to Prioritize challenge yet?
Head to daretoprioritize.com for more info.
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…getting things known, getting things prioritized and illuminating the next steps so you can achieve the goals that matter most to you…

That’s what moves us forward in life and business, and it’s also what I’m all about.

In this episode, I'm digging into the “getting things prioritized” piece, and what it means for your productivity.

People often come to me when they are feeling overwhelmed by all the little things in life that pile up, or when they feel like they're busy all day but aren't really getting anything done, and when they're losing sleep over things they are worried about that aren't getting done.

Or worse, they're not sure if stuff is or isn't getting done because there might be things that are slipping through the cracks. They also tend to come to me when they are so good at coordinating and organizing everyone else's shit but don't have their own shit together.

They aren't sure what to do, but they just know, "Not this. Something has to change."

So when people come to me feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and/or resentful, the first thing we do is get everything out in the open. We step back, take a breath and talk about it. This is important because if you want to be more productive, you need to be able to prioritize — and you cannot prioritize what is not known.

What is your top priority for this week?

Go on over to @productivitybreakthrough on Instagram and respond to the “Question of the Week” post with your answer.

I want to take a moment to invite you to join Dare To Prioritize, a week-long, live challenge that I'll be running in a private Facebook group the week of February 13th.

In this challenge, I'm daring you to dedicate some time for yourself each day to decide on and schedule the action needed around what matters most to you each day.

Head on over to daretoprioritize.com to sign up.
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This episode is about procrastination, and guess what I did when it came to working on getting it out to you? I procrastinated! Oh, the irony!

A few weeks ago, I asked people on social media what comes to mind when they hear the word ‘procrastinate’. There were some jokes in there, of course—like Justin who said, “I'll come back to this question later” and Cathy who asked if there's such a thing as an ‘amateur-crastinator’ since there's a ‘pro-crastinator’? I thought that one was pretty clever, actually.

Sarah said, “Fear is what comes to mind.” She told me that when she is in fear of failure and perfection, not meeting standards, she procrastinates. She also said she has a quote on her bulletin board that says, “Tackle procrastination. It is negativity in disguise.”

Love it!

How, then, do we overcome our habit of putting things off? I looked up the definition of procrastination in different dictionary versions and found two that were most helpful for us to get to the root of why we procrastinate.

–
Procrastination (Oxford Dictionary):
noun. /prəˌkræstɪˈneɪʃn/ /prəˌkræstɪˈneɪʃn/ ​the act of delaying something that you should do, usually because you do not want to do it.
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Procrastination (Cambridge Dictionary):
noun. /prəˌkræs.tɪˈneɪ.ʃən/ /proʊˌkræs.tɪˈneɪ.ʃən/ the act of delaying something that must be done, often because it is unpleasant or boring.
– 

If you have a project you have been procrastinating on, first ask yourself if you really want to do the thing you've been avoiding. If not, cross it off your list. If so—and especially if you're on the fence—take a small step forward by identifying your next step. And don't forget to talk to a friend if you're stuck!

Question of the Week…What is ONE thing you have been procrastinating? What is the next step you COULD take to make progress on it?

Let me know over on Instagram or Facebook @productivitybreakthrough. And don't forget to sign up for the Dare to Prioritize challenge. See you there!