We’re talking about productivity and getting work done in our businesses today. I know a lot of us are working mamas so today I’m giving you six tips for how to get work done in your business. These are the methods I use that have really helped me focus and accomplish what I need to accomplish when I need to. I’m so excited to share them with you! Let’s dive in! 

In This Episode Allie discusses:

• The Business Breakthrough Boot Camp

• Six tips for how to get work done

Mentioned in this Episode:

Instagram

Courses (Use the code PURPOSESHOW for 10% off!)

The Purpose Show Facebook Community

Business Breakthrough Bootcamp

EP 156: 10 Things I Did To Build My Empire

Mom life. We’re surrounded by the message that it’s the tired life. The no-time-for-myself life. The hard life. We’re supposed to get through it. Survive. Cling on by the last little thread. And at the same time, Carpe Diem—enjoy every moment because it’s going to go by so fast. The typical mom culture that sends us all kinds of mixed, typically negative messages: We shouldn’t take care of ourselves; it’s selfish. The more ragged you run yourself, the bigger your badge of honor. But also, ditch your mom bod and work out. Don’t yell. Make more money. Show up. Be better, but not at the expense of time with your kids. I am putting a hard stop to all of this. While being a mom, running a business, and whatever else you might have going on is hard. It is a lot and there’s lots of giving of yourself. The idea that motherhood means living a joyless, nonstop-hustle-with-zero-balance kind of life where you give and give and give and never take, needs to stop. 

I’m on a mission to help you stop counting down the minutes till bedtime (at least most days). Stop the mom guilt and shame game. Stop cleaning up after your kids’ childhood and start being present for it. I want to help you thrive in work, home and life. I believe in John 10:10 that we are called to living an abundant life and I know moms are not excluded from that promise. Join me in conversations about simplicity, some business and life hacks, spirituality and lots of other good stuff that leads to a life of less for the sake of enjoying more in your motherhood. I’m Allie Casazza and this is The Purpose Show.

Hey friends! We have been talking about business so much more here on The Purpose Show and it makes me so, so happy. I love that my message gets to evolve and shift as I do as a person. 

Speaking of business, I have created a 3-day online bootcamp that’s going to be super easy and really fun for all of you online business owners that are listening. I’m calling it The Business Breakthrough Bootcamp (BBB). We’re going to go over three days together in a live stream, so you’re going to get to be there with me. 

It’s webinar-style live via zoom. You can talk to me and ask questions. I am going to teach something every single day, something that is going to cause you to break through a wall in your business.

Maybe it’s going to be limiting beliefs. Another day we’ll do some strategy. And a different day, we’ll do thought processes and breakthroughs that you need to have as the CEO. 

We’re going to talk about the spirit side of things and the strategy side of things. Making one magical combo of real breakthrough and lasting impact that you can carry with you in your business, implement change, and let things be better in your business. 

The work that you do will feel better. You’ll feel like you have internal clarity and that’s going to show up in your business. 

Because how you feel, your wellness, your wholeness as a person and as a soul is directly reflected in the results you see in your business. If there is one thing I’ve learned as a business owner, it is definitely that!

This bootcamp is totally free! I was going to charge about $50 for it and I decided to make it free.

To sign up, I want you to go to alliecasazza.com/bbb.

Sign up! It’s totally free! 

I’m really, really looking forward to seeing you there! I can’t wait to talk with you and help you! 

I’m so excited! Let’s break through your business hurdles together!

Hello, beautiful babes! I’m excited because we’re talking about productivity and getting work done and business stuff today. So, let’s just dive into this. 

I want to talk to you about how I get work done. This could probably be a series of 10-15 different episodes, so we may need to have some further conversations. 

And by the way, whenever I post a new episode, if there’s ever a continuation of the topic that you see, or another piece that I didn’t cover that you’re thinking, “Ok, this is so great, but what about this angle? What about further steps or next steps?” That’s what the Facebook group is for.

If you’re not a part of The Purpose Show Community group on Facebook, it is 45,000+ women strong, yet it’s not overwhelming. It is one of the most kind, amazing, inspiring, positive spaces on the internet. 

I work very hard, intentionally and deliberately, to have it kept that way. I pay a lot of money for admins to keep it that way. It is a very intentional space that I have created for you. 

So, if you’re not in there, go! Even if you’re like me and you’re not really a huge fan of Facebook, just go and join that group. It’s so inspiring and so encouraging. 

I always love to hear thoughts about the episodes and if there are next steps that you’re wondering about I could branch off and do a Part 2 to something. This might be one of those episodes, so I’d love to hear from you in The Purpose Show community.

Let’s dive into this. To get this conversation started, I brain-dumped out onto Trello what comes up for me when I think about how I get my work done, how I accomplish stuff, how I’m productive, how I get my work done in my business. 

There are a few things that I have listed here—six tips of how I get my work done. So let’s jump in!

Number 1: I balance setting my work hours with inspiration and workload. 

Let me explain. 

A lot of people say, “Set your work hours and that’s it. That’s when you work and when you’re not working, you’re home.” And if that works for you, girl, you gotta do what floats your boat. 

But for me, I like to balance that. I do have set work hours, but I also like to follow inspiration and if I’m feeling really inspired and I can, I’m going to grab my laptop and bust out some thoughts or work on a project or whatever. I’m not going to deny myself that.

Here at The Purpose Show we’re all about that very thing—purpose. I think when you really are living in your purpose with your family, with your work or whatever your lifestyle looks like, it’s your heartbeat. It’s a piece of you. And you can’t just segment that into sections. 

If you don’t go to a 9-5 job with a schedule, why would you limit yourself?

I like to balance those set work hours with following inspiration and also following my workload. Let me dive into this a little bit. 

I typically work between the hours of 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM. I don’t like Mondays to start super early. I did that in the beginning when I was starting my business and I’ve put that behind me for now. 

I love spending my morning time on my selfcare. I like to start my day slow, linger over coffee, read, have breakfast with my family, and do my morning ritual. 

If you haven’t listened to last Monday’s episode, episode 156, I talked about how taking care of yourself is directly linked to the success of your business. Definitely go listen to that if you haven’t yet. 

My work days are usually between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM, but like I said, if I’m feeling inspired I never feel guilty about reaching for my laptop and getting some thoughts out, working on a project, or knocking out a few tasks.

And when I mention balancing it with my workload, what I mean by that is as a business owner of course there’s going to be times when there’s just more to do than usual. So, if it feels good in that season of my family to stick with my work hours and get all the things done within those 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM hours, then that’s what I’m going to do. 

But if not, if I want to work more, push through, get things done, and work longer, I’m going to let myself do that. Yesterday I worked from about 10:00 AM till about 7:30 PM. I took breaks to hang out with my kids for a bit, eat food, and move my body, but I worked all day. I haven’t done that in a little while and it felt really good.

I was inspired. I had a lot of energy. 

Also I know that my period is going to start soon and I know that I always get really knocked off my feet for a few days, so I was just rolling with it. I chose to follow the energy, push through, and get a bunch of work done. It felt great. 

I’m doing the same thing today actually. I’m recording this podcast in between a bunch of interviews for other people’s podcasts. 

I’m kicking butt and taking names. That’s the energy that I’m in right now, so I’m following that. I don’t feel guilty about that. 

My work hours are not a restriction. I can always move a deadline. 

I’m the boss. I can always change the date that something is due. 

And also enough gets to be enough. If I’m feeling like that’s enough, I don’t want to push through, even though I’m not done, then that gets to be enough. Things can be changed and moved. 

I’m in charge. I think sometimes as business owners we forget that we’re in charge. 

One way that I’m productive and I get work done is I follow that energy. I practice that balance of, “Yes, I have work hours, but I also will follow inspiration and my energy, and depending on the workload, decide what I want to do. Not what needs to be done but what do I want to do.” 

When you let yourself be energetic and work more because you want to, or be really lackluster, tired, need a break, push the deadline to further ahead, not stop working early or not work at all that day or week. When you allow yourself that lack of boundaries, I think that’s where productivity can actually really live, really thrive and grow because you’re not forcing, pushing, and punishing yourself.

I think it’s great to have set work hours and it’s great to push through, get projects done, and just do the dang thing. But it’s also great to listen to your body, follow your energy, and follow your inspiration. 

Number 2: This is something that you may have heard of. It’s pretty popular. It’s called the Pomodoro Method. 

There’s actually a free Pomodoro timer online. The Pomodoro method is a really popular productivity hack. 

I actually only use it on days that I’m struggling to focus but I need to push through. I need to get this done. 

This has been lingering on my to-do list for a while, I’m just being fussy. I need to just push through. 

I will set myself up with something fun that night to look forward to. Maybe a glass of wine by the fire in the backyard, something fun with my family like going out for ice cream. And then I will Pomodoro my way through the workday. 

The Pomodoro method is 25 minutes of work/5 minutes of rest, 25 minutes of work/5minutes rest. Or something like that. I don’t even know because I just click my timer and follow it. It’ll beep when it’s time to take a break. 

I work for 25 minutes. When the timer goes off, I take a break, I move my body. Maybe I’ll do some yoga stretches. 

Sometimes I lay on my back on the floor in my office and just sit in silence because my brain just needs that. Maybe I’ll be on my phone responding to Voxer messages from my team in between, working on a task in some way or another. But I’m breaking up the work.

It’s so much easier to get through something, especially in course creation mode. I really don’t like creating courses, but I love the end result of the course being created. 

It’s passive revenue for me because I already did the work. But I have to push through creating courses, so I use the Pomodoro method for those kinds of tasks. It really helps me. 

It’s a productivity hack. It’s very popular because it works really well. But I only use it for days that I’m struggling to focus, but I know I need to push through and get it done.

All right, where are all my business babes at? I am freaking out! Literally my fist is clenched and I’m so excited to share this with you!

I have been working on this for a while behind the scenes. I’m so excited to begin opening up the waitlist and getting you beauties into my new monthly membership!

This is for online business owners who want to grow. You already have a business and it’s going, but it’s not where you want it to be. You are ready for more, for higher, for further, for real growth to happen in your online business. 

And girl, I have got you!

This membership is one all-encompassing course dripped out in monthly chunks so you can take real action instead of getting overwhelmed by all the information at once.

I will guide you. We’ll focus on one area of your business at a time. Over the course of 30 days at a time, you are going to seriously move the needle forward in your business and see actual growth.

You’re going to have a community of like-minded entrepreneurs just like you that you can collaborate with and grow alongside of. You’re going to hear from incredible experts. You’re going to learn from me.

You know I’m all about the balance of strategy and spirit when it comes to business. What that means is we’re going to focus on what’s going on internally, on the mindset and emotions, alongside strategies—logical technical strategies—that are going to launch your business to the next level and beyond. That power combo of strategy and spirit is how I launched a business and had about 10 years of growth in just one year.

I am here to help you. I’m here to support you. I am so excited! 

I have called this beautiful new membership, The Up and Up Academy because that’s my motto. That’s what we’re here to do.

There is no time and space for doubt. We’re moms. We’re busy. We’re business owners. We want to go up and up and up and we don’t need to settle for any downs.

Go to alliecasazza.com/upandup. Get on that wait list. 

There’s going to be a founding member’s price, so you’re going to want to get in on that train. 

This is going to be absolutely mind blowing! So helpful! I am so excited!

I’ve had all of this information, all of these ideas bubbling up inside of me for so long. And to finally create a space, a platform where I can share them, put them, encourage people with them, is really fulfilling. I cannot wait for you to be a part of it!

alliecasazza.com/upandup. Get on the waitlist for the Up and Up Academy, my new business monthly membership for the online business owner who wants to grow.

Number 3:  I do these little mini spurts of moving my body to get endorphins flowing in between my work. 

A lot of the time what my day will look like is I’ll start work around 10:00 AM, I’ll work until lunch and then I’ll do a 15-minute Pilates workout or video with The Balanced Life. You guys know I mention her all the time because I love Pilates. 

I love Robin. Her workouts are so good. 

You don’t get sweaty. You really are toning, moving your body, feeling into your body, and getting those good, positive endorphins flowing. It just feels really good. 

I’ll eat a light lunch and then get back to work until 2:00 or 2:30 or whatever my day looks like that day.

I really want to challenge you to actually try this. I feel like people don’t really talk about this enough. 

It is so helpful to just get up and take a walk, do some stretches, do a quick yoga video from YouTube, do a Pilates workout with Robin, or whatever it is, and get your endorphins flowing in between work, even just for a few minutes. 

Also, if you were to do that several times during the work day, then you would have worked out for 45 minutes total and that’s great. 

I do these little mini movements where I’m not really getting sweaty but I’m moving my body. It feels really good and it helps me. I want to get back to my desk. I am really energized and more productive. 

Number 4: Another thing that I do is a lot of the time I’ll have something coming up in my day at a set time. For example, I had a FaceTime call with a friend, that I had on my calendar at 3:00. 

It was about 1:00 when I was looking at the time, and it felt like I had so much left to do. I was just not feeling it. 

I really wanted to feel more productive though, and I knew that was the right thing to do. So I thought, “Okay, I have two hours, I’m going to make myself a snack, make myself a fresh cup of coffee, and I’m going to push through until 3:00. I’ve got two hours. I’m going to make the most of it and that’s just going to be enough. I’m going to get on my call with my friend and I’m not going to work again the rest of the day.”

And that’s what I did. I made the most of it. 

I pushed through. I put on some happy music. I drank my coffee. I had my snack. 

I worked and made decisions. I was writing video scripts and outlining podcast episodes. 

I pushed through and I got almost everything on my list done. The few things that were left, I did the next day. 

I was doing makeup work yesterday from the day before and then I got all my stuff done. I was way more energized yesterday because I cut my day off at 3:00. Do you see what I mean? 

Look at what’s on your schedule and say, “Okay, I’ve got an hour. What’s the most I could do in this hour?” Then just start and dive in. I think sometimes we overcomplicate things. 

Number 5: I set my schedule in a way that feels really good for me. I’m inspired to be productive because I know that I’m not running myself into the ground with an insane work schedule that’s not even suiting my life. 

What that has looked like for me is not working on Mondays. I basically never work on Mondays. I haven’t worked on a Monday in a really long time. 

I really protect those days. I don’t work Friday afternoons, Saturdays, Sundays or Mondays.

It’s basically three and a half days off a week. I know that sounds like a lot and I’m over here getting all this stuff done in just a few days of working a week, with a few hours each day most of the time, not all the time, but most of the time. But that’s exactly my point.

Yes, I have a team and I have help, but it’s not even really about that. It’s about when I’m working, I’m energized because I gave myself space to rest. When you give yourself space to rest and you do get back to work, you’re way more productive, you’re way more energetic, and you’re able to really show up. 

I didn’t just know to not work Mondays. It was trial and error; I had to learn.

So when I started that I was feeling like I was overwhelmed. Having a couple days off on the weekend was not really working for me. 

Plus on the weekends, we usually have baseball or something for the kids. When you’re a mom, the weekends are not always super, super restorative. They’re busy. 

We’re in a full season of our lives as moms, right? And so I thought, “What if I just didn’t work on Mondays? Let’s try it.” And that helped me so much. 

Now I have my schedule set in a way that feels really good to me and that allows me to restore my spirit. I get back to work on Tuesday. 

Sometimes I’ll do a couple of little tasks on Mondays; I’m not doing nothing. It’s just that I’m starting slow. 

I’m lingering over coffee. I make a really big breakfast for the family. I’m really soaking up time with them. 

Monday is a day that I do a really long workout. I’ll usually do a 45 minute to an hour long workout. 

I really feel into my body, take care of it, and do Pilates or whatever. I’ll get a couple of things ticked off my to-do list if it feels good, but most times I don’t even touch my laptop.

I’m not working. I’m not in office. I’m unavailable. I’m not talking to my team. 

I don’t work on Mondays. That day is protected for me to start the week slow, get into things, feel into my body, feel into my family, feel into my week and start slow. 

It’s also a day where we get our groceries delivered and we’re food prepping for the week. It’s just a slow start. It’s not that it’s nothing, it’s just a slow start.

I don’t dive into the work week on Mondays because it doesn’t serve me anymore. I don’t want to do that. 

But Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings, you bet your butt I am there. I am present. I am energized. I am productive. 

Number 6: I remove all distractions when I’m working.

I turn my phone off. I put it in another space. I work in a space where I feel like I can focus best. 

If you work at home, then what does that look like? Do you want to hide in your closet? 

Put your noise canceling headphones in and focus? Do you want to be in your room?

Do you want to be at the kitchen table? Do you want to be in the backyard? 

Do you need to rent an office? What do you need? 

I also talk to my kids and I say, “I’m going to work until this timer goes off. I need to focus and not be interrupted unless somebody is bleeding or really hurt.” 

That’s the rule. That’s the boundary. 

I say, “Here’s a list of things that you guys can do. Pick whatever you want. Respect each other and let’s not be arguing.”

I talk to them. I set that boundary and it works. I usually don’t get interrupted because my kids are a little older. 

If your kids are little, you need to figure out a way that this is going to work for you. You need to figure out a way where this is going to be helpful for you and set you up for success.

I recently recently recorded an episode with Tonya Dalton and it’s about this, so stay tuned for tips from that episode. It’s being released this Wednesday. 

If your kids are little and you’re pursuing your purpose and working with little kids in the house, we’ll have some really great practical tips for you there. 

But I’m removing distractions and I’m deciding to focus. I set myself up for a successful work block and I do everything that I can to make that happen. 

I feel into myself. Do I need water? Do I need coffee? 

Do I need to move my body first? Do I need music? Do I need noise canceling headphones? 

Do I need to talk to the kids? Do I need to communicate to Brian? What do I need? 

Then I turn my phone off and I decide that I am going to make this happen. I am going to create a successful work block because that’s what I need to do. 

There’s something I say that I heard somewhere a long time ago: Winners win and that’s who I choose to be. 

What do winners do to win? I know that’s kind of cheesy and silly. 

Honestly I’m a little embarrassed to share it, but it’s something that I’ve had in my head. Winners win and that’s who I choose to be.

I’m going to set myself up for success. I’m going to honor this work block. 

I’m going to set boundaries with my family. I’m going to create space to work. 

I’m going to turn my phone off. Everything can wait. 

I’m going to move to a space where I feel like I can focus. I’m going to do what I need to do to feel good and feel ready to focus. 

I’m going to make a new pot of coffee. I’m going to pour lemon water. I’m going to get a snack. 

I’m going to move my body. I’m going to listen to upbeat music. I’m going to speak affirmations. Do some yoga stretches. 

And then I’m going to sit down and I’m going to focus because winners win and that’s who I choose to be. 

I will win. I will achieve. I will be productive. 

I will continue to build this empire and to do that, I’ve got to sit down and do the dang thing. There’s no room for distractions when I’m in that mindset. There’s no room for distractions when I’m that focused, right? 

I hope this kicked you in the booty. 

Let’s talk more about productivity. Go to the Facebook community in The Purpose Show and tell me what you want to hear about getting work done. 

Maybe you need help with specific work. Do you need help with creating courses? Do you need help with recording podcasts? Starting something? Let’s talk about it.

Next Monday, I’m going to share how I got things done in the beginning with a baby and three toddlers. This Wednesday Tonya is coming to talk about pursuing purpose when your kids are little. 

We’ve got lots of support for you mama’s coming in the next few days. I’m so looking forward to encouraging you in that way!

Go join The Purpose Show community on Facebook. 

Love you guys! 

Don’t forget to take a screenshot and share on Instagram. Let’s spread this encouraging message and show for other moms. 

Thank you for helping me spread my message.! I love you all so much! Have an incredible day!

This was an episode of The Purpose Show. Did you know there is an exclusive community created solely for the purpose of continuing discussions surrounding The Purpose Show episodes? And to get you to actually take action and make positive changes on the things that you learn here? Go be a part of it. To join go to facebook.com/groups/purposefulmamas.

Thank you so much for tuning in. If you are ready to uplevel and really take action on the things I talk about on my show, and get step-by-step help from me, head to alliecasazza.com. There are free downloads, courses, classes, and ways to learn more about what the next step might look like for you and to focus on whatever you might need help with in whatever season you are in right now.  

I am always rooting for you, friend! See ya next time!

Hey mama! Just a quick note, this post may contain affiliate links.