By Timothy Phillips

Posted on Sunlit-Leadership.com

When my mind is juggling ten “important” options at once, something strange happens.

Nothing.

And, yet, I feel busy…and nothing feels finished. This creates a quiet kind of pressure that follows me all day because a confused mind doesn’t just struggle to start, it never knows when it’s done.

Confusion.

I had too many things I could do, and no clear idea which ones I should do.

Should I read?
Should I make calls?

Should I work on the business?
Should I clean something?

Should I study something new?

Should I rest?
Should I write?

Should I think about writing a list of what I should do?

The Hidden Stress of an Undefined Day

The real problem with an unplanned day is that your brain is constantly negotiating with itself.

Even when you are zooming through papers and projects, there’s a nagging feeling that something else might be more important. Your mind never settles, and, gosh darn it, the work never feels complete.

The day just drifts (or roars) by. I use to have months like that.

I Needed a Definition of “Done”

I had to define what done is so my brain could latch onto a finite quitting point. I needed to OWN MY TIME. That is my loud why of saying to plan.

But seriously, do everything you can to Own Your Time.

Plan your days and weeks with intention.
Write it down.
Carry it with you.
And stick to it.

Not because you want to become rigid, but because your mind needs a target. I don’t know about your mind, but my mind always reverse engineers every target I give it.

Always.

Planning always has the ability to save both time and money. When I plan my Wednesday meals on Sunday I find that my Wednesday becomes a little less complex and probably a bit cheaper.

Planning Creates Peace (or, Let’s Define That Target)

What else happens when you plan your weeks and days? You stop negotiating with yourself. Instead of questioning what you will be doing all day long, (Especially when you’re bored). Your mind already knows the answer.

You wrote it in black and white. You wrote it over there in your planner. Go look at it.

The plan tells you that you’ve already decided what matters. You’ve already defined activities that create your success. You agree with your activities. Now experience peace. You may be the busiest person in the office but you will also be the most peaceful.

The next miracle that happens when we complete items on our plan list;

Endorphins.

Endorphins are those self-rewarding chemicals God gives us when we finish a task.

Any task.

Let’s look at those phone puzzle games that swear they have no commercials but still hit people up for money. Those games thrive on releasing endorphins. They do it by giving you a simple puzzle… and a simple win.

The formula is as follows: encounter a simple problem; engage a simple plan; receive endorphins; feel mildly accomplished.

We get hijacked by these games because we get endorphins. People (myself included) are encouraged to try one more level—even after we have said one more level seven levels ago.

Just the act of planning your week—no matter how simple the planning is—will release endorphins. Try it! Now these endorphins are working for you. They are working for your future.

Because the day, based on your list, has a finish line.

What To Do When I’m Bored: The Short List

When I feel bored, scattered, or unsure what to do next, I don’t have to sit around wondering. I simply work on The Short List. (Available on Sunlit-Leadership.com)

The Short List is eight simple activities that when applied over a period of time, life changes.

Own your time. Is the first item on that list.

Plan the week.
Plan the day.
Define what success looks like.

Because the moment you do that,

confusion disappears.

The Truth About Productivity

I used to think productivity is about working harder. It’s not.

It’s about removing confusion.

A clear mind works faster. A clear mind works calmer. A clear mind knows when it is done with the current task.

A mind that knows it has completed the current task—no matter what other plates are spinning—can finally give itself permission to rest.

Rest.

That is priceless.

Lets recap

When the day begins with intention, the mind has direction.

When the important things are complete, you can close the day with peace.

If you ever feel stuck…If you ever feel overwhelmed…If you ever feel like you’re spinning your wheels…

Sit down. Plan your week/day/next ten minutes.

Plan tomorrow. Write it down.

Because a confused mind never knows when it’s done. But a focused mind always does.

Timothy Phillips