3 Time Management Tips to Avoid a Sore Back and Relationship Problems
Since I got serious about building an online business three days ago, my rear-end has been permanently affixed to the lazy-boy chair with a computer sitting on my lap. My back is killing me, and yesterday I could barely stand up out of the chair at the end of the day!
I've also been getting some dirty looks and snide comments from my wife. I'm sure she wonders if I'm ever going to do anything around the house again -- or shower, shave, and put on fresh underwear for that matter!
If this sounds anything like the situation you're in, let me break the news to you gently.... You have a bad case of "WAU Addiction" and you need an intervention!
Last night, I decided if this is going to work, I need to manage my time better. So here's my plan for achieving a little work/life balance:
1. Use a To-Do List Manager to Organize your Projects/Tasks
This is powerful. Tracking all your tasks, and then ticking the box or crossing it off, provides a huge sense of accomplishment. It's also motivating to see and track your progress and productivity over time.
A perfect example is the "Your Tasks" list and checkboxes at the end of each WAU course lesson. Doesn't it feel nice when you complete the tasks Kyle gives you and you tick the boxes? Exactly!
There are many project and to-do list managers out there, but I use and recommend Wunderlist. It's totally free and available on just about every platform that exists. Your to-do's "automagically" sync across all your devices whether it be Windows, Mac, Web, Android, or IOS. Wunderlist is simple, clean, powerful, and did I mention...FREE!
So, I've created a "WAU" list in Wunderlist and I'm using it to record all the items I need to complete for my niche site. I'm also recording blog post ideas as they occur to me while I'm out and about.
And certainly, if you're more comfortable with good ol' pen & paper, by all means use that.
2. Create a Schedule and Stick to It
This one is HUGE! As much as I'd like to be glued to the screen until I'm making money at my niche, I simply cannot. There are other responsibilities in my life such as a wife, kids, pets, a house, a yard, and investment properties. Oh, and then of course there is my job which is providing all the income to keep everything else going.
Steve just posted an AMAZING tutorial today about why most people aren't yet successful in their niche. Item #6 happens to be, "You don't have a posting schedule", and I could not agree more! If you haven't read it yet, you absolutely owe it to yourself to check it out.
15 Reasons Why Your Site Isn’t Listed In Google, Generating Traffic, or Making Money
So, I've decided to come up with a schedule that will include time in the morning for keyword research and developing ideas and titles for one or two new articles. As time permits, I'll even do a very quick high-level outline of the major topics or points I want those article to hit. I figure all this should take no more than about 1 hour to come up with an idea for one or two new posts.
Then, I'll spend more time at night, probably 3-4 hours doing more detailed research and writing/posting of one article. If my creative juices are flowing, and the words are coming easily, I'll write the 2nd article and schedule it to post the next day.
This schedule gives me all day to actually THINK about the articles and what I want to say. My best ideas seem to come when I'm driving, and then I use the voice recorder on my phone to capture those thoughts.
Now, will I do this every day? Heck no! I'm not that motivated and even if I tried, I'd fizzle out fast. So, my initial committment is to do this three times per week -- probably Monday, Wednesday and Saturday and see how it works out.
3. Take Special Time for Yourself and the Ones You Love
This one doesn't require much explaining... Who is most important in your life?
Hopefully YOU! Then maybe your spouse, girlfriend/boyfriend, kids, parents, grandparents, friends, pets, etc.
Please, for the love of all that is awesome here at WAU -- DO NOT neglect them or yourself!
Spend some time with yourself doing what you love. Take a walk, ride a bike, read a book, work out, clean the house/apartment, or do whatever hobby you're into.
Then take some time to let the special people in your life know how amazingly important they are to you and that you still love them.
Well.... Why are you just sitting there? Go DO IT!
Recent Comments
5
Well said and something that we can all implement. Without it you can easily spend a lot of time online without accomplishing a whole lot. Thanks for posting!
Thanks! I'm already finding I probably spend a little too much time on WA instead of building writing content. But.... I am still going through the training, so I have an excuse.
See more comments
Very good. You figured it out and passed it on. Thanks.