152. It’s Not the Doing, It’s The Planning with Mridu Parikh

We all have 100+ things on our to-do lists and probably at least 100 more things in our heads that we need to do. There’s no way to remember it all or get it all done. It’s pretty common to brain dump a list of to-do’s for the day, setting ourselves up for failure because the list is too long, we have too many distractions, and/or we simply lose momentum.

Relate much?

Well, Easily Distracted Entrepreneur, you may continue to be frustrated because you’re more focused on the list and checking things off the list than you are on the actual planning of the to-do’s. And that’s what we’re talking about this week on the podcast with productivity coach Mridu Parikh.

Listen in as we talk about the value of the brain dumps, but the power behind the planning. Mridu shares why you should only have five things on your big list and how to approach getting each of those things done. And be sure to listen through to the end, where she shares a tip that will make you feel silly but is sure to help you get that nagging task off your list.

About Mridu Parikh:

Ready to get control of all your demands? Then you need Mridu Parikh, The Stress Squasher, on speed dial. Overwhelmed women business owners work with Mridu to prioritize and systemize so they take control of their demands and distractions – at home and at work. She is passionate about getting women the results they want, whether it's doubling their revenue, losing weight, or creating stronger boundaries. Mridu is a productivity coach, founder of Life Is Organized, host of the Productivity On Purpose podcast, and author of the best-seller, Accomplish It. Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow her on Instagram.

Links and Resources:

• The Power of When by Michael Breus, PhD
• Join the Inner Circle
• Get access to Mridu’s free productivity resources
• Productivity on Purpose Podcast

Time Stamps:

• [1:30] - Only two months left in the year
• [4:20] - People need to deal with time and stress right now
• [5:58] - Most women biz owners feel like they have to do more to be successful
• [7:58] - Writing a list of what you need to do takes the discerning out of it
• [9:14] - Getting it on paper is really cathartic
• [11:30] - Create a gotta do it list; everything else is gravy
• [12:50] - Don’t set yourself up for failure
• [14:23] - Have 5 things on your list a day
• [15:50] - What are the top 5 things today that will make me feel most successful when my head hits the pillow tonight
• [19:56] - How to approach the list of five
• [23:07] - 90% of people work better in the morning
• [28:56] - The Power of When and paying attention to the rhythms of the day
• [31:36] - Structure scares people
• [34:27] - Anything more than one step is a project
• [38:01] - How to get back on track when you find yourself floating
• [39:39] - Actually state what you’re going to do out loud