“Don’t focus on being busy; focus on being productive. Allow what matters most to drive your day.” ~Gary Keller
17 mental tabs open? Same. Here’s what’s helping me close a few. (#428)
If you’re trying to work a full-time job, care for your people, keep the house semi-sane, and move your side hustle forward… the word “focus” might make you want to scream.
Because some days, it’s just survival mode.
It’s hard to focus when your brain has 17 tabs open - and one of them is the laundry you forgot in the dryer. Again.
F is for Focus 🧭✨
(and how to reclaim it, even when you feel all over the place)
Here’s what I’ve learned:
Focus doesn’t mean doing more.
It means giving what matters most your best energy, for today.
Here’s what that looked like for me last week:
Monday: Grandma needed extra support, so I reshuffled my schedule. (Still managed to sneak in dance class. 🪩)
Tuesday: A 20-minute appointment turned into a 4-hour doctor visit. I tackled the most important things and shifted the rest to the next day.
Wednesday: Grandma was good, so I went all in on work. A time-sensitive project got my full attention.
At the end of the day, everything got done.
Not perfectly. But in the rhythm of real life.
And that’s the key: Your priorities will shift. Sometimes even in the middle of the day.
Focus isn’t about doing it all.
It’s about doing what matters most right now.
And then doing that again tomorrow.
—
A few questions to try if you’re feeling scattered:
🧭 What matters most right now?
Especially when things feel chaotic. (Or: What actually needs me today?)
✨ What would this look like if it were simple? ~Tim Ferriss
Maybe you don’t need a full plan - just a snack and 15 minutes of clarity.
🎯 What’s the one thing I can do, such that by doing it, everything else will be easier or unnecessary? ~ Gary Keller
Big 80/20 energy: What’s the 20% that moves the needle?
🪄 What can I do now to make life easier later? ~Kendra Adachi
Meal prep? Send that email? (you know the one…) Or maybe…bedtime?
—
🧪 Your Tiny Focus Experiment
Try this for the next 3–5 mornings:
Write down or say out loud:
“What matters most today?”
Let that shape your day. You might be surprised by how much you accomplish.
On to the picks!
Note: This email may contain affiliate links. If you click through my link and make a purchase, I may receive “thank you money” at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products that I use and love.
#sidechat 💬
#picks 😍
Little things helping me stay steady and clear…
📚. Books I keep coming back to:
The Lazy Genius Way by Kendra Adachi: Be “a genius about what matters and lazy about what doesn’t.”
Essentialism by Greg McKeown: “If it isn’t a clear yes, then it’s a clear no.”
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho: “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
Chill and Prosper by Denise Duffield-Thomas: “How could I make this as easy and stress-free as possible?”
📝. A journaling prompt to play with: “What does a perfect day look like?” (from Justin Welsh’s solopreneur strategy) Use it as a gentle filter, especially on foggy days. What drains you? What energizes you? Build your biz (and your to-do list) around that.
🎧. Listening: Focus Mix: Lately I’ve been leaning into focus music while I work, and Spotify’s curation is 🤌🏾. Think: TV/movie soundtracks (Queen Charlotte, Fantastic Beasts, Titanic, Hunger Games…) and mellow piano covers. I’m loving it. What’s your go-to focus music?
#icymi
😍. Last issue’s top pick: 100 People Project
🎤. ASK: I’d love to book 2 more paid speaking gigs this year. If you know of any events, panels, podcasts, or conferences looking for speakers, I’d be so grateful if you’d pass my name along. I love talking about side hustles and newsletters, but I’d also be excited to craft an inspirational talk, too.
🤩. Feeling overwhelmed or stuck? Need some clarity? I gotchu. Grab a pep talk!
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(like these? let’s partner up!)
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