Many of us hardly recognize the world of today compared to the world of, say, March 11, 2020. Almost every major system has had a global shift of epic proportions. The pandemic transformed healthcare, education, politics, and the financial world with lightning speed.
And our bodies and minds are reeling as we try to keep up with this rapid change.
With everything moving, morphing, and shifting on such a massive level, many of us feel overwhelmed and unable to take the big actions this new world demands.
Parents suddenly have to make significant schooling decisions for their children, considering options they didn’t ever think about before COVID. Entrepreneurs have made tremendous changes in their business models, with the need to have a fully-functioning digital presence arriving overnight in 2020. Employers are navigating a new world where hiring staff feels more difficult than summiting Mt. Everest.
With so much change on a global scale, it’s easy to feel paralyzed when it’s time to make important decisions. It’s simply been two years of too much.
We Need Bite-Sized Changes
When our world is shifting by leaps and bounds, we need to make room for minor, incremental changes in our lives. We need smaller pivots.
How do you reclaim a sense of orderliness and accomplishment when so much is out of your control? How do you make sustainable progress as a business owner when the world is moving at lightning speed? You make small changes. Every. Single. Day. As entrepreneurs, these micro-shifts are powerful when it comes to moving the needle in our businesses.
Here are some impactful pivots to consider trying in your business.
- Narrow your email window. Experts anticipate that by 2023, there will be 350 billion emails sent each day. As entrepreneurs, it can seem like all of those are in our inboxes. Instead of checking your email all day long, set two or three times during the day that you spend 10-15 minutes handling emails. For example, you could get into your inbox right when you start your workday, again before lunch, and one more time before you log off for the day. Be sure to set a timer and stick with the window so that this shift can add up to loads of saved hours for you.
- Consolidate your meeting availability. When you run a business, it’s tempting to meet with clients and contractors whenever they are available. But that system leaves you with a scattered schedule that breaks up much of your time for focused, uninterrupted work. Instead, consider making only two days a week available for meetings and client calls. This slight shift takes just a few minutes to update in your scheduler but can free up tremendous time and mental bandwidth.
- Make a “Top 3” list each day. We entrepreneurs enjoy thinking big and planning our next giant leap. But we do actually have to accomplish smaller daily tasks, too. If you find yourself distracted by all the things, take some time each morning to note down the three most crucial jobs you need to do that day. Once you check those off, give yourself permission to daydream or move on to less pressing tasks.
Tiny Shifts for the Win!
With more than two years of a global pivot under our belts, focusing on the small things may be the most effective way to feel like you’re moving forward in your business. Tiny steps. Little shifts. Incremental change.