Hey ,

In 2020, my booking calendar was open all day, every day.

From everything I read online on how to run a business… this was the advice: serve people first.

With each call, I shifted everything. That was way too stressful for my family and me.

I realized I need to take care of myself in order to serve others.

Since then, I've made several changes. But, none felt as significant as the ones I made in January of this year. I made a commitment to focus on fewer things.

Here's one way I gained control over my schedule while still applying a customer-centric focus (and how you might be able to do the same for yourself).

I limited my calendar to 1 day per week for calls and meetings.

I thought it would make for fewer conversations with people, but instead my total call volume is the same (and sometimes more). Instead of X number of calls spread across several days, it's the same (or more) number of calls on one single day.

I'm able to dive deeper into my work on non-call days. And, I find that I'm more attentive and better at listening, because I know what my "call day" is for.

Limiting call days is just one thing I've changed since January 2023.

Over the last 6 months, I've changed all of my offerings. In future editions, I hope to be a resource for you, and share my other valuable outcomes from the changes I made to get back more time. Such as how I:

• Only check emails in a 30-min window
• Set up a complete asynchronous space for calls and coaching
• Optimized my 3 - 4 month web design process into 6 weeks without losing any quality.
• No longer submit proposals to gain work
• Offer an unlimited website design, development, and support service for Wix owners.

To help you identify some areas in your daily life (for work or personal), I wanted to share the podcast below with you.

This podcast episode discusses the concept of “bucketing” time. Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, founders of 37signals (Basecamp + HEY), share their experiences and strategies for maximizing productivity and control over one’s schedule by managing time in designated buckets.

🎙️ Gain more control over your schedule and bring balance into your life.

My two favorite highlights from this podcast episode:

1. Jason shares the key to bucketing your time efficiently.
2. Jason shares why he says no to attention-splintering obligations.

Watch the full 19-min video podcast >

What are you doing to manage your time with more intention? I'd love to learn from you. Let me know in a reply.

Enjoy,

Matt

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