Let's explore some ways you can tap into that back-to-school energy and turn those new routines from disruptive to productive.
If you love to learn, go for it. Pick one thing you are excited to dig into.
Songwriting is a great one (I have something coming in a few days that will be a perfect fit).
Or choose a marketing focus like email list growth or release maximization.
Pair every bit of learning with a bite size assignment. Listen for five minutes. Do one step. That rhythm fits between sports practice and dinner.
Quick story about my daughter. She is a junior in high school and recently started driving to fun spots to get her homework done. Yes, the fancy coffee costs a little money. But she stays for a few hours and finishes everything. She is buying back her time. She comes home with her evening open instead of letting homework take over.
Musicians can borrow that move. A small focus budget can give you hours of breathing room. Try an off site "study date" once or twice a week. Decide your assignment before you leave. Write a verse and a chorus. Draft one email to your list. Build a simple pre save page. When the drink is gone, the assignment is turned in.
Moms, I see you. If you live in the car line right now, you can still make progress with work that fits in your head.
I used to walk to and from preschool and work through songwriting blocks on the way. When a line or melody landed, I stopped and grabbed a quick voice memo or jotted a lyric down in my notes app.
If you drive, do the same when you park. One thought. One memo. Back to life.
You can even rehearse songs or stories in your mind. Run through them from start to finish as if you are singing or speaking out loud.
When I built my keynote concert, I recorded a rough run of the whole talk and played it during my walk back from school every day. Over time, those words were branded on my brain. On stage, the transitions felt natural because I knew what came next without looking.
Even if you are not doing keynotes, record your most common stories and let your brain rehearse while you move through your day. It makes a difference and it counts as real progress.
And for those idle hours of waiting for kids at soccer practice or piano lessons, turn your podcast queue into a mini class. Save two or three trainings that match your focus. After each one, pause and do a single action step before you press play on the next. No binge learning. Learn, then act.
Close your week with a Friday (or Sunday) reflection. What did I learn. What did I ship. What is the next assignment. Then rest. Start Monday with clarity.
Find a homework buddy. One artist friend. A weekly check in with two sentences. What I turned in last week. What I will turn in this week. Short and honest wins.
Be gentle yet firm with yourself, just like your favorite teacher would. And know that I'm rooting for your continued progress as you navigate the inevitable changes of seasons, priorities and energy.
Always in your corner,
​<3 Bree
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