By Shannon Lutz

You know me. The girl with multiple beverages every morning. The one who eats pretty much the same thing for lunch daily and also has her client meetings at the same time weekly. I’ve always been all about routines, I know that without structure, something is bound to drop. 

First things first, personal boundaries. I pencil in my workouts for the week on the weekend prior, I know what beverages I start my day with every day (green smoothie, black coffee, and water), I have apple cider vinegar at dinner time, and I’m off the phone by 7 pm. Truly what I was dreaming about in my corporate job.

You dreamed of a lot of beverages at your corporate job?

YES. Yes I did. Because I was the girl who rolled up with a Mary Poppins lunch bag every day – which included a lemon squeezer. 😂

Then I create space for productivity by knowing what tasks I’m focusing on for the day. I only take calls on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays (HELLLOOO time blocking) to allow for a CEO day and catch up day. On my call days, I’m only on the phone from 11-3 and I don’t allow more than three slots scheduled in a day. Yupp, routines and structure! 

Next, I set up some boundaries… because we all need “white space” for those visionary “shower thoughts”.

Every client gets daily access to me via Voxer. I check it twice per day Monday through Friday. What does that mean? I have scheduled “Voxer” hours (once in AM, once in PM) so clients know that they’ll get responses throughout the day, and within 24 hours at MAX. Also, any materials they need to have looked over will be thoroughly reviewed within 48 hours – not immediately.

Your clients will be super passionate about something they just completed, and HUNGRY for your feedback. Don’t delay gratification by making them wait too long, but also note that your day’s planned, and the agenda didn’t include a surprise 1-2 hour review & feedback project. It’s a balancing act of care – for them, and for YOU.

Finally, the weekends. The question everyone asks… “Do you work on weekends” I do. Why? Because I actually feel most creative when I work on weekends. Nobody is looking for me, I am free to do what I want and need, so I focus on curriculum creation. All of my courses have typically been made on weekends because that “do not disturb” button is putting in work with me! 

To say the least, I’m a creature of habit. But when it comes to running a business, we all have to be in some way. 

Drop a comment and tell me what’s one habit that has totally changed your business life for the better. Want to create more healthy habits? Try time blocking- it’s one of my favorite things!

Here’s the time blocker I use & it’s yours fo’ free HERE.

Just click File > Make a Copy to save it to your own Google Drive and edit it week by week!