What is the best productivity hack for busy military women? AND the tool that keeps it simple!

This isn't just about getting things done—it's about a life-altering strategy that's helping military women, veterans, and those transitioning into civilian life reclaim their time back with unshakeable focus.

In today's episode we get into the art of dedicating specific time slots to tasks, crafting a routine that's as efficient as it is rewarding. I'll let you in on my own journey with this technique, and how tools like Google Calendar and ClickUp have become my allies in the battle against procrastination. For those seeking a community of like-minded organizers, I want to invite you to our Facebook group—a hub for tips, encouragement and personal growth.

More about coaching resources from me:

Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | Contact Me | Schedule Consult

P.S. ​If you enjoyed this podcast, I'd love to ask you to follow and leave a quick review. It only takes 30 seconds, but it makes a huge difference to my show. Click here to open Beyond the Military in Apple Podcasts to leave your review.

Chapters

• 0:00 Time Blocking for Productivity
• 10:44 Effective Time Blocking for Productivity

Transcript

[00:00:55] Wendi: Hello ladies. And welcome to episode 205. I am [00:01:00] so happy that you heard today and I hope you're ready. For today's topic. But before we get into today's topic, I want to ask you how you're doing. I hope that you're doing well. If not, that's okay, too. Listen, we all have our ups and downs. We all have things that maybe we thought we were going to get done and we, it didn't happen or maybe things happened and it interfered with our plans and I'm here to remind you that it's okay. 

[00:01:23] Wendi: It's going to get done. It's a matter of. How are you going to get it done? And when you want to be intentional with it, because that's life, you all, we definitely. Don't have control over the circumstances, but what we do have control, and this is what I want to emphasize. Is that we have control of how we think. In how we feel about that circumstance and about the things that we need to get done. And this is why. I love. The topic that we have planned for today, and that is time-blocking. And why it's the best productivity hack for you for [00:02:00] military women, women that are busy women that are driven. Because we already have so much going on. Now if you're like Wendi, I just got out or I'm a new veteran. Um, or I'm a veteran and I have no idea what I'm doing with all this time that I have. 

[00:02:19] Wendi: This is also good for you. Because the transition, the season that you're in is also very difficult because you are now in a season where you do have the time, but you just don't have the process on how to use that time to your advantage. And so I'll tell you, I'm also sharing the tool that's going to, that's keeping it simple for me. 

[00:02:42] Wendi: And my hope is that that's also going to keep it simple for you. And so, by the way, if you didn't join me last week, where I talked about throwing it, where your to do list and coming up with a weekly routine. I want to invite you to join me. All you have to do is scroll down on the show notes. [00:03:00] And you'll see where you can join me in my Facebook group. But if you're like, I'm not into social media, I'm not into, um, the Facebooks or whatever other social media platform that is out there. 

[00:03:13] Wendi: Send me an email at hello@wendiwray.com and I will send you that template for you to get started on your own weekly routine. But if you're into the social and into Facebook, come over, join us so that you can not only get that template, but also, um, go over the actual replay of how to get started on. That with your routine and also start implementing it here. 

[00:03:38] Wendi: Moving forward. All right. So again, if you haven't joined us, I want to invite you to come join me. Um, you can also go to bit.ly bit.ly/beyondthemilitaryGRP and you can join the group there. Our rights or time-blocking why is it such a great productivity hack? Hack. And for those of you [00:04:00] that have not heard of time blocking or do not know what that is, it simply means you blocking some time off for you to do a certain thing. 

[00:04:08] Wendi: That's really in some most simple form. That's what it is. And when you do that, you're allowing your mind from the get-go. To understand that there's something that you are now going to focus on. It's a time-blocking from the very beginning allows you to focus that time. On the one specific thing. Now you might be asking, well, what's, what's the difference or what. Which one do I do? 

[00:04:40] Wendi: Do we, um, time block or do we just put it on a calendar or do we have this to do list or do we write it on a sticky note or do we do it on the tracker? What do we do? And I want to begin with saying that you can do what works best for you. I always recommend. Always always recommend what works best for you. [00:05:00] Most of you are probably used to doing everything manually. 

[00:05:03] Wendi: And I want to encourage you to begin to move into an electronic version. That will keep you accountable. And so for me, the weight I do this and what I emphasize other women to do that come work with me. It's to begin with a calendar with time-blocking keeping it very simple. And you do that with Google calendar. 

[00:05:29] Wendi: You can do that with V um, I calendar Google calendar, whatever you have. Already, if it's electronic, I want to encourage you to start there. I'm going to use Google calendars, my example. Cause that's what I use. And we're going to keep it very simple. When you time block, like I said earlier, the reason you it's a productivity. Productivity hack. Is because from the very beginning, You are guiding your [00:06:00] mind. To understand that this Brock is being preserved and reserved for a specific task that you need to accomplish. And so when we do that, we know that we're going to only do what we say we're going to do during that time. So in your calendar. 

[00:06:18] Wendi: So for example, for me, If I go to my calendar or my click up. Some between 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. I'm going to have a time block where I know exactly what I'm going to get done. Now I'm not going to have it detailed in the calendar. What I have is just a block that says time blocked for my. I think that I need to get done. For my routine. And so for you, because we're going to keep it really simple. 

[00:06:50] Wendi: What you can do is go to your calendar that you use and you block that time. No, why it's so why is it so important? It's very important [00:07:00] because you are going to dedicate that time to certain things that you plan ahead of time. So let's just say. You are going to do your time walking from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM because that's the only time all. Let's make it even better from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM. On Tuesdays. 

[00:07:20] Wendi: That's the only free time you have to do additional things that do not involve work. Do not involve your family. Do not involve your dog. Do not involve. Your day to day, things like showering and brushing your teeth and eating dinner. Let's just say during that time, you want to work on an essay. Or you want to study for the promotion board? Or even better. You want to be a part of something different. 

[00:07:50] Wendi: Maybe you want to start a new sport, whatever it may be. You now know that that's the time that you have blocked for that specific task. [00:08:00] And so now instead of adding it to your calendar, At a time where, you know, it's not going to happen during lunch or before work. Because there's so many other things that you need to get done, or because you know that if you plan it at 11:00 AM or 1130, because that's when you go to lunch, something might happen and then it's not going to get done. So what happens when you do that? 

[00:08:21] Wendi: There's going to be a 80% chance that you're going to get to that. Time block, and you're going to get things done because there's nothing else that you have on there. Versus you thinking that you're going to put it at 1130 on your calendar because you're going to do it right before lunchtime. But then you get called into a meeting or someone really requires your attention at that time because that's when a lot of people have time to come to you and talk about something or share with you a problem or ask for help. And so at that time is not going to work. 

[00:08:56] Wendi: And so what do we want to do is block a certain [00:09:00] amount of time added to your calendar. And then use a tool. That's going to keep those tasks organized. So it could be one task or depending on how long you have that block of time for. If it's an hour. It may just be two to three things that you want to get done. But let's just say it's two to three hours. 

[00:09:20] Wendi: Now you have two to three hours. Maybe it's in the evening, right? Maybe it's nine or eight to 11. Let's just say, if I can get my math together here. Let's say it's eight to 11. You're like, you know what? I put the kids to bed by eight. Everybody knows that on Wednesdays from 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM. I'm going to be in my office or I'm going to be in my closet and I'm going to do these 20 things. So now it gets a little tricky because now. What happens is your mind's like, oh my gosh, there's so much to do. 

[00:09:51] Wendi: Where do I begin? And so in order for you to keep it simple and organized, you want to use something that you can go off of. [00:10:00] And so again, this is what I went over in the throwaway to do lists and create a weekly routine. Because it's something that you can refer to quickly. And already have set ahead of time. 

[00:10:12] Wendi: And it's a kind for you to look at for your mind to see it. And also for you. To use to help you with every single step. So for me, when I record a podcast, I'm just going to give you my podcast example, because there's so many things that come along a podcast besides sitting here in front of this computer, in this camera and this microphone. There's so many things I do ahead of time to ring after. 

[00:10:39] Wendi: And even right before I publish an episode. And there's even something after the fact. Right. I want to make sure and confirm that my stuff published, that my stuff is out there and that everything else that comes along the marketing piece is also out there. And so what I use is click up and I've said this before, you don't have to use click up, but I [00:11:00] highly recommend that you get something similar. Because with that, it allows you to organize your checklist. It allows you to organize any tasks that come along with that. And also it automates things. 

[00:11:14] Wendi: So I'm saving so much time. I'm not only giving myself the space, but also official of what I need to get done. What I'll do is put the click up link also in the show notes so that you can go and look at it. If you want to get started, go get started. Um, check it out highly, highly recommend. Click up for anybody in the military as you're transitioning. As you've transitioned out. 

[00:11:39] Wendi: If you want to start a business, if you want to do real estate. If you want to. Do something with your finances? You can do it all. You can start a business and have it all organized within click up. No matter what you're doing. I promise there's a template for everything. And. When you do [00:12:00] that. And let's just say, you're like, you know what? I don't want to do anything with click up. 

[00:12:04] Wendi: I want to start very simple. I want to start with an Excel sheet. Well, then I already have a template for you to get started and that's over on my Facebook group. And so when you do that, You're allowing your mind to be clear of the trauma. Because when we don't time block or when we don't add it to our calendar, our minds want to tell us that there's so much to do. And be in chaos mode because it's not organized or in a way where you can simply see it. And if you're like me, I'm a visual person. 

[00:12:37] Wendi: I have to see what I need to get done. I need to be reminded of what I need to get done in. This is why I keep it on my calendar and click up. So there's no right way. There's only the way that works best for you, but I want to encourage you to start with time-blocking. Why. Because it's the best way to at least [00:13:00] get your mind started. But that's what you're sending time for ahead of time to do this one thing or 10 things. And here's. The next reason why. It's very important to do this. Because now you're giving yourself this amount of time. Versus allowing your brain to wander, allowing your brain to distract you into other things that you know are not even priority, or maybe you don't even need to get done. And so again, doing this simple process of time-blocking keeping yourself ahead of time. On Google calendar, the most simple calendar out there. Or if you use your work outlook. Calendar, whatever you use, you can do it there too. But if you're doing this after hours, I recommend that you do this only personal calendar. A calendar that you're going to use and you're going to stick with. I highly recommend. [00:14:00] Google calendar because it's so easy, you download the app and you add all the details on there. 

[00:14:05] Wendi: You add reminders. If you need 50 reminders, you can do that too. And so when you set that time block, when you block that time off, you can name it, whatever you want. If it's time for me, if it's. Career time. If it's post-military time, if it's family time. Whatever it is, you know, that that's the amount of time that you will have, and you won't have any more or any less to get whatever you need to get done. And so when you do that, the next step then would be to get either the template that I provided in my Facebook group or a tool I click up. Good. 

[00:14:43] Wendi: One is Trello, but highly recommend click up. Because it's so easy to use. You go on there and you create. A list of items, action items that you need to get Tunde. During that time. Because this is what happens, especially if your mom. For your wife. [00:15:00] Or if you're just a leader in the military. There's something that's going to come up and you may get interrupted to ring that time block. And we get a call from your mom, from your dad. From your significant other from a friend that maybe has never called you. And they call you and you're like, okay. If I don't pick up, I'm going to feel terrible, but then at the same time, I need to get this done. You have decision to make. Let's just say you decide to pick up the phone or you decide to get distracted from that interaction. Or your kids need you now you have a place where you can come back to instead of. You know, allowing the drama to kick in, in the chaos. Now you're like, okay. We lost 15 minutes of time. From that time block that we had it's okay. 

[00:15:50] Wendi: I'm going to give myself grace. This is my first week trying it out. But I'm going to continue where I left off. I know exactly where to go back to. Versus, [00:16:00] oh my gosh. I don't know where I was that I got distracted now I'm completely bombed and I didn't get it done. You see, I can never start something new or if I do, I can't stick to it. And this doesn't work for me. No, that's not what we want. 

[00:16:15] Wendi: We want you to set some time off blocks on time. Be able to have a structure or a plan and a process. A list for you to actually reference from, for you to get things done. And so again, I want to encourage you. If you haven't been doing this, if you don't know how to do this, I want you to listen to this podcast again, this episode. And do exactly, as I said, Get an electronic calendar app, either Google calendar. When you do that Proxim time that it's going to work best for you. 

[00:16:52] Wendi: Morning, time before work. Maybe during lunch, don't recommend her lunch, but in the evening at night, whatever [00:17:00] works for you. Block that time off. Set that limit, which would be 30 minutes, an hour, 20 minutes, two hours, three hours. So on and so forth. Create a list of exactly what you need to get done, what you want to get done for how long. 

[00:17:15] Wendi: So if it's three hours, you want to get 10 things done. Great. And then. I want you to continue to do this over and over again. Because what you're doing, you're creating this muscle of one. You are focusing your mind intentionally ahead of time. And then two, you're allowing yourself to see. What exactly you can get done in that amount of time without any distractions. And when I told you that this has changed my life on how I do things and how I'm able to do. 10 things and like 30 minutes because I sit down and I focus and I allow my mind to not give me the trauma and the chaos that it wants to. Because that's typically what happens when we don't get things [00:18:00] done is because we give our mind so much room. To negotiate with us on there's something else that could be doing. Dishes laundry. All these other 20 things that we know we want to get done as well, but are not priority. 

[00:18:15] Wendi: And maybe don't require quiet time. Are not important in, are not relevant for this immediate time. And so I want to offer you today to try this out and come let me know in the Facebook group, if it's working for you. Or how you'd like it, because here's the thing. It may not be the best. 30 minutes that you have with yourself with doing these things. 

[00:18:38] Wendi: But I promise you, it's going to keep you moving in the right direction. And there's no. You know, right or wrong, how you do it, it's the way that works for you. But this is how I recommend for you to get started. And so again, if you don't have a template, you have nowhere to begin. I want to invite you to come to my Facebook group. Get it there. 

[00:18:56] Wendi: Download it. Watch the replay from last week. For you to [00:19:00] get started and listen, if you want more accountability and you have so much going on, you want to put your business together on click up. You want to do more automated things and your more advanced. I want to invite you to schedule a free consultation with me. 

[00:19:14] Wendi: All you have to do is go to www.wendiwray.com/consult and I'll help you on your journey. All right. I hope that you have a beautiful rest of your week talk to you soon. Bye. 

[00:19:25] [00:20:00]