3 Simple Powerful Ways to Save Time Every Week

Time is one of our most valuable resources, and for entrepreneurs, managing it wisely is crucial. In this episode of Beyond Common Business Secrets, Tracey Watts Cirino dives into three powerful strategies to help you save time each week without sacrificing productivity or well-being. Learn how staying in alignment with your energy can help you work smarter, not harder. Discover the power of saying 'No' and why it’s essential to prioritizing your tasks. And finally, tackle those intimidating big tasks first to free up your focus and fuel for the rest of the week. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, these tips will help you reclaim your time and keep you aligned with your goals.

If you want to explore your human design chart to align your energy, book an energy alignment session with me.  

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Are you ready to say goodbye to fear, frustration, and overwhelm when it comes to growing and scaling your business? You’re in the right place. Welcome to  Beyond Common Business Secrets Podcast I’m your host, Tracey Watts Cirino

Transcript

• Hello, friend, welcome to beyond common business secrets.
• I am your host, Tracey Watts Cirino, and congratulations for being here.
• On this, podcast we dive into the strategies that help you build your dream business so that you can actually get paid. And and this is the and life, and live your best life.
• So
• let me ask you a question
• to get started today. So let me ask you this question.
• have you ever felt like you had a million things to do like just a million things to do every week, but never enough time to get to the things on your list that really matter.
• So
• raise your hand. If you're not driving, raise your hand if you're not driving, and let me know if you would answer yes to that question. So I've been there, friend, and I'm so I'm sure that you can relate.
• It's so wild that you know the beginning of the week. It's like, Oh, yeah, I'm gonna have all these big dreams and vision to do all this stuff. So
• when we look at this through the lens of what we're gonna talk about today we're gonna talk about one of the biggest secrets to success. And I think people think sometimes that this is
• time saving.
• But really I believe it is a life management strategy like it's, it's like using your life management to focus on your most important priorities.
• So to me, time saving in in life management is not about cramming more into your already packed schedule.
• but it's about strategically
• saving time in ways that actually move the needle in your business.
• but also right? So not even. But it's like and that and again, and leave you feeling more energized. Right? It's not about feeling depleted. It's about, you know. What can we actually do? That moves the needle in our business
• and leaves you feeling more energized. So today, we're gonna cover 3 powerful ways.
• I would say there are 3 simple and powerful ways that you can save time every single week
• by doing things smarter.
• right, and not harder, smarter, and staying true to what really matters most to you. So let's get right into it. So
• the the most important thing I would say is
• like
• the 1st and most powerful time saving strategy.
• that is, that I have ever personally worked with and then
• applied into my life is staying in alignment with your energy. So here's the thing. Each and every one of us has a unique energy like we have our own unique energy rhythms
• that that flow through us throughout the day, the week, the month, the year and maybe you're a morning person. Maybe you're like bright eyed and bushy tailed 1st thing in the morning, or maybe you're not. Maybe you're really cranky and grouchy in the morning, and you don't get your like.
• you know your spark to light till later in the day. So knowing which time of day is best for you is so helpful. So maybe you're someone that
• you know doesn't find their spark until the evening, so
• you might even be somebody that
• works better seasonally, like maybe you have seasons where you are better aligned to create, and then you just kind of do the the upkeep tasks, the other seasons. So
• it's really
• imperative that you find your unique
• energy
• like the more that you find your own unique energy pattern and then adopt it into how you actually run and grow your business, the more successful you will be. So knowing when you have the most energy, can completely completely transform your approach to business and your life.
• Instead of feeling like a slave to all those overwhelming tasks, you actually will feel excited and energized to get the things done that you have week to week.
• So I have to share, though, like I, I know, I make this sound like so amazing now. And it's like, Oh, yeah, just find your energy. And and I get it. It may seem like, Oh, yeah, well, what does that really mean? So I can share with you from, you know from my heart it's like I have so learned this the hard way by forcing myself into the quote unquote 9 to 5 productivity. Really, it's like 9 to 7, or I was probably doing 8 to 7 for for years on end
• into that like productivity box
• when my real creativity doesn't fire up till around 11 Am.
• That like I had noticed that once I started scheduling my biggest, most productive tasks when I feel more energized. I noticed my pro, my productivity, my focus, my just overall enthusiasm just took off like a rocket ship
• when I started
• using my own energy
• to really be in alignment with how I scheduled my day. So it's interesting because people ask me every single week. It's 1 of the questions that we get all the time. People. DM, this to us. They email it. They're like, Tracy, how do you get so much done every week? And
• this, is it? It's like, listen up, buckle up, because this is it. This is it?
• like an actionable tip I have for you is this is like a quick exercise. So this week, cause you could be like, well, what do you mean? Energy? It's like. So just let's make this super simple.
• this quick exercise that you can do this week is take a few minutes this week
• when you're feeling the most focused and alert and write it down. Just write it down on a notebook. Your calendar, your plan, or whatever you have, doesn't have to be a big, big deal. You can put it in your phone notes
• and then
• look back. Look back at this next week, when you're planning your week and start scheduling your most critical work tasks in those peak hours. So for you, maybe this is client calls. Maybe this is actually the service that you provide like servicing the clients.
• Maybe this is your creative work, or this can even be strategic planning, like I when I schedule strategic and like I do, a lot of initiating for my clients, I, when when we schedule schedule, strategic planning. I will schedule this in the in those hours
• of my day that I'm most productive, because this is really really helpful for me and and my clients. So it's also like. Another thing for me is like it might be like marketing strategies, or it will be writing new books or writing and creating new programs or campaigns. You know
• that. So knowing when you have the most energy and knowing when your creative flow is most in alignment with your unique energy is going to allow you like, I know, it's like so counterintuitive because we've been fed. This line of everybody's the same. And this 9 to 5 Bs, so this is like.
• this is like, consider it that I'm giving you a huge hug, and then taking you and rattling you and shaking you free from that old Bs. Now it's like, let's get clear this simple exercise. Just write down. Take a few little notes every day this week of when you feel
• the most focused and alert like. Just that's it. It's that simple. So by working with your natural energy instead of against it. You're not only going to get more done, but you'll do it with less stress. So you're gonna like, lower your cortisol. You're going to do this with more joy in your heart. And
• this is so, I mean for me. It's been like
• tuning into your personal rhythm and seeing how like by doing that you'll start to see how much time you save and overall in the long run you'll be like, wow! Not only did I save time, but it felt good like it just felt good in my body like it. My heart was happy this week like that's the way it's worked for me.
• and I wish the same for you. So the other thing is like one of the tools that I use to help me align. My energy is human design. This has been an absolute game changer for me. I kid you, not game changer. So when I started working with human design that
• literally changed the game for how I really started getting to know my own energy in a deeper, more meaningful, and profound way. So
• like. Now like, I think that the number. One thing I discovered is like, I stopped chasing like I I'm not chasing those goals and dreams. It's more like I'm in alignment, and it's
• working together, so it feels like less of the dragging stuff up a mountain with a million pound boulder on your back. Now it feels like
• I have the energy that I need when I initiate new products, create, make new ideas, new programs.
• Even when we're launching new stuff with all of our like marketing clients. So this is such a powerful tool, if you're still like. Oh, I don't know. I need a lot more help on recognizing my energy.
• I would love to help you. So if you want to dive in more to your human design and your own energy alignment we can run your chart, and I can really help you align with your own personally, your own personal energy source. So
• you can book an energy alignment session with me, and we can dig into it together. So I'll make sure that Link is in the show notes that you can book a human design like an energy alignment session. This will help you so so much, and it's a tool that I'll teach you how to use, and you can keep using again and again and again. So that's number one. Now we're gonna move on to number 2.
• This is the second most powerful way
• to keep you moving in the direction of saving time.
• And you might be surprised because this one is like, I said, simple but powerful. It is learning to say, No, friend, repeat after me. No. So
• this one is huge. We all have so many demands on our time, especially business owners, especially if you're a mom, a mother, a daughter, a sister, you know all these things. So we all have so many demands on our time, and it is like 10 x. If you're a business owner, a mom, and you know all the all the different labels and titles that we we wear. And
• let's be honest for a second. How often do we feel guilty, saying no like how you can probably think right now. How many times, by a show of hands, if you're not driving, raise your hand by a show of hands. How many times have you said yes, in the past week.
• just because you felt guilty to say No.
• right. So this.
• but by learning to practice this muscle and flex this a little bit, this
• by learning to say, No, this will help you so much. So if you kind of use this reframe.
• So instead of accepting that, you just said yes to a bunch of stuff just because you didn't want to feel guilty for saying No, here's the truth. Here's the truth of it.
• Every no is actually
• a yes to something that is better for you and your energy. Right? So think of every. No.
• it's actually a yes, to setting you up for living your best life when you keep saying yes to things that don't serve your highest good and your highest potential. It is like
• you are actually saying no to those things.
• So we want to understand that we keep saying yes to stuff that we don't want to do just because of our fear of upsetting people like our people. Pleasing ways. Our our fear of, you know people being mad at us, or oh, I just felt guilty. So I said, Yes, like, if we continue to do this, we're literally blocking
• our highest good and our highest priorities. So start saying, No, because this is like saying yes to the things that would serve your highest good. So when you put this reframe on it. I think it really helps serve you in such a meaningful way. No, is actually a yes to your best life.
• Repeat after me, friend, no is actually a yes to your best life. So
• continue to practice practice while you're driving practice in the mirror.
• just get comfortable, saying no, and that and no, is a complete sentence. So you do not have to give any explanation or words after.
• So, just to share a a relatable moment with you. It's like. I remember once feeling like I needed to be everywhere. Oh, yeah, I had to go to every networking event, every single thing that someone asked me to speak at at all like, be everywhere on social media. You name it just to
• like, almost be just to be keeping up with my business.
• which to me felt like I was treading water. It did not feel good, but when I started saying No to things that didn't light me up
• or aligned with my business goals like the highest and best business goals. When I started saying no to just all the extra now I have more energy to focus on what truly matters. And
• you know what I would actually say, that
• that's when my business really started thriving. And and when I say thriving, it's like
• it. It's more like
• the right clients. The right opportunities started coming to me. Not all this extra stuff that was like busy work. So that is what really happened, and I feel like
• it also made my relationships better like I have better relationships with my husband, my children, and my
• my my circle of my closest, nearest, and dearest right, because of learning to say no to all the extra Bs, that
• the only reason I said yes to half of that stuff is because I was trying to control how that person felt about me. And let let's say like, if if I say no and you don't like me for it. Well, too bad! Then you're not meant to be in my life. So if you can look at it through that lens that
• all the good that you've been hoping, wishing, and dreaming for dreaming of is actually on the other side of this. Now.
• Lot, just for clarification. This doesn't mean that you say no to things that scare you. You still want to say yes to big, huge things that are a little bit scary.
• You'll have the energy to do a good job when you say yes to the the bigger things that stretch you because you said no to all the Bs. That is time sucking, and just zaps your energy and your productivity. So if you think about it this way.
• to put this into practice, I recommend that you start a no list. If you take out a piece of paper today and list out in your notebook a few things that just don't serve your goals. I also like to start this list by saying I am no longer available for Dot. Dot.
• Right? So just write that at the top of the paper.
• No list. I am no longer available for Dot Dot, Dot.
• and it may be I'm no longer available for low priority meetings. I'm no longer available for freebies that take up my time my time and energy, and don't give me an energetic exchange. It may be certain projects, it may be certain social events, it may be I'm no longer available for bullshit like it. It doesn't matter what it is, but
• write down I am no longer available for, and then put all the things in there right?
• like I I wrote one of the things I wrote on my list was like, I'm no longer available for
• non income producing work activities. Right? So that was like, Oh, yeah, you know, you could donate all your time in the world. I could literally answer and respond to questions that
• other people have for me all day long, that are not my clients that are not ever gonna spend a dollar. But I could use all my time just giving that away. And
• instead of doing that like, we, we provide strategic things like, we have this podcast every week. We have our Youtube channel. We have like, if you go to our website, tracyrino.com, there is tons of resources that are free or low cost that you that we offer and put out there. That helps
• us say no to all that other stuff that used to just like suck all the time out of every day. So there are things that you can put into practice right? This way, when a great opportunity pops up. You're like, Oh, I'm scared to do that. It's new for me, but you have the energy to say, yes, I'm all in. I'm all in. So then what happens once you have this list is you use this list as a reminder
• whenever something new pops up.
• don't you know?
• Like, does this help you move forward? Is this in alignment with my highest good. Is this in alignment with my business goals? Or is this just a distraction? You know
• you can always say, you know
• I'll get back to you.
• That is always available to you for you to say I'll get back to you, you know, if you're too afraid to say no in the moment, but understand the quicker that you are in saying no to anything that's just a distraction, the more in alignment you will be to your highest priorities and your you know, your greatest success. Mindset
• comes from doing this. So
• the benefits to saying, No, it's so freeing. I used to be afraid of it, and and for those of you that are in the the spiritual space, or.
• you know, always wanting to think positive. This is this was a loop like a mind trap that I fell into for years. It's like, No, I want to say yes to everything, because, like I I associated no with a negative. And then I got really judgy. So I started just cramming more stuff in. But when I realized that, like, okay, I had to do that reframe like saying No to all this distraction and sort of junk
• actually is a yes, to my
• greatest opportunities, the high, the things that serve my highest good and put me in in the rooms with the people that
• I need to know and connect with, so that I can make the greatest impact. So when we reframe it this way, it actually is about serving your greatest good instead of you blocking yourself from receiving all the good things that the universe, spirit, source is all you know. God is all trying to send your way. So when you look at this as like, no is so freeing. And it's
• so simple and powerful. It keeps you focused on what truly matters. And it's gonna open up so much more time for you to do the work that will really create your biggest and greatest impact. So
• last, but not least, the 3rd simple, powerful way to save time each week is.
• are you ready for this one? Are you ready for this friend? This is doing the big scary thing first? st So you might have heard that heard this saying called eating the frog like, eat the big frog first.st this is about doing the hardest thing 1st thing in the day. If that's in alignment for your energy. So
• this was a book by Brian Tracy. If you want to dive into this even more eating eating the big frog first.st it's super super helpful. So I do this 1st thing in the morning. I literally do this before the energy cycle. And it's so funny because
• I realize now by doing this for for years, now that
• I used to like, spend so much time like
• responding to what everybody else needed from me 1st thing in the morning I used to spend my mornings like answering emails, checking social media and doing all the little things that felt productive. But they weren't really moving my business forward like it would be like answering all the fires in business, you know all that stuff I used to do 1st thing in the morning, and
• it always left me feeling fatigued. So once I started tackling the big stuff, those big, scary things like the big goals that make a really big difference. Everything changed like
• 1010 years ago. Maybe it's been 12 years by now.
• I started writing 1st thing in the morning because I had a goal that I wanted to write a book. So this was
• before beyond common, the 12 essentials to success in life in the workplace, which is an amazing book. You can grab it from our website or on Amazon. And here's the thing like that shifted everything like I started writing the book 1st thing in the morning. When I started
• shifting when I did stuff, it was like all the difference in the world. So by doing these, these scary, the big.
• they will make such a big difference. So for me
• everything changed like I mean 360 degrees like I could not imagine, 10 years ago the life I have now, and I am like in awe with excitement like we get to do this, and I can't wait for what's next. So when I started making my mornings more about the big stuff first, st and then aligning my energy.
• I've been able to be more productive and then I had time, later in the day, to focus on the smaller tasks like responding to emails. Right? So we're sending the emails returning like phone calls that are like someone else's agenda, not your own. An important thing to remember is that
• somebody else's emergency doesn't make it yours. So you get to decide what is an emergency? Right? So sometimes I do have to break this because there's something that is scaled up. That is an emergency. So for me, checking my emails once per day in the afternoon or evening is really what's best for my energy. You know, that's like when I'm living like high highest and greatest. But
• things, you know, ebb and flow.
• So
• think about like, what is the the biggest thing like, okay, like what is like scary like, do that 1st thing in the morning. So what you can do like to take an action on this like I. I like to always give you some inspired, you know, inspired action tips. And so I want you to think about
• the one thing that's pretty big that you've been putting off like you've been saying. Oh, if I only had time to do this! If if only I had time, or when I get time! What's that one big, scary thing that you've been putting off.
• And when you tackle this, everything is gonna change. So maybe it's creating a new product. Maybe it's setting up a meeting with a high profile client that you've been afraid to call them. Maybe it's getting on the you know, Kelly, Ripa and Mark show. Maybe it is going on the Drew Barrymore show, like, you know, maybe it's being interviewed on
• maybe it's being interviewed on Mel Robbins podcast and just putting out into the universe. I'm open and available for all of these things. So maybe it is
• deciding that you're gonna work with and hire a marketing agency to launch a new marketing campaign, you know. Maybe you finally need to write down a job description because it's time for you to make your next big hire. So it does. It doesn't matter what it is, but you know you've got something.
• You might even have more than one. So make it the 1st thing you do tomorrow morning, right? The 1st thing you do tomorrow morning, before anything else do the 1st step of that big thing. So when you tackle
• these big tasks right away, you are gonna feel more accomplished
• and focused for the rest of the day, plus it almost feels like you already have a win. You get this dopamine rush, so you'll avoid the stress of having those tacks hang over your head all day like, Oh.
• I'm stuck doing this. So then I couldn't do that. So the other thing is is that in the morning
• for me this is what I've discovered, as I've gotten more and more clear and aligned with my energy. I've discovered that in the morning I can do anything. I am yeah, more willing to take a risk than I am. Later in the day. I have way more courage. I feel like more super like superhero super powered energy like
• I can dream bigger. I am more enthusiastic, more excited. So all of these things are things I discovered, and you're going to discover something completely different or the same. But when when you look at it through this like.
• if you're more willing to take a risk, or you have more courage in the morning, just go ahead and get it done, because later in the day for me it's like my courage. Meter starts to go down.
• and it kind of wanes down, and I'm less likely to take that next courageous step. So find out what works best for you, and try it for a day. That's it. Just try it for a day, and then let me know how you feel. I want to know how you feel when you accomplish that big thing in the morning like, eat the big frog 1st thing in the morning and then reach out, connect. Let me know how you feel.
• So
• this was right. This was super simple and so impactful like I love it so to recap number one is, stay in alignment with your energy. Do what you love when you feel your best right, like, do things you love when you feel your best. Number 2 is, say no. Just say no to things that do not align to your goals. Do not let
• people pleasing guilt or self sabotage convince you that you are supposed to say yes, say no to things that do not align with your goals or your highest and best vision for yourself, your business and your life.
• and then 3. Tackle the big scary things first, st before anything else do that first, st like I literally do that right before I do my focus. Creative energy time like that's what works best for my energy. But figure this out for you, tackle that big scary thing before anything else. These 3 simple small shifts are.
• gonna create a huge impact on you and your
• whole week, and leave you feeling more energized and accomplishment, and and accomplished. This sort of power will create momentum for you to get excited about the things that you get to do. So remember, friend, and and I'm still in recovery for this, too. Remember, it is not about doing more.
• It's about doing what truly matters
• and what is truly right for your highest and greatest good. So take a minute right now write down these 3 tips
• and plan how you will put them into action. Starting now do not wait for tomorrow. Do this now. You are going to love the results.
• I'm so excited for you, so, as always, I appreciate you so much for joining
• me today on this episode of beyond common business secrets. I hope you find these time saving strategies and tips. I hope you find them to be simple yet powerful, and that you take back control of your day
• and focus on what's truly most important to you.
• So if you enjoyed today's episode, which I sure hope you did. Please make sure you hit. Subscribe wherever you are tuning in, and share this friend. Share this with a friend who
• needs some time saving inspiration. And if you're looking for more insights like this head over to my website, Traceywattscirino.com, and that is spelled TRAC, EYWA, TTS,
• CIRI, no.com for resource, for more resources designed to help you grow your dream business and live your best life
• soap.
• Be sure to join us next time, as we dive into more business secrets that help you align your purpose, and truly create a thriving business.
• Until then stay beyond common. Because you are amazing, my friend, take care I'll see you on the next one.