The never-ending challenge most bloggers face (sometimes daily…)

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One of the best things about being a blogger is there’s always something you could be working on.

That’s also the hardest thing.

Just before sitting down to write this post, I asked my husband (and business partner) what I should focus on first.

You probably have similar things on your to do list:

  • Update email sequences to improve open rates
  • Work on new content to help promote an affiliate product you love
  • Batch process content — video, photos, writing — so you can be ahead of your publishing schedule
  • Refine and implement new branding for your site
  • Setup a Shopify store for your site or add more products to your shop

And the list could go on and on.

All of those things can be done. But they can’t be done at the same time. And, there are opportunity costs for focusing on one over the other.

This is one of the biggest challenges I come back to, over and over. What should I be working on?

You know what I’m talking about. So let’s do something about it!

Helpful tools for planning, goal setting, and taking action

There are some pretty incredible resources out there to help you brainstorm, plan and prepare whatever you should be doing next.

A few of the ones I’ve found most helpful include:

And again, the list could go on and on. BUT… those listed above have definitely helped me make big strides in being more productive, more efficient and less stressed.

If we were sitting together right now (I know we kind of are… but if I were with you in person) I could very likely tell you what I think your next steps should be.

It’s always easier to have “clarity” when you’re not the one actually doing the work. Right?

But even then… that wouldn’t mean it’s for sure the best thing for you to do.

My decision making process

One way I’m able to help myself better decide what to do is by making lists.

I LOVE lists.

My favorite tool for keeping track of projects and ideas is Asana.

It’s perfect for writing down all your ideas and keeping them organized. Once you’re ready to take the idea to action, just start adding in the tasks and assign them to yourself with a due date.

You can also use it to keep your team on track and working together.

The great thing about having all your ideas and projects in Asana is you’ll quickly see what isn’t getting done.

Things that I assign to myself for a particular day, but keep not getting done, are often things that aren’t actually a big deal.

Usually…

So, whenever you have a bunch of things to do that you’re debating about, start by writing them all down.

I do it on my phone in Asana because that works for me.

Sometimes though, a pen and paper (or really, a sharpie and a giant roll of kraft paper) seems to help things come to life more.

Pat Flynn uses sticky notes.

Do it whatever way works for YOU, but do it!

Once you’ve got everything written down, spend a little bit of time going over them. Then… decide what you’re going to do.

At the end of the day, no matter how much time you take thinking it over, it comes down to YOU making a decision and moving forward with it.

That’s how this blog post came to be.

I knew I needed to stop debating, discussing and delaying… and just get something done.

In fact, usually when you are debating for way too long is when you need to make the decision most and just move on. It won’t take long (usually) for you to tell if it was the right decision.

And if your choice ended up not being the best decision, just switch to something new.

Move on.

Don’t over think it.

Just DO something new.

Keep trying.

Keep working.

Be happy with what you choose.

Be kind to yourself (and others).

This is where a lot of people will tell you to focus on your “why” — why are you even debating between all of these things in the first place? What is your motivation for doing what you do?

While I do believe that is helpful, I also think you need to do things that get you excited.

Maybe it’s not going to be THE BEST thing to move the needle forward.

But, if it keeps your energy level and excitement up… that’s important too.

Your excitement and energy comes out in all the work you do. If you’re not excited, it’s going to manifest somehow in what you’re doing.

There are always going to be things that have to get done. But make sure you’re doing things you want to get done too.

Today, I decided to write this post. It’s part of my long term plan of showing the “real” side of blogging.

Was it the best choice? I think so. In writing all this out I’ve been able to better see what I need to do next.

So, what are you going to do today… or tomorrow… or this week?