In 2019, I read Atomic Habits by James Clear, which completely changed my life.

It forced me to have a hard look at my life and business goals and evaluate just how I was getting there with my daily actions. The next year in business I doubled my growth, the following year we grew another 20%, and the harmony that I experienced between my personal and professional life changed completely.

I credit so much of this with prioritizing what I was doing behind the scenes, the unexpected daily habits that gave me the space and advantage to make me a better business owner.

Today on the Authentic Brand Builders podcast (and blog) we’re diving into those unexpected habits that have made me a better business owner. I’m a firm believer that how we spend our time directly affects how we run our businesses, and we’ll uncover that today.

Inside today’s episode of the Authentic Brand Builders podcast, we’ll dive into:

The habit that transformed my productivity, and has allowed me to get more done in less time - it’s been one of my secrets to working smarter, not harder.
What I implemented into my habit stack when I got burned out on personal development and how my business changed as a result.
My “Not-To-Do-List” and how I use it as a business owner.

**I’ve included the main points below, but I encourage you to dive into the full episode via audio or video!

For the full content, and all the insider tips, listen to Episode 132 now or watch it here on YouTube.

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1. The Power of Cycle Syncing

I use cycle syncing to better plan my meals, workouts, and business tasks.

Cycle syncing essentially involves aligning your activities and tasks with the different phases of your menstrual cycle, using hormonal fluctuations to optimize your energy and productivity.

This small habit adjustment has profoundly impacted my ability to manage my business and personal life. By understanding the ebb and flow of my cycle, I can strategically plan my schedule to leverage my hormonal strengths and accommodate my natural energy dips.

For example, during ovulation, when estrogen and testosterone levels surge, I experience a peak in energy, focus, and creativity. This is the ideal time for me to create content, film, brainstorm, and engage in strategic planning.

On the other hand, during menstruation, as progesterone rises and estrogen declines, my energy levels tend to dip. This is when I shift my focus to behind-the-scenes tasks such as administrative work, organizing, and updating pages on my website or landing pages.

By syncing my work with my cycle and noting it on my calendar, I'm not only more efficient and productive but also less likely to experience overwhelm during a launch or planned event. I label my cycle on my calendar so I can plan the next 90 days more strategically - working smarter, not harder, and honoring my body's natural rhythms.

If you're curious to learn more about cycle syncing and how to implement it in your own life, I encourage you to check out Episode 93 of the Authentic Brand Builders podcast, where I dive deep into this topic and share practical tips and strategies.

2. Prioritize Your Sleep

Sleep is my non-negotiable. And yes, even as a busy mom, I fiercely protect my eight hours. Over the years, I've honed a nighttime routine that helps me decompress from the day and transition into better sleep.

I disconnect from work by closing out my day which includes responding to emails, writing my to-do list for tomorrow, and cleaning up ClickUp.

I also practice self-care and prioritize calming activities like reading or lying on my acupressure mat.

A big shift, I’ve made, that I know isn’t possible for everyone today is getting rid of my alarm clock. Instead, I focus on morning sunlight to support my natural circadian rhythm. It’s allowed me to wake up gradually resulting in less grogginess and more mental clarity in the morning.

It didn’t happen overnight, but implementing soothing practices both in my evening and morning routine has greatly benefited my sleep which has given me more energy and clarity to tackle the day.

3. Invite More Space and Play into the Schedule

At the end of 2023, I was completely burnt out from personal development. I had been using my “free space” and breaks to read, listen, or learn what I could to improve my life. Honestly, it just left me tired and feeling like I wasn’t enough.

I knew I needed better ways to plan, take a break, and create space for myself to tap into more of my creativity. Essentially I needed ways to silence the noise so I could think!

Reading fiction might sound like it won’t benefit your business, but it's my secret creativity weapon. Fiction allows me to recharge, unlock creativity, and ultimately enhance my business mindset. It's not just about reading; it's about finding joy in relaxation and play, whether through books, crafting, or games, that fuels my productivity.

Now, I prioritize downtime and incorporate intentional breaks into my schedule which has allowed me to be more present, rather than constantly striving for the next goal and improvement.

This simple practice has created a much larger habit which includes making sure my calendar has plenty of whitespace throughout the day!

4. Create a 'Not-To-Do' List

A not-to-do list is a list of tasks that you intentionally decide not to do, either by eliminating, automating, delegating, or outsourcing them. This strategy allows you to focus your time and energy on tasks that are more important, enjoyable, and aligned with your goals.

For my business, a not-to-do list has been highly beneficial in improving my productivity, efficiency, and overall ROI. By identifying and eliminating tasks that are time-consuming, repetitive, or don't contribute significantly to making money I’ve been able to free up resources, money, and energy to focus on things that will actually grow the business.

To determine which tasks to streamline and which to remove or outsource, here’s what I look at:

Identify time-consuming and repetitive tasks: Look for tasks that take up a significant amount of time but don't require much skill or expertise. These tasks are good candidates for software improvement or possible outsourcing.
Assess the value and impact of each task: Determine which tasks directly contribute to your business goals and which ones have a minimal impact. Tasks with low impact can be eliminated or outsourced if you’re not loving them.
Analyze your enjoyment of the task: If you enjoy doing something, but the steps of the process are where you’re getting hung up then consider optimizing your workflow. This is similar to what I did with my podcast and YouTube recording last year. I streamlined my process to make it easier to record (something I love) and share my content. This allowed me to save money, and time, and increase my output. This video shows what I did.

I also use my ‘Not-To-Do’ List to plan my monthly, quarterly, and yearly goals. Having this list handy when I planned my 2025 was so nice and a great reminder that taking notes throughout the year is essential.

5. The Weekly Money Date

One of my favorite weekly rituals is my "money date."

Every Friday, I make it enjoyable by sitting down with a cup of coffee and some music, and I really get into the nitty-gritty of my business finances.

I go through all the expenses, look at where the money's coming in, and basically just get a really clear picture of where things stand. For years, I outsourced all my financial tracking and didn’t have a clear idea where the money was going, or what was contributing to the ROI of the business.

It left me feeling a little disempowered and while I loved having the support of an accountant, I knew I needed to be more involved to gain that financial empowerment I craved.

While the money date is not always the most exciting thing, I've found that it's been incredibly helpful in terms of managing my money and making informed decisions about my business.

It's kind of like a weekly check-in with my finances, and it helps me stay on top of things and feel more in control both professionally and personally.

CONCLUSION:

I’m a big believer in the power of healthy habits and I hope this episode has given you the motivation to look at your personal, daily habits and evaluate how they are helping or hurting your business.

If even one of these habits is something you haven’t tried yet, like cycle syncing, prioritizing sleep, or anything else, take this as a sign to explore it further. We’ve got tons of resources to help you along the way, especially in episode 93 of the podcast.

As we kick off the year, now is the perfect time to set a solid foundation with your habits (it’s one of my favorite things to do for Q1).

Remember, the habits you build today will directly impact your end-of-the-year goals. Whether it’s a financial goal or an impact goal, it’s your daily actions that make all the difference.

If you want support with planning out your quarterly and monthly goals or feel a little behind in your yearly planning, I encourage you to check out my program Brand New Plan. Inside, the program we prioritize authentic and aligned planning, and your habits are a large part of that process. Learn more about Brand New Plan here.

Tune in now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube Podcasts to hear the full episode and all the tips.

P.S. Ready to build a revenue-generating brand? One that not only stands out online but also makes it easier than ever to create high-value content? Tune in to my free brand class and learn my Build a Better Brand Method. Watch now at brandmerry.com/class.

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