6 daily practices to create more success in your career
Most of the creatives I work with are emotional, intuitive, and sensitive types, who value instinct over reason.
This comes in handy when making art and thinking outside the box!
But unfortunately, when it comes to prioritizing your to-do list or following through on a daunting task, it may feel like the odds are stacked against you.
Making continuous strides in your career toward your dreams is not easy; it takes focus, dedication, and a willingness to make mistakes.
So with that in mind, here are 6 practices my clients have implemented into their daily lives that you can use to stay on track and create more success in your life and career.
1. Eat that frog a.k.a. accomplish the most important task first thing in the morning.
“If it's your job to eat a frog, it's best to do it first thing in the morning. And If it's your job to eat two frogs, it's best to eat the biggest one first.” - Mark Twain
Brian Tracy breaks down this theory in his book Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time.
In a nutshell:
Identify your frog - the one task that is your hardest or most important (or both!) task of the day.
Eat it - accomplish this one most important task of the day first (DON’T let yourself put it off until later)
Repeat daily!
A great way to figure out what your frog is each day is to ask yourself what is the most challenging task that also has the greatest positive impact on your life or career.
Then notice the sense of accomplishment and ease that fuels your day after you eat that frog.
2. Additionally, (or alternatively), start small and simple to ease your way in.
If you couldn’t tell, I love a good contradiction! 😂
In a previous blog, I wrote about the concept of “bringing your body and the mind will follow.” Starting with the small and simple task goes along these same lines.
It’s the law of inertia - an object (or body) in motion stays in motion!
I suggest utilizing this practice in addition to “Eating That Frog.”
Once you’ve identified your frog, you can break the frog down into smaller pieces.
For example, say my “Frog” was writing this blog. I could start with the outline and just get ideas out onto the paper, then maybe jump into writing one of the practices that felt the easiest for me.
At that point, I have gained momentum and the rest is history!
So ease your way into bigger tasks with smaller bite-size pieces.
3. Stacking habits and habit cues for ease and efficiency.
James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits, states that, “One of the best ways to build a new habit is to identify a current habit you already do each day and then stack your new behavior on top. This is called habit stacking.”
I use this process to jump into my work day, motivated and ready to work.
I typically stack the following:
✅ Wake up
✅ Matcha
✅ Yoga, workout, meditate, or journal
✅ Shower
✅ Breakfast
✅ Hair and makeup, clothes
✅ JUMP INTO WORK at 9 am
This habit-stacking method was created by BJ Fogg as part of his Tiny Habits program and can be utilized to design cue triggers for almost any habit.
The cue triggers your brain to initiate a behavior which is information that predicts a reward.
I use these methods to create a morning routine for myself, which are essentially cycles of cue triggers and habits.
By 9 am when I sit down to work, I feel like I’m really in my BOSS energy and it allows me to focus and get work done more quickly and with ease.
4. Focus on 3-4 priorities daily to help create a manageable workload and avoid burnout.
Before identifying your frog, it’s helpful to write out a list of all the things you need to get done for the day or the week. I typically have a list for the week on the right side of my planner, then on the left side are my daily tasks which I prioritize from the weekly list.
I’ll note my frog first, then choose 2-3 other tasks that are the most important for that day.
I’ve noticed that having 3-4 tasks per day is a manageable workload on average for most people. I’m sure that some days you have low energy and other distractions so 3-4 tasks can feel daunting. Then other days you might feel superhuman with energized laser focus and you’re able to finish 10 tasks. If the latter is the case, you can always add more tasks after you accomplish the 4th task.
Giving yourself 3-4 is a great way to feel accomplished at the end of the day and show up consistently without burnout. It also helps build self-trust; as you see yourself check off your daily to-dos, you know you’ve got your own back and you’re making tangible progress towards your goals each week.
It’s also important to note ways to minimize distractions. Turning off your notifications on your phone, closing unnecessary tabs on your computer, and finding a quiet space to work will help you stay focused and complete tasks more efficiently.
5. Celebrate the small wins often
When was the last time you celebrated yourself for something really simple?
Relishing in the small wins is an incredible way to stay motivated and build momentum toward achieving bigger goals. Celebrating the small wins is not just about the achievement itself, but also about the process and the effort you put in.
Did you get outside your comfort zone?
Did something manifest unexpectedly?
Did you have a heartfelt interaction with someone?
Did you come up with a wild or genius idea and take action on it?
You can incorporate a celebrations list daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, yearly, and so on.
I suggest starting daily and weekly.
At the end of the night (or week) take a look back at your to-do list and take a mental inventory of activities that day or week.
Write down a list of what went well
Write down a list of what you are grateful for
Take note of anything uncomfortable
I have an accountability partner and we share our daily list with each other at the end of the night.
Some nights we forget, but I've noticed on the nights that I put in the extra effort to take note and share, there’s a deep sense of fulfillment and self-compassion for everything I’m experiencing.
It reminds me of all the beautiful and wonderful things in my life, especially when I’m feeling frustrated, overwhelmed, or confused.
6. Listen to your intuition with a grain of salt… stepping through fear can manifest the unexpected The age-old question: Is it fear or intuition?
I used to choose not to do certain things because I felt like my intuition was telling me that it was out of alignment.
Then I realized I was using that as an excuse to not get out of my comfort zone.
When things are uncomfortable or feel risky, it’s easy to say “nope, not today!” and repetitively keep putting it off out of fear or laziness. Many times the actions that cause discomfort are the ones that will really move the needle in the direction of your dreams.
It’s important to acknowledge your emotions like fear and anxiety, then remind yourself that it’s just your primitive brain trying to keep you safe.
I now check in with myself more deeply before I cancel a plan or decide not to do a certain task that I originally set out to do.
I remind myself of these two thoughts:
🪄 “When I step through fear, that’s when the magic happens.”
🪄 “I can handle feeling uncomfortable.”
I’ve experienced some really magical manifestations on the other side of fear and the more I get comfortable with feeling discomfort, the easier it gets to blow my own mind!
What else is possible for you?
What have you been not taking action on because of fear, and how can you remind yourself that you’re strong enough to feel it and do it anyway?
I believe in you! Keep going.
And if you’ve been curious about 1:1 career coaching for creatives, but not taking action because of fear, here’s your sign to get in touch! It’s a great way to get the support and encouragement you need to keep stepping through fear and making magic happen. Let’s start the process, schedule a free 1:1 consultation now!