Podcast: Play in new window
Hey there! If you are looking for the 21 Day #FATDEMON Challenge Printable CLICK HERE!
For the next few weeks we’ll be talking about different lifehacks you can use to more effectively live your life. In fact, I think lifehacks are so much practical fun so I’ve included a BUNCH of links in these show notes to add some practical help to your life. Don’t forget to scroll down!
So what exactly is a “lifehack”?
The dictionary defines it this way:
ˈlīfˌhak/
- a strategy or adopted in order to manage one’s time and daily activities in a more efficient way.
- any trick, shortcut, skill, or method that increases productivity and efficiency, in all walks of life.
We all know that we should have goals — short term, mid-term, and long term goals — but sometimes getting to our goals gets lost in the middle of trying to get through our day! On today’s podcast while I acknowledge the important of having goals and S.M.A.R.T. goals to be exact (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Reasonable, and Time bound), I also discuss a simple way to view keeping what’s most important in front of you and getting things done everyday.
However you go about setting goals or prioritize what’s most important, on today’s show I talk about the importance of writing your dreams, your “to-dos”, and your “have-tos” down. But writing things down doesn’t have to be had! First you create a brain dump, then you organize your thoughts. Most importantly, you consistently review what you’ve dumped and organized so that the urgent doesn’t eclipse the important in your life.
Today we discuss resources that will help give you clarity on what’s truly important in your life and I share tools that will help you keep the important things in full view. This practical podcast will give you an inside scoop on how I get things done in my life and what I’ve learned about moving through your life with purpose.
Highlight from Today’s Episode:
- How to create a brain dump
- How to organize all of the things you want to do, need to do, or have to do, into areas of focus
- Practical tips for keeping the more important parts of your life and your day on your mind.
- Communicating priorities with your family or with your colleagues.
Quick Links
==> Links for Today’s Show
Resources for managing your life…
- The Best Yes by Lysa Terkeurst
- Getting Things Done by David Allen
- The One Thing by Gary Keller
- The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
==> Quotes from today’s show {Click to tweet}
- Many people fail in life, not for lack of ability or brains or even courage, but simply because they have never organized their energies around a goal. -Elbert Hubbard
- Consistently show up to look at your life – Chrystal Hurst
- Space to think is a gift to your life each and every day. – Chrystal Hurst
- If you are not careful to pay attention, the urgent will always eclipse the truly important. – Chrystal Hurst
Tools for managing your life…
- Productivity Apps – Wunderlist, Asana, and 1Password
- Digital Calendars: iCal, Google Calendar, or Outlook
- My favorite notebook: Moleskin Weekly Planning Calendar
- Family wall calendar: Amy Knapp’s Big Grid Family Wall Calendar
- Check out my brain dump from 2007 a.k.a.#abeautifulmind – Master Task List.
- You can keep your brain dump on paper, in any word processing program, or in Evernote.
- My favorite spiral notebook – Mead Five Star Personal Spiral Notebook.
- My favorite way to organize my notebooks – The Bullet Journal (be sure and search for “bullet journal” or “bujo” on YouTube, Pinterest, or Instagram… the creative way people personalize their systems will blow your mind!)
- Want a simple head start on creating your own “Master Task List”, check out Glynnis Whitwer’s blog for a ten day simplicity challenge where she teaches you how!
- Check out the Coach Your Hands podcast from a few weeks ago if you missed it!
- Want to use your brain dump to plan your summer? Check out this podcast.
- And don’t forget! Even the Bible tells us to write things down!.
==> General Links
- Want to subscribe to the blog and grab a freebie? CLICK HERE
- Did you miss last week’s podcast? Check it out here!
- Kingdom Woman by Chrystal Evans Hurst and Tony Evans
Let’s Talk!
After you’ve listened to the podcast, I’d love to continue the conversation. Be sure and leave a comment!
- Have you ever made a brain dump?
- What are your favorite tips and tricks for getting things done?
- Is there an app that you love to use? I’m an #appjunkie! Share it with me… I’ll probably try it!
- How do you stay organized with your time and your plans?
- What tools do you use to corral your thoughts and bring them down to a manageable level?
- Do you have a favorite notebook, pen, or system?
Connect with me…
How to Listen to The Podcast
If you’re new to podcasts, think of them like little radio shows that you can listen to at your convenience. They are perfect to listen to and learn from as you workout, fold laundry, wash dishes or conquer the world.
1. Listen right here on the blog. Click the little play button at the beginning of this post.
2. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play! – Be sure and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Also, if you would be so kind as to leave a rating on iTunes and/or write a 2-3 sentence review there or on Stitcher? Your commentary or rating helps make the podcast more “findable” by others who might not know it exists!
3. Share today’s show – Email the link to a friend or share on social media. Just click on the sharing buttons at the bottom of this post!
You have been so great to join me on the journey here on the blog, I hope you jump right in do the same on the podcast!
Today podcast was so helpful Chrystal. I have been following you for a while now, and I have learned so much. Im really trying to work on my spiritual journal, a book, my full time, and other stuff. Thanks for the tools and tips.
My question is what do you use to write your books and how to do you sit and focus and just let it flow? Do you schedule it out in advance with notes , what method do you use to write.
Thank You
Today’s podcast was amazing! Yes you were geeking out, but it was great and I am overwhelmed. I was actually walking on the treadmill and listening to you at the same time (I think that’s a life hack??!!) Anyway, thanks again for being such an inspiration (and thanks for praying for me the other week about the test I had to pass. I did pass it and I’m so grateful. I know you don’t remember..lol) Can’t wait for next week’s episode
Thank you for this podcast Chrystal. I gained some great ideas. I want to share an app I use to organize my prayers. Echo – it helps me categorize my intercessor prayer and remember to pray. I take it with me to the bathroom when I’m at work. This may seem like a small amount of time to pray but it allows me to dedicate a few minutes to that particular group or category. I love it! https://new.echoprayer.com/roadmap
Awesome! Can’t wait to try it! Thanks 😉
Thank you! I have been trying to figure out my schedule and balance. I soooo appreciated the discussion on balance being a myth. In my head, I knew this to be true and kept feeling especially defeated because I am out of balance. Working from home with a 10 month old is different than working from home with a newborn. Wanting to be present was “robbing” me of my work time. So I’m smiling and not feeling very happy and the to do list is getting longer. By listening to this, I feel like the gift of getting out of balance was moving to a better realignment toward where I am really to put my time and energy. Thank you!!!
[…] Did you miss last week’s podcast? Check it out here! […]
Hi Chrystal! I keep coming to back to listen to this episode. I think it’s been 3 or 4 times already! I feel like God is speaking to me about planning. Just this week, my Bible verse is Proverbs 21:5 – the PLANS of the diligent lead to abundance! YES! I heard a blogging session by the Brilliant Business Moms and the gist of it was having a plan and setting goals. Ok, Lord, I get it! LOL! I’m a worship leader, I do radio and TV, speak at women’s events, blog, self published my 1st book last year (praise God!) and have a hubby and 2 kids. Listening to you share about all you do to organize everything was SO encouraging! You’re my inspiration right now and I’m so thankful I found your blog! Thanks for sharing your #lifehacks! I even loved the part about how you color code your calendar! In mine, our kids are not all over the place yet, so family stuff is blue. My ministry stuff is purple. My hubby has his stuff in like a maroon/brown. All that to say, thank you for all the tips! Ok, now back to my little notebook to keep writing out my plan, so I can go back and LOOK AT IT! 🙂
We color coding girls have to stick together!