*Context: I'm writing this post at the beginning of October.

School has started, after-school activities are underway, and we're settling into our routine. The weather is changing, and as a true fall lover, I'm excited for hikes, colorful leaves, and pulling out my cozy sweaters.

Alas, just as we were getting into our fall routine, we got hit by the back-to-school bugs. Here's a quick recap of the past three weeks: two ER visits, one family doctor visit, one emergency dentist visit, two people on antibiotics, and a total of 17 days of missed work and school.

But that's all behind us now and we need to get back to business (literally) and back to our regularly scheduled programming. So... how do you do that as a solopreneur?

The Importance of Routine

First off, let's talk about routines... They're kind of like the unsung heroes of productivity. Without them, our days can become chaotic, with no clear direction or purpose. Establishing a routine isn't about being rigid. It's about creating a flexible blueprint that guides you through your day. You do your best to create consistency, but sometimes it's just not meant to be and you move on.

The blueprint I use in my business every day is my daily method of operation. It provides the structure I need to watch over all the daily small tasks and ensures I'm consistently moving towards my big picture goals.

Crafting My Daily Method of Operation

Creating my daily method of operation didn't happen overnight and it also changes over time as I add or remove tasks depending on the needs of my business. I also currently split my DMO into two parts, morning and afternoon. Here's what my current DMO looks like:

Morning DMO

• Get in the zone by making a cup of coffee or tea, get comfy, and reviewing yesterdays agenda notes (more on this below).

• Check my CEO Dashboard and Goals to ensure my long-term goals remain top of mind.

• Check all my inboxes (email, Slack and DMs). Respond to any messages that take 3 min or less, otherwise note follow-up tasks.

• Review client dashboards and task lists to stay on top of client priorities and what needs my attention today.

• Brain Dump: I'll take a few minutes to jot down everything floating around in my head, so I don't lose track of important info and free up some brain space.

• Start working on my action items for the day!

Afternoon DMO

• Review the day's task list to determine what was completed, what still needs attention.

• Record my wins both as a pat on the back and because it makes monthly and quarterly reviews so much easier to do!

• Check my agenda for the next day and the rest of the week. Reschedule items as needed.

• Set up my agenda for tomorrow. This step is crucial for me and if I miss setting up my agenda for the next day, I feel like I'm already behind.

Embracing Flexibility and Finding Balance

Ahh... The elusive work-life balancing act. Personally, I think there is no perfect balance. Some weeks, the scale tips towards work being the focus, other times it tips the other way into family and life events. Routines are great for providing structure that you can build this balance around, but life happens... Plans change unexpectedly! That's why flexibility is crucial in maintaining focus amidst chaos.

Whenever things go off course—which they inevitably do—I remind myself that it's okay to take a minute and breath. I often struggle with stressing over the time I've "lost" in my biz when life happens, and have to constantly remind myself that it's okay to change my plans. That the scale will dip back in the other direction shortly.

Through implementing my Morning & Afternoon DMOs into my life everyday—setting intentions prioritizing tasks embracing flexibility reflecting regularly—I'm always intentionally moving towards my goals.

Create Your Own DMO

Want to get started creating your own Daily Method of Operation? I've created a freebie just for you! It's a quick guide that walks you through identifying your core daily tasks, assessing your own needs as an entrepreneur, and creating your own flexible DMO.

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