December 2024

As we’re in the heart of the gifting season, I’m going to give you something amazing. My gift is more time in your day for things that make you happy! OK, I realize I can’t literally do that, but I can share another top tip that will definitely free up time so I’ll come close. My top tip this month: To save time, energy and bandwidth, think about tomorrow today.

Whether you’re about to leave your office and commute, you head down the hall or this happens shortly before your family comes home and you shift gears, give yourself some time to think about your tomorrow.

For work or personal tasks, make tomorrow’s list today.

And be sure to set yourself up for success. Think about how much time you have and what you can realistically accomplish. Prioritize the to-dos by listing them in a particular order, numbering them or batching them. When you get to your desk in the morning, you won’t waste time or get flustered, you’ll dive right in.

Make tomorrow’s to-do list today in a way you love the most—on a piece of paper, in a planner, on a computer or on the phone. I have a lot of tips and tools, but it’s always important to remember that the tool needs to work for you!

When you’re whipping up a list for the next day, assess if you did everything on your previous list. If you did, great job! It was realistic. I used to write too many items on my list, and then I would have to go back to it the next day. I’ve gotten so much better at knowing what I’m able to accomplish. Most of you will be motivated to succeed and will get in the habit of making productive but realistic lists.

The satisfaction of crossing off items and finishing a list is equally as awesome as what we’ve accomplished, right?

- Ronna

My years of notebooks

My Favorite Things 

Would you agree there are few habits that we generally stick with for a decade? Even when we love doing something, we can get lazy or distracted. And, yet, my favorite thing this month is my Notebook and the process to create it!

It’s not just any notebook, it’s a tool I’ve used for a decade – yes, consistently! – to organize my planning of to-dos and the tasks that go along with accomplishing them in a timely and paced manner.

I used to try to get everything done right away. When I created the process of Notebooks with Ronna 10 years ago, it allowed me to plan for and pace to-dos, most of which recur and could be easily tackled with just a little strategy. The Notebook strategizes when to get things done and paces them out in months and weeks, now and into the future. Into the future because you can use the Notebook as a template for years to come.

Look at my beautiful stack of Notebooks!

I am so excited to teach you the Notebooks with Ronna process and give you the opportunity to purchase one of these beauties. We already had an in-person workshop and a virtual workshop, and they were powerful.

Participants have described it as a game changer, liberating, calming, cathartic, and validating. Afterwards they felt empowered, in control, motivated, and accomplished. Who wouldn’t want that?

I’m planning to book another in-person event in the first quarter of the year (you can dive into the process at any time during the year), but you can still sign up for the January 19th virtual workshop.

Door County, my happy place

What I’m Thinking About

I preach about preventing burnout, and yet I’ve been very close this year. I'm sure all of you entrepreneurs are nodding your heads, especially as we run the year-end marathon with likely many professional and personal obligations.

Given the pace I’ve been running, I’ve been thinking about creating more empty space in my calendar in 2025. I am not committing to as many things!

I realize it’s a privilege to have the option to say no and to be able to take control of it. I also realize that I need time to do nothing. I function my best when I’ve had time to rest and reboot. I believe in taking relaxation breaks during the day by carving out time to energize in some healthy way like reading, meditating or taking a walk.

Give yourself the gift of some sun on your face. It will quiet the world around you.

Again, this is my tool. In all my learning and my teaching, I embrace that we all need to find what works for us. A friend of mine is filling her calendar with plans and happy times to combat her anxious feelings lately. I need to quiet the world around me, she needs to fill it with social engagements that fill her heart.

It’s your choice how you relax, but make it a priority. Create some empty space with me, then fill it with things that bring you joy.

It’s a workshop designed to help small business owners tackle challenges with practical, actionable strategies.

From elevating your branding design to refining your social media presence and boosting productivity, this event provides the tools and support you need to move your business forward.

Bring the projects you’re working on and leave with personalized tips and strategies you can implement right away.

Mark your calendar: January 30, 2025 from 10am-1pm in Highland Park, IL

New this time: Enter your email below to spin the wheel and unlock a special discount—win up to $30 off your registration!

Are you ready to explore how to avoid burnout, relieve stress and be more productive with customized time-management tools?

Fill out my contact form to set up a free 30-minute consultation.