Episode Transcript
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Welcome to Joyfully Unstoppable,the podcast for women who are
ready to lead boldly, livelightly, and reclaim their joy.
Whether you're leading a team, aclassroom, a boardroom, or your
own big, beautiful life, I am soglad you found us.
I'm your host, Becky Ham,leadership coach, speaker and
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founder of Women Lead Well.
After years of high levelleadership, I discovered that
success doesn't have to come atthe cost of your piece, your
values, or your wellbeing.
Each week, we'll explore what itmeans to lead with clarity,
confidence, and authenticity.
Even in a world that tells youto hustle harder and prove your
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worth, you carry a lot.
Let's help it feel lighter.
Today we are looking at thedaily to-do list dilemma.
You wake up with the best ofintentions, ready to lead,
support, and make progress onall the things that matter most.
You pour your coffee open, yourplanner and overwhelm.
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Your daily to-do list isoverflowing and you are already
behind again, and that's withoutany distractions or disruptions.
For women leaders, that to-dolist can feel both like a
security blanket and a shametrap.
We use it to stay on track.
We use it to measure our worthto try to do it all, but more
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often than not, it becomes asource of stress rather than
clarity.
But what if your daily to-dolist didn't have to feel so
heavy?
What if it could become a toolthat saved your leadership?
Instead of one that demandedconstant hustle.
Today on the pod we're gonnaexplore how to simplify your
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daily to-do list in a way thatstill gets things done without
dropping the ball, burning outor betraying your values.
Now, why does your daily to-dolist feel so overwhelming?
Let's be honest, most of usaren't overwhelmed by our to-do
list because we're bad at timemanagement.
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We're overwhelmed because we'recarrying too much.
Women leaders in particularoften juggle visible
responsibilities like meetings,metrics, mentoring, as well as
the invisible ones, right?
The emotional labor, the teammorale, home logistics,
caregiving, and the pressure tolive with strength and
sensitivity while looking niceand having our hair and makeup.
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Add perfectionism, peoplepleasing the ever present need
to prove ourselves, and it's nowonder our daily to-do list
starts to look like a scrollfrom a medieval manuscript,
endless, ornate, and impossibleto finish.
We've been taught to believethat productivity equals worth
that if we just check moreboxes, we'll feel accomplished,
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accepted, and at peace.
But in truth.
Doing more doesn't always equalleading better.
When our lists become abattleground for our identity,
we lose sight of what mattersmost.
So let's redefine things.
Let's talk about what your to-dolist is for your daily to-do
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list is not a test.
It is not a scoreboard.
It's not a punishment forfalling short yesterday.
It's a tool period.
And like any good tool, it worksbest when it's used for its
purpose.
And so instead, let's askourselves what matters most
today?
A simplified daily to-do listdoesn't mean you're doing less
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because you're lazy.
It means you're doing less soyou can lead more strategically.
It means you're choosing yourenergy investments wisely so you
can show up fully for your team,your vision, and yourself.
Because here's the truth,prioritizing isn't selfish, it's
leadership.
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Now let's talk about a five partframework for a simpler daily
to-do list.
Let's walk through a practical,repeatable way to simplify your
to-do list without dropping theball.
This five part framework helpsyou lead with clarity and calm,
even when your world is full.
Ideally, block 15 minutes at theend of your day to prepare
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tomorrow's list.
That way you can walk in and hitthe ground running, make the
most of those precious, bestrested hours of the day.
Number one, I want you to braindump, then edit ruthlessly.
Start by getting it all out,every task, every thought,
reminder, responsibilityswirling around in your brain,
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dump it onto a page.
This clears mental space.
And it relieves that like lowkey anxiety of, I'm forgetting
something.
I have a mental load reset thatI'll link in the show notes that
you can download to help withthis.
And now I want you to editruthlessly.
You all hear me talk often aboutthe Eisenhower Matrix.
These questions help youidentify which tasks are
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important and or urgent.
So ask yourself number one, whatis essential to get done today
or tomorrow?
Number two, what aligns with myvalues and leadership
priorities?
Number three, what makes realprogress toward my key goals?
Number four, which just noise orbusyness?
Number five, which of thesetasks light me up and which of
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these tasks drain me?
And next I want you to use thefour D's ditch, delegate, delay,
do ditch.
What can you immediately deletefrom your list?
It's not important to you.
It doesn't move the needle onany of your key goals.
It doesn't give you energy.
It's gone.
You don't gotta do it.
Number two, delegate.
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What can be handed off.
Delegation is a leadershipskill, not a sign of weakness.
So use it.
Delay what can wait untiltomorrow or next week, next
month, and then do whatabsolutely has to happen today
and be done by you.
Ooh.
Now there shouldn't be more thanthree or four things on the do
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list.
If you have more than that, keepditching, delegating and
delaying until your list hasshrunk.
This step forces clarity insteadof defaulting to, I'll just do
it.
It's fine.
It begin making leadership leveldecisions about your time and
energy.
Now three.
I want you to time block forflow, not perfection.
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Once you've narrowed your list,give each priority a time block
on your calendar.
Think in terms of rhythm, notrigidity.
So don't micromanage everyminute.
Just create intentional space onthe calendar for your focused
work group.
Similar tasks, build in marginand block time for rest.
And please give yourself somewhite space.
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Leadership isn't just aboutoutput.
It's also about insight,reflection, and recovery.
Number four, protect your powerhour.
Choose one hour a day,preferably when your energy is
highest, and devote it to yourmost important task.
No multitasking, nodistractions.
Just focused attention on whatmoves the needle.
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The simple shift can turn achaotic day into a confident
one.
Even if everything else goessideways, you'll have honored
your priorities with intentionand worked with your energy not
against it.
Number five, end with a resetritual.
Before you close your laptop ortransition into evening mode,
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take five minutes to reset.
What did you complete?
What needs to move to tomorrow?
What felt good, what feltforced?
This micro reflection buildsself-trust.
I.
It sets you up for a moreintentional leadership tomorrow.
That's how you begin to lead,not just with goals, but with
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groundedness.
Now, you might be saying, Becky,this sounds great, but I am
never gonna do it.
So let's talk about how you'regonna stay consistent with your
daily to-do list.
The best to-do list is the oneyou actually use, right?
So here's how you're gonna makeit stick.
You are gonna pick a consistentplanning time.
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I talked about doing it at theend of the day, that's what
works with me.
But you choose a rhythm thatworks for your brain in your
season and do it that same wayevery day.
If the morning makes more sensefor you every morning as you're
drinking your cup of coffee, ifit's a lunch break, do it over
your lunch break.
Whatever works for you, but doit consistently day to day to
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day.
Next, I want you to keep itvisual.
Use a sticky note.
Use a planner, a whiteboard, adigital tool you love.
Don't keep it in your head.
Remember, we are removing ourmental load.
Next, anchor it to a habit.
Pair your planning time withyour daily coffee with a
calendar check.
Put some music on your favoriteplaylist forth.
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I want you to celebrate yourprogress.
Whether you're checking onething or five, acknowledge your
intention and effort.
Leadership isn't aboutperfection, it's about presence
and persistence.
Remember, the goal isn't tofinish your list every day,
although I will admit that feelspretty great when it happens.
It's to feel confident thatwhat's on your list matters.
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That the work you are doingmatters.
Now here's what you gain whenyou stick with a simplified
daily to-do list.
When you stop measuring your dayby how many things you can
squeeze in.
And when you start focusing onwhat truly matters, you begin to
experience a powerful shift inyour leadership and in your
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life.
Here's what becomes possible.
When you simplify your to-dolist, you get clarity on what
actually matters.
A simplified list forces you toask better questions.
What's truly important today?
What really aligns with myvalues and long-term vision?
Instead of reacting to everyrequest and obligation,'cause
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you know there are a ton, youstart leading with intention.
This clarity frees you from thetrap of busyness and brings
focus to your day so you canspend more time on what moves
the needle and less time on whatdrains your energy.
You build confidence byfollowing through on fewer but
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more meaningful actions whenyour list is realistic and
aligned.
You're more likely to completeit, and that builds trust with
yourself.
Each day becomes a mini victory.
Instead of ending the day withguilt over what didn't get done,
you end it with pride in whatyou did because you did it with
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purpose.
That consistency compounds intoconfidence, and confidence fuels
leadership that's both powerfuland grounded.
You lead with more calm becauseyou know that your worth isn't
tied to how much you get done.
Simplifying your daily to-dolist helps you step out of the
constant striving and into acalmer, more regulated pace.
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You stop chasing the illusionthat more tasks equal more
value, and you start showing upfrom a place of self-assurance
that calm presence isn't justgood for you.
It's contagious.
Your team, your family, yourcommunity, feel it too.
You model sustainable successfor your team and for your
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future self.
When you simplify, you set adifferent kind of standard.
You show others that leadershipdoesn't require burnout.
You create space for rest,recovery, and reflection.
And when you do that, you giveothers permission to do the
same.
You're not just getting throughtoday.
You're creating rhythms thatsupport the kind of life and
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leadership you want years fromnow.
You stop running yourself intothe ground trying to keep up,
and you start rising into theleader you're meant to be.
Trying to do it all isexhausting and it keeps you
small, but when you choosesimplicity, you reclaim your
voice, your vision, and yourvitality.
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You shift from managing chaos toowning your capacity from
checking boxes to creatingimpact.
You rise not because you'veproven yourself to everyone
else, but because you finallydecided to honor what's true and
necessary for you.
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Now, let's lead lightly with adaily to-do list that works for
you.
Remember, you don't need toprove your worth by how many
boxes you check, and you don'tneed to carry everything alone
to be seen as competent.
You definitely don't need tohustle harder to lead Well, a
simplified daily to-do list is aquiet revolution.
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It's a declaration that yourtime, energy, and presence
matter.
That your leadership is aboutimpact, not just output.
That you get to decide what asuccessful day looks like.
So here's your invitation.
Try the five part framework forthe next seven days.
Notice how your stress shifts.
Notice how your focus sharpens.
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Notice how you feel in your bodyat the end of each day.
Let go of the pressure to do itall.
Pick up the power of doing whatmatters.
You already lead well.
Let's make it feel lighter.
And, you know, I hadn't thoughtto do this, but it lends itself
so well to a download.
I think I'm gonna take thosefive steps and put it into a
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download for you, and I'll stickit in the show notes below.
So if it gives you a little bitof help to see the five steps
written out on a piece of paper,you'll have it there, uh, and
you can use it.
Now, if this episode spoke toyou, I would love for you to
share it with a friend who'srunning on empty, whose to-do
list is longer than a freakingCVS receipt.
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We need more women leading fromalignment, not adrenaline.
And if you're ready to beginyour burnout recovery journey,
stay tuned.
I'm launching a course calledFrantic to Flourishing later
this summer.
Make sure you're on the email soyou don't miss the launch.
You can also grab some of ourfree tools.
I've talked about the mentalload reset.
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I'm gonna build the five stepsfor the to-do list.
I already have a weekly resetroutine.
Those are allover@womenleadwell.net and
LinkedIn.
The show notes below.
They're a gentle, powerful wayto begin reclaiming your
capacity.
Remember, joyful, sustainable,and authentic leadership is
possible.
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You deserve to flourish.
Until next time, I'm Becky Ham,and this is joyfully,
unstoppable.