238: How to Maximize Small Pockets of Time (Work Windows Method)

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How to Maximize Small Pockets of Time (Work Windows Method)

Never have long time blocks to work? This episode reveals productivity for busy moms who need to maximize small pockets of time. In this episode of The Overwhelmed Entrepreneur, execution coach Cindy Gordon shares the Work Windows Method that helps entrepreneur moms get real work done in short bursts between life responsibilities.

Discover how to maximize small pockets of time using strategic Work Windows, why short burst productivity works better than waiting for perfect time blocks, and the Reality Check Method for making progress even when you only have 15 minutes.

Perfect for overwhelmed entrepreneur moms and busy small business owners who never have hours of uninterrupted time but still need to move their business forward.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why productivity for busy moms requires a different approach than traditional time management
• How to maximize small pockets of time with the Work Windows framework
• Short burst productivity which tasks work in 15 to 30 minute windows
• Time blocking for moms who don't have predictable schedules
• Real examples of entrepreneur moms using Work Windows for revenue generating tasks
• How to get everything done as a busy mom without guilt or burnout

If you're a mom building a business and tired of waiting for the perfect time block that never comes, this episode will show you how to use the time windows you actually have.

Resources mentioned:

• The Reality Check Method at ExclusivelyCindy.com
• The Growth Collective, dollar a day business support membership
• Weekly productivity tips, link in show notes

Keywords: productivity for busy moms, maximize small pockets of time, short burst productivity, time blocking for moms, entrepreneur mom productivity, work in short bursts

🎯 You don't have to figure this out alone! The Growth Collective is your $1/day business support community with weekly office hours, strategic frameworks, and entrepreneurs who get it. Less than your coffee, more than a mastermind. Details at https://exclusivelycindy.thrivecart.com/the-growth-collective/

💡 Don't forget to subscribe for more quick productivity tips for overwhelmed business owners and female entrepreneurs!

💌 Join 1,400+ entrepreneurs getting exclusive overwhelm solutions and productivity strategies straight to their inbox - sign up now! https://cindygordon.myflodesk.com/countmein

Connect with Cindy Gordon - Reality Check Method Coach for Overwhelmed Entrepreneurs:

• Website: ExclusivelyCindy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exclusivelycindy/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@cindygordon

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
You don't need threeuninterrupted hours to be
productive.
You need a system for the 15minute windows that you actually
have.
You know, the ones betweenschool drop off and your first
call.
After lunch, but before pickupthat hour when dinner's in the
oven, these aren't interruptionsto your real work.
These are your work windows.

(00:20):
Hi, I'm Cindy Gordon, aself-made entrepreneur, busy ma
and execution coach.
I built and sold multipledigital businesses while raising
kids, and I can tell you thatlearning to use those short time
windows strategically completelychanged how much I accomplished
without the guilt.
Today I am sharing the mindsetshift that helped me stop

(00:40):
waiting for perfect time, locksthat never came, and to start
using the windows that Iactually had.
If you want frameworks just likethis, plus weekly tips that over
1400 entrepreneurs use to staymotivated and on track.
Get on my email list link in theshow notes.
I only send these tips to myemail subscribers and I don't

(01:02):
share them anywhere else.
Here's what's probablyhappening.
You plan to work on that clientproposal, create content, or
tackle strategic planning.
But then you look at yourcalendar and you realize you
only have 20 minutes beforepickup.
So you think, well, that's notenough time to do real work.
I'll wait for a better timeblock.
So you spend that 20 minutesscrolling Instagram or doing

(01:24):
busy work instead.
This is a recurring theme withthe incredible women in my
community.
The women in my Dollar a Daybusiness support membership, the
Growth Collective describe thisperfectly.
They keep waiting for thosemythical three hours of
uninterrupted time.
Meanwhile, their businesses situntouched week after week.

(01:44):
The guilt builds, the tasks pileup, and they feel like they're
failing at both business andmotherhood.
The truth is that you are notgonna get a three hour block of
uninterrupted time during thisseason of your life.
Stop planning like you will.
Research shows what's reallygoing on here.
Basically, your brain has beentrained by traditional

(02:06):
productivity advice that saysyou need long interrupted time
blocks to do meaningful work.
So when you only have 15 to 30minutes, your brain tells you
it's not worth starting becauseyou can't finish.
But here's what actuallyhappens.
Short focus work often beatslong distracted time.
That 30 minutes of concentratedeffort on a client proposal gets

(02:29):
more done than three hours ofscattered attention.
When you're checking emails,answering texts, and letting
your mind wander, the mentalshift you need isn't from
scattered to focus.
It's the shift from I need hoursto, I can use the windows of
time that I have the mostproductive business owners I

(02:50):
know aren't the ones with moretime.
They're the ones who are usingtheir time strategically.
They're the ones who know whichtasks to fit in which windows.
That's the game changer.
So let me show you how tomaximize small pockets of time
with this framework idea.
This is about the strategic useof time that you actually have

(03:12):
and not the wishful thinkingabout the time that you don't.
So first, you're gonna map yourweek's predictable windows.
So we're using an example if youhave young children at home.
So these windows, you alreadyknow them.
These are things like betweendrop off and your first meeting,
nap time.
If you have young kids, thatwindow before pickup, the hour

(03:34):
after the bedtime routine.
These 15 to 30 minute pocketsaren't random.
They're your work windows, andthey actually show up
consistently every week.
Next, you're gonna categorizethe tasks by the window size.
So think about 30 minute windowscan handle things like client
proposal, drafts, contentcreation, strategic planning.

(03:57):
20 minute windows can work forclient calls, team check-ins,
financial reviews, those 15minute windows, that's perfect
for email responses, startingyour social media scheduling or
invoice sending.
Next, you need to reality checkyour list.
What actually needs to get donethis week versus what you are

(04:18):
telling yourself needs to getdone.
Because when you only havelimited time windows, you have
to get ruthless about what trulymatters.
Then you're gonna match yourtasks to your windows, put your
revenue generating work in yourbest windows.
Client work gets the 30 minuteblock between drop off and your
meeting admin tasks.

(04:40):
Get the 15 minutes before pickupstrategic work gets that focused
hour after bedtime.
And finally, and most important,stop waiting for perfect.
Use the windows that you haveinstead of wishing you had more.
This shift changes everything.
Resistance can show up with youthinking, but I can't do real

(05:01):
work in 15 minutes.
But I'm here to tell you yes youcan.
You just need to match the rightwork with the right time window.
A 15 minute window isn't fordeep strategic planning, but
it's perfect for knocking out afew client emails or scheduling
a week's worth of social mediaposts.
Build this into your Sundayplanning routine.

(05:23):
When you're mapping your week,don't just look at meetings and
appointments.
Circle your work.
Windows, those pockets betweenresponsibilities.
That's when you can help yourbusiness move forward.
This approach is woven into howI currently run my business.
Here's what's changed for me.
I used to look at my calendarand see a bunch of 20 to 30

(05:44):
minute gaps and think I cannotget anything meaningful done
today.
I'd fill those gaps with busywork or just waste them
completely.
Usually scrolling on Instagram.
Meanwhile, important businesstasks sat untouched.
Then I started using this work,windows Theory and everything
shifted that 20 minutes duringlunch.

(06:04):
I use it for a team check-in,call the 30 minutes before
pickup content creation.
None of these tasks get finishedin one window, but they get
started and we know thatstarting creates momentum.
One of my clients, who's anentrepreneur mom, with two kids
under five, had a similarbreakthrough.
She kept saying that shecouldn't grow her business

(06:26):
because she never had the time.
When we mapped out her workwindows, she had 10 to 12
windows per week on average,with each being between 15 and
30 minutes.
So that's three to four hours ofusable time that she's been
dismissing is not enough.
Once she started treating thosewindows as her business building

(06:47):
time and matching tasksstrategically, her business grew
the same amount of time.
She just used it strategicallyinstead of wasting time, waiting
for perfect.
Here's what I want you toremember about today.
The work windows that you havebetween your life
responsibilities, those areenough.

(07:08):
When you stop waiting forperfect time and start using the
available time you havestrategically, your business can
move forward.
Study progress in short bursts,beats, waiting for long blocks
every single time.
This approach to working withyour reality instead of against
it is exactly what I helpentrepreneurs develop through my

(07:29):
reality check method.
At exclusively cindy.com.
If you want ongoing support withstrategies just like this, plus
a community of entrepreneurs whoget it, check out the Growth
Collective.
It's my Dollar a day businesssupport membership where we
tackle real challenges likemaking progress without perfect
conditions.

(07:49):
When you stop waiting and startusing your work windows
strategically, everythingchanges.
So map out your work windowsthis week.
See where those 15 to 30 minutepockets consistently show up?
Follow me on Instagram atexclusively Cindy, for more
strategies that can help youwork with your reality and not
against it.
And remember, you've got this.

Speaker (08:12):
Thanks for spending these few minutes with me today.
Remember, overwhelm isn'tpermanent.
It's simply your brain's way ofsaying pause and take a little
reality check.
If this was helpful, you'll lovemy weekly email tips where I
share the systems that keep meand hundreds of other
entrepreneurs on Track Link inthe show notes.
If you got value in today'sepisode, please share it with

(08:33):
another entrepreneur who needsthat reminder.
If you're loving the show, I'dbe so grateful if you could
leave me a quick review.
It helps other overwhelmedentrepreneurs find us.
Make sure you hit subscribe soyou never miss your weekly dose
of clarity.
For more resources and toconnect with me, visit
exclusively cindy.com.
Until next time, remember you'vegot this.