244: The 3-Minute Work Setup Routine That Doubles Your Focus

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The 3-Minute Work Setup Routine That Doubles Your Focus (Works Any Time of Day)

Struggling to dive into deep work after interruptions? You're not alone. Most productivity advice focuses on morning routines, but what about when you're starting work at 2pm after client calls, or 8pm after the kids are in bed? In this episode of The Overwhelmed Entrepreneur, business coach Cindy Gordon reveals the 3-minute work setup routine that helps overwhelmed entrepreneurs double their focus, no matter when they sit down to work.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why traditional morning routines fail entrepreneurs who work in interrupted chunks throughout the day
• The 3-step ritual that transitions your brain from scattered to focused in just 3 minutes
• How to reality check your energy and match tasks to your actual capacity (not your ideal schedule)
• Why clearing your physical space first changes everything about your mental clarity
• The intention-setting question that instantly prioritizes your most important work

Perfect for: Entrepreneurs and small business owners juggling multiple work sessions throughout the day, especially those managing business between family responsibilities, client calls, or shifting schedules.

Episode Highlights: "Morning routines are great, but what about the other five times you sit down to work?" "Your work setup routine is the bridge between chaos and clarity and it only takes 3 minutes." "When everything feels urgent, nothing really is but you still need a way to start."

Resources mentioned:

• The Reality Check Method for prioritizing tasks
• The Growth Collective ($1/day business support system)
• Get weekly productivity tips from 1,500+ entrepreneurs (link in show notes)

Stop wasting the first 20 minutes of every work session figuring out what to do. Start with a 3-minute setup routine that works whether it's 6am or 9pm. Join Cindy's email list for the complete work setup checklist, link in show notes.

🎯 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 know what, nobody talksabout how to start working at
2:00 PM when you've already beeninterrupted 17 times, or how to
dive into focus mode at 8:00 PMafter the kids are finally in
bed.
Everyone's obsessed with morningroutines, but what about the
other three times a day that youneed to start working?

(00:20):
That's what we're fixing today.
Hi, I'm Cindy Gordon, aself-made entrepreneur, busy mom
and execution coach.
After years of starting andstopping work throughout the
day, I'm talking about schoolpickups, client calls, family
needs.
I discovered that the secretisn't having the perfect
morning.
It's having a simple routinethat you can use before any work

(00:42):
session.
And I'm talking three minutes,not 30 minutes.
Let me break down the exactsystem that I use to instantly
shift into focus mode, whetherit's 6:00 AM or 9:00 PM If you
want more productivity tips andtricks just like this, join over
1500 other entrepreneurs.

(01:03):
In my weekly email newsletter,these tips and tricks will help
you stay on track.
So make sure you're on my emaillist, link in the show notes.
This is something that comes upin almost every coaching session
that I have.
My clients say, Cindy, I can'tget into the flow.
By the time I sit down to work,I'm already distracted.
Here's the thing, it's notbecause you lack discipline.

(01:26):
It's because you are trying togo from chaos to focus without a
bridge.
Think about it.
You just finished making lunch,answering texts, maybe handling
a mini crisis, and then you sitdown and you expect your brain
to magically switch into deepwork mode.
That's like trying to go fromzero to 60 without even starting

(01:47):
the engine.
The women I work withconsistently struggle with this
transition problem.
They have these scattered workwindows throughout the day, an
hour here after dropping off thekids at school, 30 minutes in
between meetings, maybe anothersession after dinner, but
without a routine to signal workmode.
They spend half of their timejust trying to figure out where

(02:07):
to start.
And if you have a family, thiscan be even worse because your
brain is constantly switchingbetween mom mode, business mode,
and house mode.
No wonder why we have troublefocusing, your mind needs
transition cues.
Just like your body needs awarmup before exercise, your
brain needs a signal that says,Hey, we're switching gears now

(02:29):
without this signal, your brainis fighting against mental
inertia.
Research shows what's reallygoing on here.
When you jump straight into workwithout a transition routine,
your brain is still processingeverything that just happened.
Those dishes in the sink, yourbrain's still thinking about
them.
That text you just read, it'sstill taking up mental space,

(02:52):
that meeting you have later.
Yep.
That too.
But when you create a consistentpre-work routine, something
powerful happens, your brainstarts to recognize the pattern
and automatically beginsshutting down those other mental
tabs.
It's like training your brain toknow when I do these.
Three things.
It means focus time.

(03:13):
So this isn't about morningenergy or perfect conditions,
it's about creating a reliablemental switch that you can flip.
Anytime.
So let me share the exact threeminute routine that works
whether you're starting work atdawn or after dinner.
Remember, this isn't aboutperfection, it's about

(03:33):
transition.
So first you're gonna clear.
Your physical and digital space.
So take 60 seconds, close alltabs, except for what you need
to work on this session.
Push everything on your desk tothe side, except the current
project.
Turn your phone face down or putit in a drawer.

(03:55):
This isn't about having aPinterest perfect workspace,
it's about removing visualtriggers that pull your
attention.
So there's one minute done.
Next, you're gonna write yoursession intention.
So another 60 seconds.
This is not a to-do list.
It's not five goals.
One specific outcome for thiswork session, write three

(04:16):
emails.
Finish the slide deck throughSlide 10.
Complete the client proposaldraft.
Those are examples.
Write it on a sticky note.
Put it where you can see it.
This becomes your north star.
When distraction tries to creepin, your brain wants to check
Instagram.
You look at your North Star noteand remember your one mission,

(04:38):
for your final 60 seconds, outof this three minute routine,
you are gonna do a focusactivation.
Take three deep breaths whilelooking at your session
intention.
Say it out loud for the next,and then you insert your time
period.
I am focused on an insert yourintention.
So an example for the next 30minutes, I am focused on

(05:02):
answering client emails.
That's your example.
It doesn't have to be elaborate,it just needs to be simple and
clear.
And yes, I want you to say itout loud even if you feel silly,
and actually, especially if youfeel silly.
This verbal commitment triggersaccountability in your brain.
It's making a promise toyourself that your brain can

(05:25):
take seriously.
The biggest resistance I hear isCindy, I literally don't have
three minutes betweentransitioning from mom stuff to
work stuff.
The truth is you're alreadylosing way more than three
minutes to the mental chaos ofnot having a transition routine.
This is going to save you time.
So start by using this routinefor your most important work

(05:46):
session tomorrow.
Not every time you check email,but for that one block that you
really, really need to focus.
Notice how different it feelswhen you start with intention
instead of stumbling into thatwork.
And when you catch yourselfstruggling to focus check.
Did I skip that routine?
Nine times outta 10, your answeris yes.

(06:07):
Build it into your existingroutine.
Keep sticky notes in yourworkspace.
Set a phone reminder for yourusual work Times that say three
minute setup, it makes itautomatic as buckling your
seatbelt, the one thing that Iwant you to take away from our
conversation today, you don'tneed a perfect morning routine
or an Instagram worthy office orthree hours of uninterrupted

(06:30):
time.
Yes, all those things are nice,but honestly, you need a simple
routine that tells your brainit's time to work, whether it's
at 5:00 AM or 5:00 PM and thisthree minute setup routine is
about working with your realityand not against it.
When everything feels urgent andyou're constantly starting and

(06:51):
stopping, this becomes youranchor.
Clear the space.
Set one intention, activatefocus.
That's it.
Try it before your next worksession.
Just once clear space.
For 60 seconds, write onespecific outcome, take three
breaths and state your intentionout loud.
Notice how different it feels tostart with purpose instead of

(07:14):
panic.
Now go set yourself up forfocus.
It only takes three minutes andyour future focus self will.
Thank you.
Be sure to follow me over onInstagram at exclusively Cindy
for more reality basedproductivity tips that actually
work for busy entrepreneurs.
And remember, friends, you'vegot this.

Speaker (07:34):
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

(07:55):
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.