147: Busy But Not Productive? Here’s How to Shift That Fast

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If you’re ending your days feeling drained but wondering what you actually got done, you’re not alone.

In this Thrive in 5, I’m teaching you how to flip the switch from busy to productive. With a few powerful mindset shifts and practical actions, you’ll learn how to stop reacting to everything and start finishing what really matters.

What we cover:

• Why busyness leads to burnout (not progress)
• How to choose 1–3 “needle movers” per day
• The batching technique that protects your energy
• Midday reset strategy to course correct in real time

🎯 You don’t need more to do. You just need to finish what matters.

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Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Do you ever end the day feelingexhausted, but unsure of what
you actually accomplished?
In today's Thrivent five, I'mhelping you break free from the
busy trip and shift your focusto true progress by getting
things done and not just doingthings

Speaker (00:15):
Welcome back to Thrive in Five, where I give you a
quick burst of motivation andproductivity in five minutes or
less.
I'm Cindy, your host, aself-made entrepreneur, busy
mom, and a business coach.
I've built and sold severaldigital businesses ranging from
five to six figure successes.
So when it comes to managingtime and priorities in both life

(00:37):
and work, I get it.
I've been there and I am here tohelp you thrive.
let's be honest for a second.
We've all had those days wherewe're constantly doing, but not
really moving the needle.
You were answering emails,checking messages, starting
things, running errands,multitasking like a pro, but at
the end of the day, you'redrained and unsatisfied.

(00:59):
Why is that?
It's because being busy isn'tthe same thing as being
productive, real productivitycomes from completion, not just
activity.
So here's how to flip thatswitch.
Start the day by identifying oneto three needle movers.
Instead of writing a massiveto-do list, ask yourself what
one to three tasks if I finishthem today, would make me feel

(01:21):
the most accomplished.
Focus on outcomes you are aimingfor.
Finished, not just started.
Batch low value tasks to oneblock.
Yes, admin matters, whether it'sadmin of life or admin of
business.
If you let your busy work spreadacross your entire day, it
steals your energy from yourhigh impact goals Group, your

(01:43):
quick responses, tidyingerrands, updates all of it into
a single time block, and thenmove on.
This protects your creative andstrategic focus.
Check in halfway through yourday and ask yourself.
Am I working on the right thingsor am I just reacting?
A midday reset lets you realign.

(02:04):
If you've drifted into a busymode, pause, redirect your
energy towards one of thosepriority tasks you started with
at the beginning of the day.
You still have time to completesomething that matters.
This works because your brainloves the satisfaction of
completion.
It triggers a dopamine rewardthat builds momentum.
Focusing on finishing tasks andconfidence, clarity, and actual

(02:27):
results while constant busy workjust keeps you stuck in a loop.
Let's recap.
How to shift from being busy toproductive.
You're gonna identify one tothree high impact tasks at the
start of your day.
You're gonna batch low valuetasks so they don't steal your
focus.
You're gonna check in withyourself midday and course
correct if you've drifted offtask.

(02:48):
You don't need to do more.
You just need to finish whatcounts.

Speaker 2 (02:54):
Thanks for tuning into the Thrive in Five podcast.
If you found value in today'sepisode, I'd love for you to
leave a review.
It helps more listeners discoverthe show and don't forget to
subscribe so you never miss adose of productivity,
motivation, and success tips.
And hey, share this episode witha friend that could use a little
extra inspiration.
Until next time, keep thriving.

(03:15):
And remember, you've got this.