Do you ever end the day feeling exhausted, but unsure of what you actually accomplished? In today's Thrivent five, I'm helping you break free from the busy trip and shift your focus to true progress by getting things done and not just doing things

Welcome back to Thrive in Five, where I give you a quick burst of motivation and productivity in five minutes or less. I'm Cindy, your host, a self-made entrepreneur, busy mom, and a business coach. I've built and sold several digital businesses ranging from five to six figure successes. So when it comes to managing time and priorities in both life and work, I get it. I've been there and I am here to help you thrive.

let's be honest for a second. We've all had those days where we'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're drained and unsatisfied. Why is that? It's because being busy isn't the same thing as being productive, real productivity comes from completion, not just activity. So here's how to flip that switch. Start the day by identifying one to three needle movers. Instead of writing a massive to-do list, ask yourself what one to three tasks if I finish them today, would make me feel the most accomplished. Focus on outcomes you are aiming for. Finished, not just started. Batch low value tasks to one block. Yes, admin matters, whether it's admin of life or admin of business. If you let your busy work spread across your entire day, it steals your energy from your high impact goals Group, your quick responses, tidying errands, updates all of it into a single time block, and then move on. This protects your creative and strategic focus. Check in halfway through your day and ask yourself. Am I working on the right things or am I just reacting? A midday reset lets you realign. If you've drifted into a busy mode, pause, redirect your energy towards one of those priority tasks you started with at the beginning of the day. You still have time to complete something that matters. This works because your brain loves the satisfaction of completion. It triggers a dopamine reward that builds momentum. Focusing on finishing tasks and confidence, clarity, and actual results while constant busy work just keeps you stuck in a loop. Let's recap. How to shift from being busy to productive. You're gonna identify one to three high impact tasks at the start of your day. You're gonna batch low value tasks so they don't steal your focus. You're gonna check in with yourself midday and course correct if you've drifted off task. You don't need to do more. You just need to finish what counts.

Thanks for tuning into the Thrive in Five podcast. If you found value in today's episode, I'd love for you to leave a review. It helps more listeners discover the show and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss a dose of productivity, motivation, and success tips. And hey, share this episode with a friend that could use a little extra inspiration. Until next time, keep thriving. And remember, you've got this.