What can be left behind in 2025?

To help you move in a new direction, I’ve put together a list of what to do about your workday productivity in 2025.

I’ve put this list together after working with tons of clients for over 20 years and hearing what they do to stay on top of things.

They are men and women with all kinds of positions and roles in their organizations.

They are mostly in corporations – but many are also business owners – from more than 30 different industries.

Some used tools and techniques that never worked.

Some were on the right track but didn’t know how to do things right.

I know what people go through behind the scenes in their work day, and I tell you to “let it go” on some of these things.

Ready to simplify your workday?

I pointed this out to you.

Let’s do this.

1 – Let go of the piecemeal “strategy” you’ve been using. This is not a real strategy.

You see some guru telling you to do A, and you enter.

Then another guru tells you to do B, so you add that.

Later, another guru says that A and B are dead, so you leave them for C… this guru suggested.

You’ve been trying out a new tool or app for two weeks, but you’re stuck.

You don’t think it works. It takes more time. You have questions.

You are frustrated. Then you leave…

…and you go back to old, comfortable habits.

But soon, you see another guru making a new recommendation. So you try.

The process starts again when you try to fix the problem.

It is time to break this “strategy” that is not a strategy.

Your workday strategy shouldn’t be in any particular order:

✅ Your one task management system pulls all tasks from all sources so you get 100% clarity (yes, I said one. It’s important!)

✅ Your work schedule link that aligns what you want to do and when (yes, this is a big missing piece in your daily work plan—but it’s essential)

✅ Your time management plan will give you the time you need to keep up with tasks and email (your to-do list isn’t the only thing you need time for. Email is a time HOG. Do you allow time during the day to catch up on that?)

✅ Your Information Management Plan: How quickly can you expect to store/store and retrieve it? If you can’t quickly find information to complete a task or answer an email, you’ve lost.

✅ Your plan to divert or eliminate interruptions and distractions. What breaks your focus these days?

✅ Your email process (From the minute an email hits your inbox, you need to know what to do with it—and fast…because it can’t just sit there and be effectively managed.)

Get a comprehensive and real strategy that takes care of everything!

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2 – Expect an app response

I’m going to jump on your business a little bit, but I’ve seen this a lot.

Find an application that handles email.

You need to find an app that streamlines your tasks.

You need an app to actually handle things for you.

But guess what?

It didn’t happen.

You’ll waste more time looking for an app… or a tool… or a hack… to fix what’s broken, and more time figuring out what to do with it.

Maybe you’ve turned “app hunting” into a hobby (and lost time) and you’re putting a lot of effort (and losing a lot of time) into making it work.

Not tracking tasks or keeping up with emails when you’re trying to get “things” to work. (Time lost trying to clean up unfinished.)

Here’s the deal…

An app isn’t the answer to your workday challenges. What matters is how you use it.

It’s in magic mode.

An app might seem like an easy answer.

You need technology to advance. You try one after the other, because those demos make things look so much better, don’t they? And easy!

They talk a big game—especially for task management. But they don’t know how to create a real task. (Their demos say “You can type your task here”, dude…it’s a project.)

Apps can cost you so much… so much… time. More effort and energy and stress.

If you don’t know how to use it or apply it to your work, you’re going to spin your wheels.

All the while, you’re missing tasks, forgetting follow-ups, and chasing emails that scroll off the screen.

It means you’re still working through your workday, missing opportunities and losing traction.

The worst part? Now it costs you personal time too.

Let me save you all that time, effort, and energy… and help you get your life back.

Unless you have a lot of time on your hands, it’s time to give up on app hunting.

The truth is, a great workday strategy requires a few special things:

➡️ Someone who really got it. They have a high-level strategy inside and out, and how to build a strategy—can be customized for you. This should be a real deal, proven strategy.

➡️ A way to integrate processes into your work day (there are 4 important ones) because focusing on just one process can cause you to miss out on the other 3.

➡️ One way of thinking is that you know how to manage everything you have to do. The right mindset brings clarity, confidence, and control to your workday.

➡️ A method of decision making (no decisions = no progress)

➡️ Predictable, reliable and easy execution process. And it should be all inclusive. It’s not just about your to-do list.

Think an app can do all this? You will be disappointed if you do. You will be even more ineffective.

If you don’t think you have the time or money to fix this problem, what you need first is even more important.

The first step is to get the support of the FIRST strategy.

Make sure you have a proper plan that you can do first. Always.

A question for you, very quickly…

Is this an area where you could use some support?

I have a place to start…

You always have 90 minute strategy sessions for $1200. But since you’re here, reading this blog post, you can get your strategy for only $597.

I’ll map out your strategy step-by-step from A to Z to show you how to manage tasks, time, email and information. Plus, you get access to our recorded Zoom call for 30 days.

Email me now to let me know you’d like one of these: leslie@productiveday.com.

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Now, back to this year’s to-do list…

3 – It’s time to stop expecting paper to be your task management system.

There is always a to-do list.

You can run your day with a legal pad or a fancy-pants planner, but that doesn’t work anymore.

Paper is a tool, not a system.

And you need to understand the importance of a system.

You need to clarify why a system is essential—how it works, what it can do, and the results it can give you.

You need to stop thinking that your 25 to-do list(!) will get done today. Didn’t happen.

The list should be short. Tasks should be real tasks- and specific…small…and achievable.

If you really want to improve your workday, ditch paper and go digital.

Choose a location. A preferred digital task list that you can view on the big monitor in your office. (If you’re constantly trying to run your day from your phone, that’s another thing to give up in 2025.)

Try to work mainly from your computer as much as you can, even if you sync your laptop with your phone.

A single, digital work plan that you can see on the big screen is valuable. (More details are needed than you might think.)

Yes, paper has a place in your workday, but it’s not a task management plan or a to-do list.

Paper is great for writing quickly when you’re on the phone. Maybe for meeting notes if you’re not yet “notable” or don’t have another online site for note-taking.

But the thing about paper is that if you use it, you have to do something with it after you finish the meeting or hang up the phone.

Don’t let the paper pile up, no matter what’s on it.

But whatever…let the paper manage the to-dos. It deceives you in many ways…

🟥 It’s a combination of items: tasks, ideas, follow-ups, projects and more
🟥 Missions do not contain details that require you to make decisions
🟥 The list is not in order of priority or importance
🟥 There is no plan for when you will take action
🟥 You can’t easily re-prioritize as your day changes

I could go on and on, but you get the idea.

Paper is a tool, not a system. So let… it… go.

Instead, opt for a digital approach that you can use on your computer and sync it with your phone.

Well, this is my list for you. I’ll give it to you straight because you need to win in 2025.

Your workday strategy is serious business. Don’t run it by CHANCE. Play with CHOICE.

It has a hundred components, all connected, and there’s no magic wand (or app) that will instantly fix it.

If you want to use a SOLID strategy in 2025, I want to support you. That’s my specialty. My reason for being.

In 90 minutes, I will give you a clear plan.

Here’s what you can do to get your personalized strategy:

• Hit REPLY on this email and let me know you’d like to book a strategy session.
• I will send you the invoice and booking link.
• Once the invoice is paid and the call is booked, you will fill out a quick form for me.
• We’ll do our 90-minute session where you’ll get clear on your entire workday strategy and the steps you can take.
• After our call, you can work on the strategy by accessing our recorded video for 30 days.

Don’t start this year without a real strategy! Let’s map this out for you so you have clarity on how to move forward.

Email me today and let’s get your strategy on track: leslie@productiveday.com.