3 Questions to Move You From Busy to Productive

Look at my to-do list.

See how busy I am?

Does this sound familiar? In our personal and professional lives, we often feel like we’re barely hanging on; we live and die by a flimsy “sticky note strategy” and wear busy as a badge of honor.

But this strategy isn’t sustainable—and even if it were, it’s certainly not efficient or effective. If we want to approach 2025 with focus and clarity, we have to be more intentional about managing our time. We have to move our actions and our words from busy to productive. And I think we can start moving in that direction by asking ourselves three simple questions.

1. WHAT’S MY GOAL?

Do I have a specific outcome/theme/word I’m focusing on this year? Before embarking on anything—a new strategy, project, etc.—I have to know what the desired outcome is and be crystal clear on that. Because if I’m not clear on where I’m going, it becomes too easy to thrash around and spend time on things that aren’t relevant. Priorities become evident when the goal is clearly defined, and it becomes easier to let go of the time-consuming, unimportant tasks when I realize they don’t feed the end goal.

Take Action: Write down your top three goals and align your daily tasks with them. Revisit them regularly to stay on track.

2. WHAT ARE MY BIG ROCKS?

I’m sure most of you are like me—love to make lists, and love even more crossing things off those lists at the end of each day! But often those lists move me toward tackling the easiest, more unimportant items first because I love the satisfaction of having things completed. And when I do that, the important, big rocks continue to get pushed to the end of the day when I’m worn out and depleted. I’ve found it’s the most beneficial to me—professionally and personally!—when I identify my big rocks first and make progress toward those while I’m fresh, energetic, and focused.

Prioritize Wisely: Identify your top three most impactful tasks each day and tackle them first.

3. WHAT IS AND ISN’T MINE TO TAKE?

Delegation has been a recurring theme for me lately, because oftentimes people will bring “situations” to me hoping I’ll take it over or solve it for them. But those are often important and urgent for them, not for me. And so I am trying to get really good at not taking on things that aren’t mine, as well as delegating. Craig Groeschel says, “You don’t grow in your ‘yeses,’ you grow in your ‘nos.’” I’m going to make 2025 a year where my focus is on the goals and big rocks that only I can do, and be confident in my “nos” to everything else.

Learn to Say No: Practice turning down tasks that don’t align with your goals.

4. AM I CREATING MARGIN IN MY SCHEDULE?

Productivity isn’t about packing every second of the day with tasks; it’s about creating space for creative thinking, reflection, and rest. Without margin, burnout becomes inevitable, and we end up less effective in the long run. Scheduling buffer time between meetings or blocking off personal development time can help create a sustainable workflow.

Actionable Tip: Add intentional breaks and reflection periods into your calendar to maintain energy and clarity.

5. HOW AM I TRACKING MY PROGRESS?

It’s easy to get caught up in the daily grind without reflecting on the progress we’re making. Regularly tracking goals allows us to celebrate small wins and adjust our strategies when needed.

Progress Tracking Tip: Use a simple journal or digital tool to track your wins and challenges each week.

What are some other questions you’re asking yourself as you move from busy to productive for this new year?

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