In this episode, I’m joined by Tonya Dalton.

We are all on this hunt for the mythical balance, but it isn’t achievable. We think we want balance, but we really don’t. When you try to implement it in your daily life, it doesn’t really work. If all things are equal, we’re not moving in any true direction.

We have to lean into our growth, but then we have to counterbalance. Really, we’re looking for harmony, not balance.

Focusing on this makes us feel like we’re failing because it just isn’t achievable.

Squirrel strategy is a unique way to look at your problems. You look at a problem and you try every different way to achieve it. Squirrels are not afraid to approach a problem from a ton of different angles.

Somehow, our to-do list is a measure of our worth. Even if we check 1,000 things off, we feel like we did not accomplish anything because there are still tasks on the list.

Your mission statement is your guiding light for your priorities and what you get done. It needs to be easy and simple. We also talk about how Tonya sets up her family meeting. 

It is so important to have our kids learn how to pick up the slack when someone is having a hard week. When you allow your children to lift you up, you are giving them a gift. That brings them into the team and you give them the gift. Just like when they were little and they say “I help, I help.” 

Setting and sticking to our own boundaries is easy. We can say no and be kind at the same time. Communicate your boundaries. Share why you say no. 

Create white space in your day. Add in buffer time. 

Life is really about intention, not productivity or prioritizing. 

Our goal is to make your work visible. I created an amazing guide to help you start with a simple daily meeting. Grab your guide here.

More About Tonya

Tonya Dalton is a productivity expert, writer, speaker and founder of inkWELL Press Productivity Co, a company centered around productivity tools and training. She released her first book, The Joy of Missing Out, with Harper Collins on October 1st.

Tonya’s messages about business management, productivity, and the pursuit of passion have impacted thousands and inspired her to launch her podcast, Productivity Paradox which has surpassed more than a million downloads. Her podcast regularly ranks in the top 50 of all business management podcasts on Apple Podcasts.

Tonya has been featured on Real Simple, Entrepreneur, Inc., Apartment Therapy, Lauren Conrad, and HGTV among other places. In 2019, Tonya received the Enterprising Woman of the Year Award and was named North Carolina’s Female Entrepreneur to Watch by The Ladders.

season