This article was originally published in a sponsored newsletter.

Our world moves at an incredible pace. The days can feel chaotic and overwhelming, especially if you are trying to lead a clinic and grow your organization. Here are a few simple tricks you can implement that will enhance your productivity and create balance in your professional and personal lives.

Time Blocking Outside the Clinic

One of our biggest time disrupters is the volume of electronic messages we receive daily. You may feel as though you must read and respond to every message as it comes in on the many platforms you engage for your business, but you don’t. Instead, try scheduling a block of time each day that you dedicate to responding to messages. For example, I have two dedicated hours – a one-hour block at the end of the morning and another at the end of the business day – during which I focus on my inbox. The times may fluctuate depending on other obligations that arise, but these blocks are set on my calendar as appointments I keep. This dedicated time allows me to engage and respond with purpose and thought.

Using the time-blocking method to address messages will allow you to be fully present in your clinic and for other obligations without the added stress of responding to other needs immediately. Of course, urgent messages will arise, but remember: People will call if they truly need to reach you quickly.

Prioritize Your To-Do List

Creating tomorrow’s to-do list for at the end of each day allows you to start each day prepared. Consider incorporating the Eisenhower Decision Matrix to help you prioritize what needs to be accomplished:

1. Urgent and Important. These are your top-priority tasks, or your must-do list of deadlines, crises and problems.
2. Important and Less Urgent. These items can be scheduled on your calendar and include tasks such as making a dentist appointment or calling your accountant for 2025 tax planning.
3. Urgent and Less Important. These are tasks you can delegate, like scheduling service on your exam lane. They need to be done, but not necessarily by you. Delegating tasks to capable people will free up your time for priorities that require your expertise.
4. Less Urgent and Less Important. These are tasks that you could eliminate from your list. Often, they are distractions (like social media) from more important responsibilities.

Cultivate Healthy Habits

Prioritizing your health and well-being is the foundation of creating a productive, focused and balanced life, both personally and professionally. When creating your daily to-do list, your own healthy habits such as exercise, mindfulness, reading, nutrition and practicing gratitude should be non-negotiable priorities.

Focusing on taking care of yourself, intentionally nurturing your to-do list and creating boundaries with your time are just a few simple ways that help set you on the path toward balance and efficiency in your day to day. 

CARRIE JACOBS, COE, CPSS, OCS is Executive Vice President of Operations for Chu Vision Institute in Bloomington, MN, a state-of-the-art ophthalmology practice dedicated to utilizing the most advanced technologies and treatments to improve quality of life for patients. She also serves as Administrator and is part of the Governing Body of Chu Surgery Center. Carrie manages a team of 50 employees and managers. For more than 20 years, Carrie has specialized in Ophthalmology. She has become a key innovator at Chu Vision, having managed several critical elements of the private practice ranging from marketing and financial management to implementing electronic health records (2007) and opening Chu Surgery Center (2009), an accredited ophthalmic ambulatory surgery center.