You don’t have to do it all, but you can prioritize quality time over striving to do it all and be it all for everyone. It’s easy to get lost in the busyness of the season and miss out on the magic that defines it. Instead of stressing about everything on your calendar, here’s how to optimize your time and make the most out of the season.

Batch Tasks on Your To-Do List

If you have batched your tasks before, you know that it’s a time management game-changer. Whether you batch entire days or chunks of time for certain types of work, batching tasks is the ultimate way to optimize your time. The idea is to block out time for certain tasks during certain days or times of the day, like cooking, cleaning, or creative brainstorming. 

For example, you might be most creative in the mornings. So you could use this time to write, draw, paint, design, or whatever creative work entails. Later in the day, you might focus on more administrative tasks like taking phone calls and appointments. Batching your tasks is all about showing up in the right state of mind for the right job.

Block Out Time to Recharge

Rest should be a priority during the busyness of the holiday season. Think about it: On one hand, the holidays are the most joyful time of the year. On the other hand, the holidays can also be stressful and germ-ridden. If you want to truly optimize your time, rest has to be on your agenda. Whether it’s time to go for a 30-minute walk, reading a book with your morning cup of coffee, or meditating for 10 minutes, you need time for yourself. Don’t feel guilty for taking it. 

Change Solo Tasks Into Group Activities

If you want to optimize your time during the hustle and bustle of this season, don’t do everything alone. For all the Type A people out there, it might be your default to dive in head first into your daily tasks without asking for help. Instead, make your tasks into fun, group activities. If you are baking holiday desserts for work events or your child’s holiday party, turn it into a family affair. Invite your kids or your spouse into the kitchen to bake with you. It will make the time go faster, and it will feel a lot less like work and more like fun.

Lean Into Early Mornings

As the holidays loom near, you might be tempted to burn the midnight oil, but don’t. In the words of Rachel, if you own the morning, then you own the day. So as best as possible, stick to your normal routine. Your immune system will thank you. You can use this time to workout, journal, hydrate, caffeinate, and ground yourself before the day starts. If you need more time, wake up a little earlier to work on your holiday to-do list. The early morning quiet is ideal to accomplish gift wrapping, decorating, or any last minute work items you need to close out before the holiday break.

Embrace Simplicity

When it comes to the holidays, less is more. If there is anything on your to-do list that brings you more anxiety than joy, cut it off. There’s nothing you have to do. Remove the pressure to decorate your home like a magazine cover or bake an award-winning turkey.

The holiday season will go on if you don’t have the decorations up by December 1 or bake the perfect holiday cookies for your child’s third grade class. Perfection is not the goal. Instead, put the tree up on a weekend when you have more time, and don’t be afraid to buy store-bought cookies—they’ll still get eaten! 

In a fast-paced, hustle-harder culture, we don’t value slowing down the way we should. Fall isn’t just about the Q4 grind before the year ends—it’s about adjusting the tempo, being intentional, and playing smart. There’s a time for high-speed execution and a time to pause, reassess, and realign. So how do you slow the pace and still stay productive? Keep reading to find out. 

1. Focus on Efficiency, Not Just Effort

Let’s be real—more hustle doesn’t always mean more progress. Fall is a great time to evaluate:

• Where’s your energy going?
• What tasks are giving you the best return?

When it comes to productivity, less is more in the fall season. Cut the fluff. Drop the “busy work” and prioritize high-impact actions. Keep your calendar lean and your goals sharp.

2. Shift From Sprinting to Pacing

We train differently for a marathon than a 100-yard dash. You don’t need to hit every task at full throttle. Instead:

• Build in buffer time between meetings.
• Use theme days (e.g., Mondays for planning, Wednesdays for deep work).
• Create intentional pauses—moments to think, reflect, and recalibrate.

Rach is a huge advocate for batch work, which is about organizing your time by tasks or theme. So perhaps, you utilize a day in your week for cleaning or meal prepping. Set outside your phone and turn down the distractions to focus on the task at hand. Rach boosts her productivity by setting aside certain days on her calendar for tasks, such as writing, recording podcasts, and filming on-camera content. Productivity isn’t about speed—it’s about rhythm. Set a tempo you can sustain.

3. Recommit to Routines That Ground You

Discipline builds freedom. Especially when you’re slowing down, your routines become your structure.

• Start your day with a strong warm-up such as exercise, meditation, and journaling.
• Drink water before coffee every morning.
• Set clear shutdown rituals in the evening.
• Use Sundays to plan your week—like reviewing film before game day.

A solid routine is your playbook. Trust it.

4. Communicate the Shift

If you’re dialing down the pace, don’t leave your team or clients in the dark. Transparency is key.

• Let others know you’re focusing on depth over speed.
• Set expectations around response times and availability.

Leadership isn’t just about action—it’s about clarity.

Remember: Slower Doesn’t Mean Weaker

Slowing down doesn’t mean giving up or falling behind. It means playing smarter, longer, and with more purpose. Fall is your chance to find that next gear—not the one that burns you out, but the one that sustains you through Q4 and into the new year.

So take a breath. Set your sights. Adjust the game plan. Because the people who win in the long run? They know when to sprint—and when to slow it down.

The truth is, success in your career, your business, and honestly your whole life doesn’t come from luck. It comes from what you’re willing to do over and over again, even when it’s not glamorous. These five habits are the ones I’ve seen over and over in successful women who not only set big goals but actually reach them.

1. Treat Goals like Appointments 

If you’ve got a goal you’re serious about, stop leaving it floating in the land of “someday.” Put it on the calendar. Literally. Treat it with the same weight you’d give a doctor’s appointment, a client meeting, or picking your kid up from school.

Block off the time—whether it’s 30 minutes a day to design your website, an hour a week to pitch investors, or a standing check-in with your career coach. The point isn’t how much time you carve out, it’s that you carve it out at all.

Dreams don’t move forward because we think about them. They move forward because we show up for them, over and over again. Schedule it. Write it down. And most importantly, don’t break the promise you’ve made to yourself.

2. Keep Goals Visible

If you want to stay on track, you’ve got to keep your goals where you can see them. Out of sight really does mean out of mind—and with all the noise, distractions, and responsibilities pulling at you every day, it’s way too easy to forget what you’re working toward.

So put those goals front and center. Write them on your bathroom mirror, slap them on sticky notes around the house, make them your phone screensaver, or plaster them on a vision board that stares you down every morning. The method doesn’t matter—the reminder does.

Because the truth is, success isn’t just about setting a goal once. It’s about creating constant nudges that pull your attention back to what matters most. Keep your eyes on the prize—literally.

3. Surround Yourself With Ambitious People

You’ve heard it a million times: you are the company you keep. And it’s true. If you want to level up, you’ve got to spend time with people who are already living at the level you aspire to. Take a hard look at your circle—are the people around you lifting you higher, or keeping you stuck where you are?

Think about it: if you were training for the NBA, you wouldn’t hang out with folks who never touched a basketball. You’d find teammates who push you, coaches who challenge you, and mentors who’ve already walked the path you’re trying to take. The same goes for your goals.

Get in rooms with people who are going places. Learn from them, lean on their energy, and let their ambition remind you what’s possible. Iron sharpens iron—so make sure you’re surrounding yourself with people who help you shine.

4. The Willingness to Fail 

If you want big goals, you’ve got to be willing to look a little silly along the way. Falling down, making mistakes, starting messy—it’s all part of the process. Successful women know that failure isn’t the end of the road. It’s just feedback. Every stumble is teaching you what works, what doesn’t, and how to do it better next time.

You don’t get excellent overnight. You get excellent by being brave enough to be bad at something first. So stop waiting until you’re perfect, polished, or ready—you’ll be waiting forever. Show up, try, learn, adjust, repeat. Every imperfect step is still a step closer to the finish line.

5. Regularly Reassess Progress

High-achieving women don’t just set goals and hope for the best—they check in with themselves along the way. Whether it’s once a quarter, at the halfway point of the year, or even monthly, they pause to reflect: Am I actually moving closer to what I want?

Look at how you’ve been spending your time. Are your daily actions aligned with your big vision? Are you prioritizing what matters, or just staying busy? Because here’s the truth: thinking about your goals doesn’t make them happen. Talking about your goals doesn’t make them happen. Only consistent action does.

And if the actions you’re taking aren’t working? Adjust. Refocus. Realign. Successful women aren’t afraid to pivot, because they know the goal is progress, not perfection.

For more advice on the mindsets successful women possess to reach their goals, check out The Rachel Hollis Podcast.

Productivity isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing what actually matters. And in today’s blog post, I’m breaking down my favorite hacks for getting organized and making the most of your time, whether you’re running a business, chasing a promotion, managing a household, or juggling all the things at once. Plus, I’m including tactical steps on how to get organized you can start using TODAY to see results fast.

Let’s dive in!

Start with a Clean Slate (Literally and Mentally)

Before I can be productive, I need to clear the clutter—both physically and mentally.

I’ll never forget when I was 18, living in a tiny, crappy apartment in Burbank, trying to figure out how to be an adult. My first “desk” was a $22 folding table from Target, and I remember sitting there, trying to organize my dreams of being an entrepreneur and an author with the little time I had outside of my full-time job. That’s where my obsession with productivity started—because when your hours are limited, you HAVE to make the most of them.

Carrying mental clutter is just as exhausting as dealing with a messy workspace. Try this:

Declutter Your Mind

1. Brain Dump: Write down EVERYTHING that’s swirling in your head—errands, work projects, reminders, ideas, all of it. Then use the 3D Method.
2. The 3D Method:
   • Delegate anything someone else can do – I know this can be incredibly difficult if you’re not used to it but delegation is crucial for anyone who wants to get the most out of the time they have. Focus on what you (and only you) do best.
   • Delete anything that doesn’t matter – Seriously, what on that list can you delete? Could you put a reminder in the calendar for 3 months from now and revisit it then? Edit whatever you can.
   • Only Do the things that actually move you toward your goals – so simple and so accurate, the greatest productivity hack is just focusing on the things that get you closer to where you want to be.

I’ve used this method for years, and it’s one of the fastest ways to cut through overwhelm and actually take action. (Pro tip: I also use it for my kids. Instead of nagging, I make a chore chart so they always know exactly what’s expected—no arguments, no surprises.)

Declutter Your Space

Spring cleaning isn’t just for your house; it’s for your productivity too. If your desk, car, kitchen, or workspace is a disaster, it’s going to slow you down. Take an hour (or several) and clear out what you don’t need.

• If you haven’t used it in a year, get rid of it.
• If you’re holding onto something “just in case,” put it in a box and revisit it in six months. I have a big duffle bag in my closet where I put all the clothes I never wear but refuse to give up. My rule is, if after a few months I cant remember what’s in the duffle, I have to donate it because clearly it’s not a favorite.
• Create an environment that makes it easy to focus—your space should work for you, not against you.

I wrote a whole blog post about how to actually enjoy doing your chores if you need some inspiration around this topic.

Ditch the To-Do List—Use a Results List Instead

The Results List is a practice I wrote about extensively in my book Girl, Stop Apologizing but if you’re not familiar, let me give you a summary. To-do lists are endless and overwhelming and studies show they don’t actually help us make traction. Instead, focus on the results you want, not the to-do’s:

• Instead of “Update resume,” try “Send resume to 15 hiring managers today.”
• Instead of “Work on book,” try “Write 1,000 words before lunch.”
• Instead of “Get more clients” try “Make 25 cold-calls by EOD”

Results are specific. Results are what matter. Prioritize the three biggest moves that will actually move the needle in your life and focus on those. If you take nothing else from this blog post, let it be this: Stop being busy and start being effective.

Batch Your Work Like a Boss

Multitasking is killing your productivity. Every time you switch tasks, your brain has to recalibrate, which wastes precious energy. In fact, research shows that once distracted, a worker takes nearly a half-hour to resume the original task. Think about how many times you get distracted in a day… if it takes us half an hour to get focused again we could be losing hours (we don’t have!) because of distraction.

Instead, learn to batch your work. Not sure what that is? Read this blog post where I explain this life-changing style of working and how I do it!

This small tweak alone can 10x your efficiency.

Protect Your Focus and Energy

Want to get organized to be productive? It isn’t just about time management—it’s about energy management.

• Turn off notifications when you’re working on something important.
• Time block your day so you have clear focus periods.
• Set boundaries. (Say no to things that don’t align with your priorities.)

Your time is valuable. Treat it like the limited resource that it is.

Plan Ahead or Plan to Fail

Being organized isn’t something you’re born with—it’s a learned skill. And the secret to staying organized? Planning ahead.

• Take time each week to plan out your biggest priorities.
• Set three big wins you want to accomplish.
• Check your calendar for any appointments or prep work needed.

Want to take a deep dive on this subject with me? I did a whole podcast episode all about it and you can listen to it below.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re working hard but not seeing the results you want, it might be time for a calendar audit! This is something I first learned about from John C Maxwell years ago and once I did it, I couldn’t ever look at my calendar the same way again. Want to have a great year? Then you need to think about how you spend your time. Your year is made up of months that are made up of weeks that are made up of days and ultimately what you choose to fill the hours in your day with. An annual calendar audit allows you to review your past year, identify what worked, and eliminate what didn’t, so you can focus on what truly matters in the year ahead. Here’s how to conduct your own annual calendar audit in a few simple steps:

Step 1: Gather Your Materials

Before you start, you’ll need the following:

• Your calendar: This could be digital (like Google Calendar) or physical. If you don’t have a detailed calendar (this is your sign to start one) but until then, I recommend using your phone’s photo library to jog your memory of key events.
• A notebook or journal: Choose something where you can jot down reflections as you go. Writing by hand is ideal to avoid distractions.
• A quiet space: Find a place where you can focus without interruptions. Grab a cup of coffee or tea to set the mood.

Step 2: Set Aside Time

A proper calendar audit requires focus and reflection. Aim to set aside at least 2–4 hours for this process. If possible, carve out uninterrupted time during a quieter period, like weekends or holidays, when you can truly dive into this exercise.

Step 3: Review Your Year, Week by Week

Start from January of the previous year and go week by week through your calendar. For each appointment, event, or task, ask yourself:

• What was this activity about?
• How did it make me feel?
• Was it worth the time, energy, and resources I spent on it?

Categorize your findings into three lists:

1. Worth It: Activities that added value to your life or aligned with your goals.
2. Not Worth It: Tasks, meetings, or commitments that felt like a waste of time or energy.
3. Self-Care & Fun: Moments where you took care of yourself, had fun, or recharged.

From there I like to write each one of those categories on top of a blank page and then put each and every event and appointment into one of the three. The first time I did this I was shocked to discover how many things I regularly did that were a waste of time. I was also disheartened to realize that I scheduled almost no time for self care.

Step 4: Identify Patterns

Once you’ve categorized your year, step back and look for patterns. Ask yourself:

• What types of activities consistently added value?
• Which commitments drained me the most?
• Did I make enough time for self-care and joy?

This step is key to understanding where you should focus your energy moving forward.

Step 5: Apply the 80/20 Rule

The Pareto Principle states that 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts. Look at your “Worth It” list and identify the 20% of activities that had the biggest impact on your success or happiness. These are the areas to double down on in the coming year.

Step 6: Build Your New Calendar

Using the insights from your audit, start crafting your ideal calendar for the year ahead:

1. Prioritize the 20%: Schedule more time for the activities that made the biggest positive impact.
2. Plan for Self-Care: Add regular self-care and fun into your calendar—like monthly dinners with friends or a weekly yoga class.
3. Eliminate the Waste: Be intentional about saying “no” to commitments that don’t align with your values or goals.
4. Create a Weekly Template: Map out what your perfect week looks like, from work blocks to family time and personal growth activities.

Step 7: Reflect and Adjust

As you move through the year, revisit your audit. Regular reflection ensures you stay aligned with your goals and values. This practice isn’t just about improving productivity—it’s about designing a life that feels fulfilling and intentional.

Want to take a deeper dive on the Calendar Audit?

Listen to this episode of the podcast here or watch my video below 👇🏼

I have two boys in elementary school and last year, whenever we sat down to do homework we’d need… a glue stick, or scissors, or a #2 pencil, or a pencil sharpener, or lined paper, or unlined paper, or, or, or. The list was so long and no matter how organized I think my crafts are we’d inevitably spend ages trying to find the one thing we needed in order to complete our work. 

This year I’m not taking any chances! I’m storing everything we might possibly ever need in one big organized bucket! I thought I’d share it with you today in case you need some help organizing homework in your house too! ~Rachel 

Pack everything up and keep it stored in a special place in your kitchen (or wherever your kids do their work). Make a rule that items in the homework bucket are ONLY for homework and you won’t have to search for them again.

1. Powerful: Building a Culture of Freedom and Responsibility by Patty McCord.

If you’re a business owner this is a must-read. Patty talks about the ins and outs of creating a great culture in the workplace and shares her experience of developing talent at Netflix. 

2. Becoming by Michelle Obama

This is such an amazing book. Regardless of what your political views are this is truly a story of inspiration. Learn how Michelle Obama grew from the Southside of Chicago into a powerhouse woman and First Lady. 

3. The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth: Live Them and Reach Your Potential by John C. Maxwell

I love John Maxwell so much (if you ever have the chance to hear him speak you MUST do it) and this is truly powerful information about growing yourself so you can grow your business

4. Hug Your Customers: The Proven Way to Personalize Sales and Achieve Astounding Results by Jack Mitchell  

Back in LA I had my whole team read this book. I think this book is SO great for business owners to really learn the importance of having great relationships with your customers and being in a service mindset.

5. The 5 Second Rule: Transform your Life, Work, and Confidence with Everyday Courage by Mel Robbins

This book is all about how to push yourself! We all have the power to reach for more and Mel writes about how these “push moments” will help propel you in all areas of your life.   

6. Body Love: Live in Balance, Weigh What You Want, and Free Yourself from Food Drama Forever by Kelly LeVeque  

Kelly has helped me with my own health goals! This book is such an amazing read about all things food, health, and fitness. Be sure to listen to my podcast with Kelly to get even more tips on how to live a balanced life. 

7. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

A major GUILTY pleasure read for me! If you like reading about history and romance then this one is for you! (And bonus: this book has become a TV series on Starz now!)

8. Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity by Kim Scott

If you are a leader in any area of your life (or hoping to become one) then this book is for you. Kim draws on her experiences to help teach her readers how to be a more thoughtful and kick-butt leader. I think this is an incredible book for anyone who is hoping to create better relationships in the workplace. Whether you manage 1 person or an entire company, this is for YOU.

9. Girl, Stop Apologizing 

I wrote this book as the next step for everyone who read Girl, Wash Your Face. It’s about taking ownership of your hopes and dreams then drowning out the noise of other people’s opinions.  Girl, Stop Apologizing holds the most tangible advice on how to achieve your goals and the steps you need to take to get there. At the end of the day, I really wrote this book to inspire women to live unapologetically as yourself. To learn more about WHY I wrote Girl, Stop Apologizing check out the video below! 

We all know that school has kicked back into high gear and as I’ve let the Chic Tribe know we’ve partnered up with ScholarShare to celebrate National College Savings Month for the month of September. To help spread the word about the importance of saving for college and the benefits of California’s 529 plan, ScholarShare is hosting its annual College Savings Pledge Sweepstakes. As part of the pledge, participants are encouraged to declare how much they can save on a monthly basis for their future college grad – even if it is just $25. Then, throughout September, five eligible sweepstakes entrants will be selected each week to receive $500 (in the form of a ScholarShare Gift of College gift card) to support their savings goals.

These are amazing goals to set and it got me thinking about finding the TIME to make goals happen! Partnering up with ScholarShare we’ve talked about instilling positive values, teaching the value of saving, and raising lifelong learners. I’m sharing the value of Time Management with my kids. This topic is very near and dear to my heart because I am a big believer in using my time wisely to accomplish my goals. While my boys are young, I want to teach them the value of using their time efficiently. As important as it is for our children to study, it’s also vital to teach them to get their tasks completed on time. This is a difficult concept for the youngsters and I wanted to create a fun activity that could help introduce the idea of time management. So I created a FREE printable to show you can help your kids manage how much time they are spending on chores and activities throughout the week. The way it works is pretty simple because this is something I need a four year old to understand.

Each shape and color means an activity or chore that they have to do. All you have to do is place the marker on the day and time they are allowed to complete the activity or chore. For example, on Monday the boys will have 20 minutes of free time which can include going on the iPad, watching TV, or playing outside. I will set a timer and once it rings it’s time to either get straight to homework. The boys know that they can find everything they need for homework in their bucket . School work can include anything from reading to writing but the boys know from time management sheet that they will need to spend 25 minutes doing school work before doing anything else. Chores is also a big thing in the Hollis home! I even created a Chore Board to help get them motivated. That’s why I place a red triangle on Saturdays for 15 minutes the boys know that they will have to help with things around the house. 

What do you think, is this something you’d try out with your own kids? 

This “adulting” business is hard y’all.

You know what I mean, right? There are all these things on our to-do list and these babies to raise and work to get done and most days I feel like I’m running a hundred thousand miles an hour. So when ZzzQuil reached out and asked me if I could make a video about why I take ZzzQuil for occasional sleeplessness I had to laugh. Oh sure, I can make a video, but it’s going to be real life y’all. And since my real life is hectic and crazy and my to-do list keeps me up at night, well, this is what we came up with! 

Does your life ever feel like this? Or is it just me??

I’m a pretty big fan of vision boards, how about you?

If you’ve never made one before then allow me to introduce you to the concept. A vision board is a collection of pictures, words, phrases and drawings that you pull together based on your goals. You make a big collage and use it as a visual aid to motivate yourself. I’ve used them to inspire myself for years and I’ve even used them to help us save for a family vacation. In fact, it’s my favorite thing to do at the start of a New Year and something I’ve started to do with my boys too. Watch the video to see how we start off each January planning for the year ahead with a kids vision board.

I start off by gathering together magazines and newspapers. You’ll also need construction paper or cardstock to create your collage on. Throw in tape, glue, markers, stickers and anything else you think would be fun to include from your craft supplies.

My vision board usually has pictures of health and fitness, book inspiration or clothing styles I want to pull off. My kids vision board? Well this year included things like “eat a waffle sandwich” and “get wrapped in Christmas lights”. The point of making these with the boys isn’t so that we’ll be super strict with goal setting, it’s so that they become more familiar with what goal setting is in the first place. It gives us a chance to have a conversation about plans and goals and how if you work for something  you can achieve it.

After we’re done making our boards we hang them up somewhere the boys will see them everyday… in this case, the bulletin board in their room. This is also a great trick for you too. It’s easier to lose sight of your goals if they’re, well, out of sight. So tack it up somewhere you can see as a reminder of what you’re hoping for this year. 

Have a goal to get in shape? Check out this post!

Want to do something creative? Find out how I wrote my first book here!