1 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:06,600 Speaker 1: Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeartRadio. 2 00:00:08,720 --> 00:00:13,720 Speaker 2: Good Morning, This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. 3 00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:17,639 Speaker 2: Today's episode is going to be a longer one part 4 00:00:17,640 --> 00:00:20,480 Speaker 2: of the series where I interview fascinating people about how 5 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:23,120 Speaker 2: they take their days from great to awesome and any 6 00:00:23,160 --> 00:00:26,080 Speaker 2: advice they have for the rest of us. So today 7 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:28,760 Speaker 2: I'm delighted to welcome Anna Dearman Cornick to the show. 8 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:32,600 Speaker 2: Anna is the host of the It's About Time podcast 9 00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:36,040 Speaker 2: and author of the book Time Management Essential. So Anna, 10 00:00:36,120 --> 00:00:37,080 Speaker 2: thanks for being here. 11 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:39,520 Speaker 3: Hi, Laura, thank you so much for having me. 12 00:00:40,240 --> 00:00:42,919 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, I'm excited to talk all things time management 13 00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:45,600 Speaker 2: with you, a topic we both enjoy. Why don't you 14 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:47,760 Speaker 2: tell us a little bit about yourself, your life, and 15 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:48,360 Speaker 2: your career. 16 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:51,519 Speaker 3: Sure. So, I'm a time management coach, host of It's 17 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:54,760 Speaker 3: About Time, as you mentioned, author of Time Management Essentials, 18 00:00:54,880 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 3: but in addition to really diving into all things time management, 19 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:03,680 Speaker 3: also a mom of two little girls, six and four, 20 00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:07,360 Speaker 3: and we live with my husband, Scott in South Louisiana. 21 00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:12,200 Speaker 3: And so when I'm not serving clients who are based 22 00:01:12,319 --> 00:01:15,080 Speaker 3: all over the world or leading coaching sessions in the 23 00:01:15,160 --> 00:01:19,280 Speaker 3: It's About Time academy, you can find me chasing them around, 24 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:24,520 Speaker 3: taking them to the pool, and balancing my version of 25 00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:26,160 Speaker 3: mom life and work life. 26 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:27,240 Speaker 1: Excellent. 27 00:01:27,280 --> 00:01:29,319 Speaker 2: And so how did you wind up in this area? 28 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:31,360 Speaker 2: Like what drew you to the topic of time management? 29 00:01:31,480 --> 00:01:35,000 Speaker 3: So what's so interesting is my very first job right 30 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:37,839 Speaker 3: out of college was as a scheduler to a United 31 00:01:37,880 --> 00:01:42,120 Speaker 3: States congressman, and so very early on I was thrust 32 00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:46,000 Speaker 3: into trying to figure out time management for myself while 33 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:49,800 Speaker 3: also managing one of the most hectic schedules in the 34 00:01:49,960 --> 00:01:54,400 Speaker 3: entire country. And so I learned so much in that role, 35 00:01:55,160 --> 00:01:59,919 Speaker 3: not only about surviving as a young professional, but also 36 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:02,480 Speaker 3: about how to make the most of your time, how 37 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:07,520 Speaker 3: to navigate curveballs that happened during your day, how to prioritize, 38 00:02:08,720 --> 00:02:12,720 Speaker 3: and that translated really well into a what then became 39 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:16,000 Speaker 3: a ten year career in crisis communications and government affairs. 40 00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:17,959 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, let's talk. 41 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:21,160 Speaker 2: About being a congressional scheduler, because I think that you know, 42 00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:25,000 Speaker 2: many of us don't necessarily think of time as a 43 00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:27,840 Speaker 2: resource that has to be managed. But when you have 44 00:02:28,320 --> 00:02:32,000 Speaker 2: one person whose time is you know, needs to be 45 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:36,800 Speaker 2: allocated to different things, to keeping constituents happy, to doing 46 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:41,880 Speaker 2: their various you know, law making responsibilities and whatever public 47 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:44,120 Speaker 2: facing life they want to do as well as you know, 48 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:47,560 Speaker 2: hopefully they also get to sleep on occasion, and they 49 00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:49,600 Speaker 2: have to travel back and forth. So I wonder how 50 00:02:49,639 --> 00:02:51,720 Speaker 2: you think about that, Like what are the rules for 51 00:02:52,280 --> 00:02:55,239 Speaker 2: a congress person's schedule, and like how you started thinking 52 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:56,520 Speaker 2: about that and managing that. 53 00:02:56,840 --> 00:02:59,320 Speaker 3: Right so it you know, one thing that you have 54 00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:01,799 Speaker 3: to keep in mind is that, of course it's going 55 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:05,400 Speaker 3: to be different based on the individual, their preferences, and 56 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:10,040 Speaker 3: understanding what energizes them and what drains them to make 57 00:03:10,080 --> 00:03:13,839 Speaker 3: sure that we're creating a flow for not just their day, 58 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:16,360 Speaker 3: but their entire week that enables them to hit all 59 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:20,280 Speaker 3: of those obligations. And there are so many competing obligations, 60 00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:24,680 Speaker 3: like you said, from running the office to meeting with 61 00:03:24,760 --> 00:03:28,320 Speaker 3: other policymakers and lobbyists to meeting with constituents, not to 62 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:33,399 Speaker 3: mention things like fundraising calls and receptions and dinner invitations 63 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:37,120 Speaker 3: and travel, and it's all over the place. And so 64 00:03:37,240 --> 00:03:40,240 Speaker 3: the way that we tended to think about it was 65 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:45,520 Speaker 3: to prioritize those meetings where his impact would go the 66 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:49,880 Speaker 3: furthest because there's only one of him Unfortunately, there was 67 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:53,119 Speaker 3: a number of people on our staff who were incredibly 68 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:56,920 Speaker 3: qualified and intelligent and able to take meetings on his behalf, 69 00:03:56,960 --> 00:03:59,200 Speaker 3: and so you really had to know. 70 00:03:59,560 --> 00:04:01,839 Speaker 1: Where where do we really. 71 00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:05,080 Speaker 3: Have to have the congressman and where can someone stand 72 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:07,600 Speaker 3: in and represent him on his behalf? 73 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:11,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, I wonder, did you have to figure out sort 74 00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:14,960 Speaker 2: of like buffers between things, or I mean space for 75 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:16,839 Speaker 2: the curve, but like what sort of a space would 76 00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:19,080 Speaker 2: you leave available for the curve balls that came. 77 00:04:19,360 --> 00:04:21,719 Speaker 3: Oh my gosh, Laura, I learned the biggest lesson my 78 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:23,719 Speaker 3: very first week on the job. I put together what 79 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:27,320 Speaker 3: I thought was the most amazing, meticulous, perfect schedule for 80 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:30,200 Speaker 3: his week. And I remember that first Monday morning, our 81 00:04:30,279 --> 00:04:32,880 Speaker 3: chief of staff, this big guy named Clayton, walked over 82 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:35,440 Speaker 3: to my desk and he said, Anna, we have a problem, 83 00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:40,680 Speaker 3: and my heart sank, and he pointed out that despite 84 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:44,720 Speaker 3: the fact that we fit every constituent request into the week, 85 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:49,200 Speaker 3: there were exactly zero spaces available for the boss to 86 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:50,159 Speaker 3: take a bathroom break. 87 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:53,480 Speaker 1: That wasn't gonna happen. 88 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:58,159 Speaker 3: No, And so I learned the difference between creating a 89 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:01,239 Speaker 3: schedule that's a perfect on paper and creating a schedule 90 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:05,560 Speaker 3: that actually reflects our humanity. And I'm so glad I 91 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:08,520 Speaker 3: learned that lesson early on, because then it did become Okay, 92 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:11,920 Speaker 3: let's make sure that we have buffer time for him, 93 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:14,960 Speaker 3: that we're not only creating space for him to be human, 94 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:17,720 Speaker 3: but also to make sure that he has connection moments 95 00:05:17,720 --> 00:05:19,960 Speaker 3: with his family. He had two young girls at the 96 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:23,360 Speaker 3: time who lived back home in New Orleans, and it's 97 00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:26,440 Speaker 3: really important to have that time when when you're away. 98 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:31,040 Speaker 3: And so I really learned the importance of allocating even 99 00:05:31,120 --> 00:05:33,720 Speaker 3: more transition time from point A to point B than 100 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 3: necessary in order to make sure that we had a 101 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:40,200 Speaker 3: realistic amount of space to accomplish what we needed to. 102 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:43,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, and what were your sort of thoughts on new 103 00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:45,080 Speaker 2: things coming up and upsetting the. 104 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:49,040 Speaker 1: Schedule that exists? Like would was the goal not to. 105 00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:50,920 Speaker 2: Move stuff or is like stuff have to rise over 106 00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:54,120 Speaker 2: a certain bar to move what is already there. I'm 107 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:58,279 Speaker 2: curious about the cancellation policy for a congressman as well. 108 00:05:58,360 --> 00:05:58,920 Speaker 1: That's great. 109 00:05:59,120 --> 00:06:01,520 Speaker 3: It was very much an depends. So on one hand, 110 00:06:01,960 --> 00:06:05,719 Speaker 3: we aimed to lock the calendar about two weeks in advance, 111 00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:11,200 Speaker 3: where no new meetings were added unless it was absolutely necessary, 112 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:14,920 Speaker 3: but we could lock the calendar and the day would 113 00:06:14,960 --> 00:06:18,440 Speaker 3: be flowing smoothly, and then the vote bells would go off. 114 00:06:18,600 --> 00:06:22,640 Speaker 3: So Laura on Capitol Hill, any time that the members 115 00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:24,680 Speaker 3: are being called to the floor to vote, there are 116 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:27,000 Speaker 3: these bells that ring, and it sounds kind of like 117 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:30,559 Speaker 3: a school bell. And whenever I hear this bell, now 118 00:06:30,839 --> 00:06:32,680 Speaker 3: just out and about, I get a little bit of 119 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:36,479 Speaker 3: PTSD because I remember that anytime those vote bells would 120 00:06:36,520 --> 00:06:40,880 Speaker 3: go off unexpectedly, because we had noticed most of the time, 121 00:06:40,880 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 3: but when they went off unexpectedly, I knew that I 122 00:06:43,480 --> 00:06:46,919 Speaker 3: was going to have to rearrange, drop everything, and rearrange 123 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:49,839 Speaker 3: the entire calendar, because that's what they're there for. 124 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:51,440 Speaker 1: Yeah. 125 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:53,760 Speaker 2: Absolutely, all right, We're going to take one quick ad 126 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:55,400 Speaker 2: break and then we'll be back with more from Anna 127 00:06:55,480 --> 00:07:05,840 Speaker 2: Dearman Cornick. Well, I am back talking with Anna Dearman Kornick, 128 00:07:05,839 --> 00:07:08,400 Speaker 2: who is a time management expert host of the It's 129 00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:11,200 Speaker 2: About Time podcast. We've been chatting about her first job 130 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:14,400 Speaker 2: as a congressional scheduler and what it's like to schedule 131 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:18,080 Speaker 2: somebody who's every minute needs to be spelled out. But 132 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:19,840 Speaker 2: let's talk a little bit about your own approach to 133 00:07:19,880 --> 00:07:22,760 Speaker 2: time management. Now, I know you've said you're very personality 134 00:07:22,840 --> 00:07:25,239 Speaker 2: driven when you think about time management. 135 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:26,040 Speaker 1: What does that mean to you? 136 00:07:26,960 --> 00:07:31,400 Speaker 3: So? I have always been, Laura a huge fan of 137 00:07:31,440 --> 00:07:34,120 Speaker 3: personality quizzes. I mean you take me back to the 138 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:38,200 Speaker 3: high school, middle school teen beat magazine where you figure 139 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:43,280 Speaker 3: out your lit gloss flavor based on your favorite pasta shape, 140 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:46,240 Speaker 3: any of those silly quizzes like that. I love, And 141 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:50,040 Speaker 3: as I got older, I really became interested in personality 142 00:07:50,080 --> 00:07:55,440 Speaker 3: theory assessments like the Myers Briggs Type Indicator. Eventually, I, 143 00:07:55,560 --> 00:07:59,320 Speaker 3: on a whim, decided to become a certified Myers Brinks practitioner. 144 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:04,960 Speaker 3: Remember in that training weekend, someone asking me, how do 145 00:08:05,080 --> 00:08:08,160 Speaker 3: you plan to use the Myers Briggs Everyone else there 146 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:12,000 Speaker 3: was either a school counselor, or they were a seasoned coach, 147 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:15,239 Speaker 3: or they worked in human resources, and I remember saying, 148 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:21,600 Speaker 3: I want to use personality to help women manage their 149 00:08:21,640 --> 00:08:24,400 Speaker 3: time without the overwhelm. And at the time this was 150 00:08:24,480 --> 00:08:26,240 Speaker 3: years ago, I didn't know what that would look like, 151 00:08:26,840 --> 00:08:30,720 Speaker 3: but gradually it came into view. You know, we all 152 00:08:30,760 --> 00:08:35,760 Speaker 3: have very unique ways of thinking of making decisions. Our 153 00:08:35,960 --> 00:08:40,880 Speaker 3: approach to closure versus open endedness, and all of those 154 00:08:41,360 --> 00:08:45,440 Speaker 3: little pieces of who we are have to be considered 155 00:08:45,760 --> 00:08:49,640 Speaker 3: when we create our approach to time management. You know, 156 00:08:49,679 --> 00:08:51,719 Speaker 3: one of the biggest mistakes that we make is when 157 00:08:51,760 --> 00:08:54,800 Speaker 3: we decide that I'm ready to get my time management 158 00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:57,079 Speaker 3: in order, is that we look at what other people 159 00:08:57,080 --> 00:09:00,679 Speaker 3: are doing. And inspiration is great. You can take so 160 00:09:00,920 --> 00:09:03,640 Speaker 3: much from what other people are doing, right, That's the 161 00:09:03,760 --> 00:09:07,360 Speaker 3: entire reason why I started my podcast. But when we 162 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:10,040 Speaker 3: try and copy and paste what's working well for someone 163 00:09:10,040 --> 00:09:12,720 Speaker 3: else and then it doesn't work for us, we can 164 00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:15,840 Speaker 3: feel like a failure when in reality that method that 165 00:09:15,880 --> 00:09:18,679 Speaker 3: we were copying and pasting just might not have been 166 00:09:18,720 --> 00:09:20,960 Speaker 3: a fit for who we are at our core. 167 00:09:21,760 --> 00:09:24,360 Speaker 2: And I think I read somewhere, maybe on your website, 168 00:09:24,360 --> 00:09:28,000 Speaker 2: you are an E NTJ. I am, so I'm curious 169 00:09:27,360 --> 00:09:31,319 Speaker 2: how that affects you personally as you manage your time, Like, 170 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:33,720 Speaker 2: what does that mean for you that would be different 171 00:09:33,760 --> 00:09:34,480 Speaker 2: from somebody else? 172 00:09:34,559 --> 00:09:37,840 Speaker 3: Absolutely? Oh that's so fun. So yes, I in Myers Briggs, 173 00:09:37,880 --> 00:09:41,040 Speaker 3: I am an E N TJ. And you may be thinking, Okay, 174 00:09:41,040 --> 00:09:43,719 Speaker 3: what do those letters mean? And without going too too 175 00:09:43,760 --> 00:09:47,360 Speaker 3: far into it, the Myers Briggs is basically based on 176 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:55,360 Speaker 3: two on four pairs of personality preferences, and so that 177 00:09:55,600 --> 00:10:00,000 Speaker 3: E is either E for extroverted or I for introverted, 178 00:10:00,640 --> 00:10:03,760 Speaker 3: that INN is either in for intuition, So really more 179 00:10:03,800 --> 00:10:07,360 Speaker 3: an abstract thinker versus sensing, more of a concrete, black 180 00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:10,720 Speaker 3: and white thinker. And then that T is for thinking, 181 00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:14,000 Speaker 3: So that's the type that's what drives our decision making, 182 00:10:14,040 --> 00:10:17,200 Speaker 3: really more logic based versus an F which is more 183 00:10:17,240 --> 00:10:21,560 Speaker 3: feeling and harmony based. And then JAY which stands for judging, 184 00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:25,760 Speaker 3: which is more about closure and P perceiving, which is 185 00:10:25,800 --> 00:10:30,200 Speaker 3: more about being open ended. And so as an E INTJ, 186 00:10:31,080 --> 00:10:35,920 Speaker 3: I am someone who needs social interaction scheduled into my 187 00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:38,000 Speaker 3: week or else I start to get a little crazy. 188 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:40,920 Speaker 3: So that means I need to be intentional about creating 189 00:10:41,320 --> 00:10:46,480 Speaker 3: social opportunities for recharge, that I may prefer to mind 190 00:10:46,559 --> 00:10:50,120 Speaker 3: map my week out rather than have a set checklist, 191 00:10:50,520 --> 00:10:54,080 Speaker 3: That my decisions about how I make my time might 192 00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:56,680 Speaker 3: tend to be a little bit more on the logical side, 193 00:10:56,760 --> 00:10:59,320 Speaker 3: So I need to pay special attention to be sure 194 00:10:59,320 --> 00:11:03,680 Speaker 3: that I'm incorporating harmony within my family. How do we 195 00:11:03,800 --> 00:11:07,960 Speaker 3: keep everyone you know happy and moving forward together? And 196 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:10,800 Speaker 3: then with that JAY. It means I really like to 197 00:11:10,800 --> 00:11:13,840 Speaker 3: finish projects. I really like to finish things and hit 198 00:11:13,880 --> 00:11:16,640 Speaker 3: that point of completion, and so making sure that my 199 00:11:16,640 --> 00:11:19,880 Speaker 3: week is structured so that I am hitting those endpoints 200 00:11:20,320 --> 00:11:25,400 Speaker 3: and that all of those things are based on me 201 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:29,520 Speaker 3: and the way that I think, and so just pulling 202 00:11:29,559 --> 00:11:33,440 Speaker 3: a time management method off of the shelf, it's not 203 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:36,000 Speaker 3: going to work for me perfectly. And so that's where 204 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:39,160 Speaker 3: so much trial and error comes into play to figure out, Okay, 205 00:11:39,480 --> 00:11:41,840 Speaker 3: based on who I am and how I think, what 206 00:11:41,960 --> 00:11:43,360 Speaker 3: methods are going to work best for me. 207 00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:47,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think I'm supposed to be an I INTJ. 208 00:11:47,200 --> 00:11:49,679 Speaker 2: So I guess we have some similar overlaps. 209 00:11:49,679 --> 00:11:54,080 Speaker 3: Okay, So Laura, the E NTJ is the evil dictator 210 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:57,000 Speaker 3: and the I n TJ is the mad scientist. So 211 00:11:57,480 --> 00:11:59,120 Speaker 3: we could take over the world together. 212 00:12:00,520 --> 00:12:03,640 Speaker 2: Probably, although I have to say, you know, I think 213 00:12:03,840 --> 00:12:08,920 Speaker 2: being a time management person having the JAY is pretty critical. 214 00:12:09,480 --> 00:12:12,000 Speaker 2: And you know, I try out to be judging if 215 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:15,400 Speaker 2: you were of people who are different, but you know, 216 00:12:16,240 --> 00:12:21,480 Speaker 2: like it's always thinking that something else will be a possibility. 217 00:12:22,600 --> 00:12:26,439 Speaker 2: It's not work when it comes to managing your time. 218 00:12:26,720 --> 00:12:29,920 Speaker 2: So you know, but that's a whole whole separate topic. 219 00:12:31,080 --> 00:12:33,680 Speaker 2: So I'm curious about your daily life. Are there any 220 00:12:33,760 --> 00:12:35,679 Speaker 2: routines that make you more productive? 221 00:12:35,840 --> 00:12:39,480 Speaker 3: Oh? My goodness, of course, I you know, it's funny. 222 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:43,319 Speaker 3: I love routine. But I also cannot be too bound 223 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:45,800 Speaker 3: by a routine, or else I'll start to rebel. So 224 00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:47,920 Speaker 3: that's something that I know about myself. I cannot be 225 00:12:47,960 --> 00:12:52,640 Speaker 3: too rigid. I'd say that having two young children four 226 00:12:52,640 --> 00:12:55,600 Speaker 3: and six year old, routines in the morning are absolutely 227 00:12:55,640 --> 00:12:59,840 Speaker 3: critical for us, because not only do those routines keep 228 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:04,080 Speaker 3: me in line, but they keep my kids in a 229 00:13:04,120 --> 00:13:08,200 Speaker 3: space where it's predictable for them in a healthy way. 230 00:13:08,440 --> 00:13:12,000 Speaker 3: And so rather than having set routines where it's step one, 231 00:13:12,040 --> 00:13:12,800 Speaker 3: we do this step two. 232 00:13:12,840 --> 00:13:13,200 Speaker 1: We do this. 233 00:13:13,320 --> 00:13:15,880 Speaker 3: We think of the morning in milestones, where we want 234 00:13:15,880 --> 00:13:18,400 Speaker 3: to be in certain parts of our home, doing certain 235 00:13:18,440 --> 00:13:22,120 Speaker 3: activities at certain times, and what happens in between can 236 00:13:22,280 --> 00:13:24,800 Speaker 3: can flex, it can go crazy. We can have a 237 00:13:24,880 --> 00:13:28,280 Speaker 3: dance party, we can color whatever. But as long as 238 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:31,120 Speaker 3: we are sitting down at the kitchen table at seven 239 00:13:31,280 --> 00:13:33,880 Speaker 3: thirty having breakfast, we know that we'll be on track. 240 00:13:34,360 --> 00:13:36,800 Speaker 3: And I tend to approach my evening in the same 241 00:13:36,840 --> 00:13:40,560 Speaker 3: way again with milestones. Anything can happen in between, but 242 00:13:40,640 --> 00:13:43,880 Speaker 3: as long as we are turning the bathwater knob on 243 00:13:44,200 --> 00:13:46,760 Speaker 3: at six thirty, then we know that the rest of 244 00:13:46,800 --> 00:13:48,320 Speaker 3: the evening is going to go smoothly. 245 00:13:49,480 --> 00:13:52,840 Speaker 2: Do you have any morning routines that are for you 246 00:13:52,920 --> 00:13:56,280 Speaker 2: that are separate from caregiving for the rest of your family? 247 00:13:56,400 --> 00:13:58,800 Speaker 3: I do, you know, and it's evolved over the years, 248 00:13:59,360 --> 00:14:03,800 Speaker 3: but right now out my most important morning routine involves 249 00:14:03,960 --> 00:14:06,280 Speaker 3: waking up early and getting out the door to work out. 250 00:14:07,480 --> 00:14:12,120 Speaker 3: I have to based on just the day, the only 251 00:14:12,679 --> 00:14:15,320 Speaker 3: time to really get in a good workout is going 252 00:14:15,360 --> 00:14:17,720 Speaker 3: to be early in the morning, and so that looks 253 00:14:17,760 --> 00:14:20,560 Speaker 3: like an evening routine to set me up for success. 254 00:14:20,960 --> 00:14:23,920 Speaker 3: Setting out the workout clothes in the evenings, setting out 255 00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:29,000 Speaker 3: the bcaa's and the creatine powder on the kitchen counter 256 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:32,640 Speaker 3: so that I can scoop, scoop and go. Having all 257 00:14:32,680 --> 00:14:35,640 Speaker 3: of that makes the morning run so much easier, because 258 00:14:36,280 --> 00:14:39,440 Speaker 3: the morning routine looks like getting out of bed, talking 259 00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:42,440 Speaker 3: myself into putting in the workout clothes, putting on the 260 00:14:42,440 --> 00:14:45,320 Speaker 3: workout clothes before I can convince myself to go back 261 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:48,920 Speaker 3: to bed, meeting a good friend at the gym, We've 262 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:52,760 Speaker 3: become accountability partners because we knew that without that accountability, 263 00:14:52,840 --> 00:14:56,400 Speaker 3: we would struggle. Meeting each other at the gym, high fiving, 264 00:14:56,480 --> 00:15:00,160 Speaker 3: going our separate ways, and then heading home, and on 265 00:15:00,320 --> 00:15:02,880 Speaker 3: that ride home, that's typically when I listen to podcasts. 266 00:15:02,960 --> 00:15:04,760 Speaker 3: That's when I really start to get my mind right 267 00:15:04,800 --> 00:15:08,240 Speaker 3: for the day. But the success of our mornings are 268 00:15:08,280 --> 00:15:12,960 Speaker 3: really determined by the consistency of my weekly planning sessions. Well, 269 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:15,320 Speaker 3: we're going to talk about that, your weekly planning sessions 270 00:15:15,320 --> 00:15:16,160 Speaker 3: in just a minute. 271 00:15:16,200 --> 00:15:16,920 Speaker 1: We'll be right back. 272 00:15:24,080 --> 00:15:27,480 Speaker 2: Well, I'm back talking with Anna Darman Cornick about her life, 273 00:15:27,520 --> 00:15:32,160 Speaker 2: her routines, and her time management advice for everyone else. 274 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:35,320 Speaker 2: So let's talk about weekly planning. And then I also 275 00:15:35,360 --> 00:15:37,600 Speaker 2: want to I don't know if this happens on Sunday 276 00:15:37,680 --> 00:15:39,880 Speaker 2: or not, but I saw you had a big thing 277 00:15:39,880 --> 00:15:42,000 Speaker 2: about what you do on Sunday to prepare for the 278 00:15:42,120 --> 00:15:44,440 Speaker 2: upcoming weeks. So maybe you can talk about both of 279 00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:46,760 Speaker 2: those as we think of life in terms of weeks, 280 00:15:46,760 --> 00:15:48,880 Speaker 2: which is a big theme for those of us here 281 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:49,880 Speaker 2: before breakfast. 282 00:15:50,120 --> 00:15:54,320 Speaker 3: Definitely, So I absolutely believe that the success of your 283 00:15:54,320 --> 00:15:57,320 Speaker 3: week is based on the quality and the consistency of 284 00:15:57,360 --> 00:15:59,920 Speaker 3: your weekly planning. You know, a coach is not going 285 00:15:59,920 --> 00:16:03,760 Speaker 3: to head into an important game without some type of 286 00:16:03,800 --> 00:16:06,320 Speaker 3: a game plan, a playbook, and getting a bird's eye 287 00:16:06,400 --> 00:16:10,360 Speaker 3: view of what's ahead. And so my weekly planning sessions, 288 00:16:10,720 --> 00:16:14,840 Speaker 3: i'd say typically they do happen on Sundays, but also 289 00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:18,080 Speaker 3: part of the weekly planning session is identifying, Hey, what's 290 00:16:18,080 --> 00:16:20,600 Speaker 3: happening next weekend? When am I going to do my 291 00:16:20,680 --> 00:16:23,040 Speaker 3: next one? Oh, makes sense to do it on Saturday 292 00:16:23,040 --> 00:16:24,920 Speaker 3: morning because we're going to be out of the house 293 00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:28,040 Speaker 3: all day on Sunday, and really kind of giving myself 294 00:16:28,040 --> 00:16:32,320 Speaker 3: that flexibility in when it happens. Another thing is that 295 00:16:32,360 --> 00:16:34,600 Speaker 3: a lot of times when we picture weekly planning sessions, 296 00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:37,800 Speaker 3: we kind of say, okay, so you're probably sitting down 297 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:40,760 Speaker 3: and you're drinking coffee for thirty minutes, and you have 298 00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:44,720 Speaker 3: this set agenda. And sure sometimes it looks like that, 299 00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:47,320 Speaker 3: but most of the time it doesn't. Most of the 300 00:16:47,320 --> 00:16:50,600 Speaker 3: time it's fragmented over the course of a Sunday. But 301 00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:54,720 Speaker 3: as long as I get a look at my week 302 00:16:54,720 --> 00:16:58,200 Speaker 3: ahead and understand what's this week going to feel like? 303 00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:00,800 Speaker 3: Is this week going to feel is it going to 304 00:17:00,880 --> 00:17:03,640 Speaker 3: feel a little bit more relaxed and based on how 305 00:17:03,680 --> 00:17:05,800 Speaker 3: the week's going to feel, how do I want to 306 00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:09,119 Speaker 3: structure my time in order to stay on track with 307 00:17:09,160 --> 00:17:13,200 Speaker 3: my goals. One of the most important things incorporated into 308 00:17:13,240 --> 00:17:17,480 Speaker 3: my weekly planning session is adding in drive time. Now, 309 00:17:17,600 --> 00:17:20,600 Speaker 3: we don't necessarily spend a ton of time in the car. 310 00:17:20,720 --> 00:17:23,479 Speaker 3: We live in a relatively small town type of area, 311 00:17:24,040 --> 00:17:28,600 Speaker 3: but it's very clear which parent, my husband, Scott or 312 00:17:28,600 --> 00:17:31,800 Speaker 3: I is picking up the girls from camp on which day, 313 00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:34,080 Speaker 3: and so we have all of that drive time in 314 00:17:34,119 --> 00:17:37,240 Speaker 3: the calendar. Our calendar is a huge communication tool for us. 315 00:17:38,200 --> 00:17:42,760 Speaker 3: And then creating drive time slots for even just home 316 00:17:42,840 --> 00:17:45,960 Speaker 3: to Jim Jim to home, because I know that if 317 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:49,320 Speaker 3: I don't have drive time in my calendar, I will 318 00:17:49,680 --> 00:17:52,399 Speaker 3: push all the way up until the last minute, and 319 00:17:52,440 --> 00:17:55,399 Speaker 3: then of course get there late because I haven't accounted 320 00:17:55,400 --> 00:17:58,320 Speaker 3: for parking and then walking in the door and then 321 00:17:58,440 --> 00:18:01,760 Speaker 3: finding the room where I'm going, And so transition time 322 00:18:01,960 --> 00:18:04,399 Speaker 3: is huge. Once we know what the week's going to 323 00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:06,960 Speaker 3: feel like, we shift into meal planning mode. Now, my 324 00:18:07,040 --> 00:18:11,400 Speaker 3: husband Scott, he actually handles meal planning and grocery shopping 325 00:18:11,480 --> 00:18:14,040 Speaker 3: at our home. It's this awesome partnership that we have, 326 00:18:14,560 --> 00:18:17,399 Speaker 3: and so based on what the week looks like, will 327 00:18:17,440 --> 00:18:20,119 Speaker 3: decide what the menu looks like. He'll take the girls 328 00:18:20,160 --> 00:18:22,800 Speaker 3: with a grocery list to the grocery store, and then 329 00:18:22,920 --> 00:18:27,240 Speaker 3: I check the weather. I check the weather, and I 330 00:18:27,320 --> 00:18:30,280 Speaker 3: actually pull clothes for the entire week for both of 331 00:18:30,280 --> 00:18:32,600 Speaker 3: my girls. Now, when I tell you, Laura, I am 332 00:18:32,640 --> 00:18:35,320 Speaker 3: not a morning person. The fact that I wake up 333 00:18:35,359 --> 00:18:37,600 Speaker 3: and go to the gym at five fifteen still shocks 334 00:18:37,640 --> 00:18:41,720 Speaker 3: me sometimes. And so having a check on the weather 335 00:18:42,080 --> 00:18:45,320 Speaker 3: and their clothes for the week pulled out on Sundays 336 00:18:45,359 --> 00:18:48,000 Speaker 3: and hanging on little hooks on their back on their 337 00:18:48,040 --> 00:18:52,919 Speaker 3: closet door, it makes a huge difference in how smooth 338 00:18:52,920 --> 00:18:53,560 Speaker 3: our mornings go. 339 00:18:54,800 --> 00:18:56,359 Speaker 1: What do you do if the kid doesn't want to 340 00:18:56,359 --> 00:18:57,240 Speaker 1: wear what you chose. 341 00:18:57,480 --> 00:19:02,359 Speaker 3: So here's the funny thing is that my oldest wears 342 00:19:02,359 --> 00:19:06,000 Speaker 3: school uniforms. Oh okay, well that makes the whole thing right, 343 00:19:06,080 --> 00:19:09,840 Speaker 3: So she wears school uniforms, and then my youngest I 344 00:19:09,880 --> 00:19:11,520 Speaker 3: don't think she's really caught onto. 345 00:19:11,320 --> 00:19:12,840 Speaker 1: The because I caught on to the idea that there 346 00:19:12,840 --> 00:19:13,400 Speaker 1: are options. 347 00:19:13,480 --> 00:19:16,800 Speaker 3: So, you know what, whenever, whenever she does figure that out, 348 00:19:17,160 --> 00:19:20,280 Speaker 3: it'll probably be about time for her to start uniforms. Anyway, 349 00:19:20,480 --> 00:19:22,919 Speaker 3: So I'm feeling good about it, but I know that 350 00:19:22,960 --> 00:19:24,760 Speaker 3: I'm going to have to pivot like that's that's a 351 00:19:24,800 --> 00:19:26,920 Speaker 3: part of the way that we manage our time too. 352 00:19:26,960 --> 00:19:29,560 Speaker 3: It's not set it and forget it. We have to 353 00:19:29,800 --> 00:19:32,639 Speaker 3: adjust as our kids get older, as life evolves. 354 00:19:33,000 --> 00:19:33,240 Speaker 1: Yeah. 355 00:19:33,280 --> 00:19:36,040 Speaker 2: Absolutely, Well, when you're doing this weekly planning session, are 356 00:19:36,040 --> 00:19:38,159 Speaker 2: you planning with your husband? Then you mentioned that you know, 357 00:19:38,240 --> 00:19:40,679 Speaker 2: you guys move into meal planning, but it sounded like 358 00:19:40,720 --> 00:19:43,520 Speaker 2: there was a we involved there, So I'm curious logistically 359 00:19:43,560 --> 00:19:44,199 Speaker 2: what that looks like. 360 00:19:44,280 --> 00:19:47,119 Speaker 3: Doesn't that sound lovely imagining sitting with him at the 361 00:19:47,160 --> 00:19:48,520 Speaker 3: table and planning our week. 362 00:19:48,600 --> 00:19:50,879 Speaker 2: So no that, and no one's throwing anything at you 363 00:19:51,040 --> 00:19:53,000 Speaker 2: or asking for anything, because I know that the six 364 00:19:53,119 --> 00:19:54,760 Speaker 2: year old and three year old will obviously give you 365 00:19:54,760 --> 00:19:57,080 Speaker 2: guys completelyway to do this right exactly. 366 00:19:57,160 --> 00:19:58,640 Speaker 1: No, it's really it's. 367 00:19:58,480 --> 00:20:01,119 Speaker 3: Just me and and part of the weekly planning session 368 00:20:01,280 --> 00:20:03,639 Speaker 3: might happen with me standing up with my computer at 369 00:20:03,640 --> 00:20:06,240 Speaker 3: the kitchen island. Part of it might happen at the 370 00:20:06,359 --> 00:20:10,160 Speaker 3: kitchen table. And this when I say we move into 371 00:20:10,160 --> 00:20:13,399 Speaker 3: meal planning, it goes like this, Hey, Scott, I have 372 00:20:13,480 --> 00:20:17,280 Speaker 3: a meeting late on Tuesday, so factor that into meal 373 00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:18,000 Speaker 3: planning for the week. 374 00:20:19,359 --> 00:20:21,919 Speaker 1: Boom, that's it. Yeah, boom, that's it. Okay, got it. 375 00:20:22,760 --> 00:20:25,159 Speaker 2: Are there any other sort of time management strategies that 376 00:20:25,200 --> 00:20:28,040 Speaker 2: you find yourself using frequently in your daily life? 377 00:20:28,280 --> 00:20:31,760 Speaker 3: Oh? I mean, I of course can't live without time blocking, 378 00:20:32,359 --> 00:20:35,600 Speaker 3: time blocking, task patching in them days. For me, the 379 00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:38,879 Speaker 3: I call those the OG time management strategies, part of 380 00:20:38,920 --> 00:20:43,240 Speaker 3: my time management Swiss army knife. I'm actually Laura in 381 00:20:43,280 --> 00:20:44,840 Speaker 3: the middle of a theme week. 382 00:20:45,359 --> 00:20:46,160 Speaker 1: Where what is that? 383 00:20:46,240 --> 00:20:51,320 Speaker 3: Oh, it's where you assign essentially a theme to your 384 00:20:51,560 --> 00:20:54,840 Speaker 3: entire week in order to cut down on that context switching. 385 00:20:55,200 --> 00:20:58,359 Speaker 3: So this is a podcast theme week for me. I 386 00:20:58,400 --> 00:21:02,919 Speaker 3: will I will end this week with twelve new podcast 387 00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:07,040 Speaker 3: interviews for my podcast that I'll then be able to 388 00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:10,879 Speaker 3: run over the next few months. And the next podcast 389 00:21:10,960 --> 00:21:14,800 Speaker 3: theme week is in October. And so this makes life 390 00:21:14,960 --> 00:21:19,640 Speaker 3: so easy because I'm not trying to plug interviews into 391 00:21:19,840 --> 00:21:22,480 Speaker 3: my schedule because I find that I'm someone that gets whiplash, 392 00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:25,320 Speaker 3: and I don't think that this is uncommon, going from 393 00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:29,280 Speaker 3: a coaching session with a client to an interview for 394 00:21:29,359 --> 00:21:32,480 Speaker 3: someone else's podcast, to an interview for my podcast to 395 00:21:32,640 --> 00:21:35,760 Speaker 3: a conversation with a teacher at my daughter's school. It 396 00:21:35,760 --> 00:21:38,440 Speaker 3: feels like a game of ping pong, back and forth, 397 00:21:38,480 --> 00:21:42,200 Speaker 3: back and forth. And so by having a podcast theme week, 398 00:21:42,440 --> 00:21:46,479 Speaker 3: I'm able to be in this podcast mindset, this host 399 00:21:46,560 --> 00:21:50,600 Speaker 3: mindset all week long, and it's really exciting, it's really fun, 400 00:21:50,640 --> 00:21:55,159 Speaker 3: and it's really energizing. And so looking for opportunities to 401 00:21:55,240 --> 00:21:57,800 Speaker 3: create theme weeks, I also do a coaching theme week 402 00:21:57,800 --> 00:21:59,760 Speaker 3: and a content theme week where I try to be 403 00:21:59,800 --> 00:22:04,000 Speaker 3: as all in as possible in those different areas and 404 00:22:04,040 --> 00:22:06,399 Speaker 3: it just helps the week and my mindset flow. 405 00:22:07,040 --> 00:22:10,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's like day camps in summer because of music 406 00:22:10,840 --> 00:22:13,280 Speaker 2: camp this week and like soccer camp the next week. 407 00:22:13,359 --> 00:22:16,879 Speaker 1: Exactly. Yes, that so life should be more like summer camp. Definitely, 408 00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:17,359 Speaker 1: I'm with you. 409 00:22:17,720 --> 00:22:21,000 Speaker 2: So I always ask my guest this question, what's something 410 00:22:21,040 --> 00:22:23,960 Speaker 2: you've done recently to take a day from great to awesome? 411 00:22:24,359 --> 00:22:28,560 Speaker 3: Ooh, something that I have done recently to take a 412 00:22:28,680 --> 00:22:36,280 Speaker 3: day from great to awesome? Oh? You know, I would 413 00:22:36,359 --> 00:22:40,000 Speaker 3: say that something that I've done recently to take a 414 00:22:40,080 --> 00:22:46,320 Speaker 3: day from great to awesome is building in an opportunity 415 00:22:46,600 --> 00:22:52,399 Speaker 3: to get out of the house intentionally and work in 416 00:22:52,440 --> 00:22:57,440 Speaker 3: another environment. So I have a home office. I love 417 00:22:57,520 --> 00:22:59,840 Speaker 3: my home office. I think it's really important to have, 418 00:23:00,119 --> 00:23:03,800 Speaker 3: you know, a consistent environment that's yours to have this mindset. 419 00:23:04,200 --> 00:23:07,640 Speaker 3: But as that extroverts, sometimes I just need to get 420 00:23:07,640 --> 00:23:09,720 Speaker 3: out of the house and be out in the world. 421 00:23:10,240 --> 00:23:13,040 Speaker 3: And one thing that I actually do on a quarterly 422 00:23:13,080 --> 00:23:15,480 Speaker 3: basis is I host a quarterly and a day and 423 00:23:15,560 --> 00:23:17,840 Speaker 3: so I have a quarterly and a day coming up 424 00:23:17,840 --> 00:23:20,600 Speaker 3: on Friday where I will get out of the house 425 00:23:20,680 --> 00:23:23,600 Speaker 3: and I'll go work from one of my favorite restaurants 426 00:23:23,640 --> 00:23:29,639 Speaker 3: and just enjoy a change of scenery. It's energizing. I mean, 427 00:23:29,680 --> 00:23:32,560 Speaker 3: you're still doing the work, but it's energizing. 428 00:23:32,600 --> 00:23:33,119 Speaker 1: It's different. 429 00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:33,800 Speaker 3: It changes things. 430 00:23:33,880 --> 00:23:34,720 Speaker 1: Yeah. 431 00:23:34,800 --> 00:23:36,440 Speaker 2: Well, I was about to ask you what's something you're 432 00:23:36,440 --> 00:23:38,760 Speaker 2: looking forward to, but it sounds like that's probably it. 433 00:23:39,040 --> 00:23:39,400 Speaker 3: I am. 434 00:23:39,520 --> 00:23:39,840 Speaker 2: I am. 435 00:23:39,920 --> 00:23:42,080 Speaker 3: I'm looking forward to quarterly and a Day. I even 436 00:23:42,160 --> 00:23:44,960 Speaker 3: have a massage scheduled that afternoon because I try to 437 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:47,560 Speaker 3: also do something that's really for me on that day. 438 00:23:47,720 --> 00:23:49,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, oh, that sounds delightful. 439 00:23:49,800 --> 00:23:52,360 Speaker 2: I think I need a Laura day very sand get Wie, 440 00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:54,720 Speaker 2: so Anna, where can people find you? Sure? 441 00:23:55,119 --> 00:23:58,280 Speaker 3: So the best way for us to continue staying in 442 00:23:58,320 --> 00:24:02,120 Speaker 3: touch and to to into more time management goodness would 443 00:24:02,160 --> 00:24:04,959 Speaker 3: be checking out my podcast, It's About Time. I have 444 00:24:05,040 --> 00:24:08,680 Speaker 3: new episodes that go live every Monday that either deep 445 00:24:08,680 --> 00:24:11,520 Speaker 3: dive into a time management topic or it's an interview 446 00:24:11,560 --> 00:24:14,560 Speaker 3: with a go getter to understand how they are getting 447 00:24:14,600 --> 00:24:17,320 Speaker 3: things done. And in terms of social media, I like 448 00:24:17,359 --> 00:24:20,280 Speaker 3: to hang out on Instagram, So come find me on Instagram, 449 00:24:20,359 --> 00:24:22,200 Speaker 3: send me a DM let me know what you thought 450 00:24:22,240 --> 00:24:26,560 Speaker 3: about this conversation. If you might try theme weeks and let's. 451 00:24:26,440 --> 00:24:29,520 Speaker 2: Chat sounds awesome. Well, Anna, thank you so much for 452 00:24:29,600 --> 00:24:32,600 Speaker 2: joining us. Thank you to everyone for listening. If you 453 00:24:32,680 --> 00:24:35,520 Speaker 2: have feedback about this or any other episode, you can 454 00:24:35,560 --> 00:24:38,600 Speaker 2: always reach me at Laura at Laura vandercam dot com. 455 00:24:38,880 --> 00:24:42,439 Speaker 2: In the meantime, this is Laura. Thanks for listening, and 456 00:24:42,560 --> 00:24:44,800 Speaker 2: here's to making the most of our time. 457 00:24:51,400 --> 00:24:55,800 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening to Before Breakfast. If you've got questions, ideas, 458 00:24:56,000 --> 00:25:00,000 Speaker 1: or feedback, you can reach me at Laura at Laura Vandercamp. 459 00:25:06,400 --> 00:25:10,440 Speaker 1: Before Breakfast is a production of iHeartMedia. For more podcasts 460 00:25:10,480 --> 00:25:15,080 Speaker 1: from iHeartMedia, please visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or 461 00:25:15,119 --> 00:25:16,959 Speaker 1: wherever you listen to your favorite shows.