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Writer's picturePaloma Schwarz

Mum’s Book Club: Lessons learned from the book "The One Thing" by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan

Updated: Oct 18


The One Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan is a powerful guide that encourages readers to focus on what truly matters by identifying the single most important task that will make everything else easier or unnecessary. The authors’ philosophy centers around the idea of prioritizing your time and energy on one thing at a time to achieve greater success in both your personal and professional life. While this book isn't specifically targeted at moms, I found that its principles offer a lot of value for mothers.


For busy moms juggling countless responsibilities, this book offers practical advice on how to overcome that overwhelmed feeling, preserve and revive your energy, feel good in your body, and nurture your precious relationships. In this blog post, I'd like to share the lessons I’ve learned from this book and how I've implemented them into my daily life.


Lessons Learned

When I first became a mom, I quickly realized that my old way of living — being spontaneous and non-committal — was no longer sustainable. Trying to juggle everything without a plan left me feeling frustrated, unproductive, and like I was constantly failing to meet my own expectations. That’s when I decided to dive deeper into personal development, and The One Thing became part of that journey. Here are the key lessons I took away from the book:

  1. Multitasking Is a Myth: I learned that multitasking actually reduces productivity and leads to mistakes. Embracing this concept helped me focus on one task at a time, which resulted in better decision-making and less stress.

  2. Mindfulness Is Key: Practicing mindfulness, even if it's just for 5-10 minutes each morning, is crucial for understanding what truly matters to you. These daily check-ins help me set my priorities and make sure I’m aligning my actions with my goals.

  3. The Power of Saying No: It takes courage to say no to less important tasks. By doing so, I free up my time to focus on what truly matters, even if it means rejecting other people, letting go of some unfinished business or tolerating a little chaos.

  4. Selective Discipline: Building the right habits is about discipline, but not in every area of life. I focus on creating specific routines that align with my most important goals.

  5. Goal Setting: The book emphasizes setting specific and ambitious goals in different areas of life like family, work, health, and fitness. I now break these down into daily, weekly, and annual goals to keep myself on track.

  6. Daily Vision and Planning: Visualizing how you want each day to go helps prevent distractions and keeps you from adding irrelevant tasks that only consume your time and energy.

  7. Protecting Your Time: It’s essential to defend your own plan, even if it means disappointing others. Staying committed to your schedule helps you stay focused and achieve your priorities.


How I Apply These Lessons in My Life

Since reading The One Thing, I’ve adopted some new habits that have drastically changed my daily routine. Here's how I implement these principles:


  1. Priority Setting for the Day: I start each day with a short meditation to clear my mind. Right after that, I use the mind-mapping method to set my top priorities for the day across different areas like family, my personal business, household tasks, and exercise. This helps me focus on what’s most important.


    Example:


    Priority setting for the day


  2. Drafting My Daily Plan

    Based on this, I draw up my specific and precise daily plan.


    Example:

    5:30:00 - 6:45 AM: Morning routine including 30 min sculpt yoga

    6:45 - 7:45 AM: Breakfast and getting ready for the day

    8:00 - 8:30 AM: Drop my daughter off at daycare

    8:30 - 9:30 AM: Administrative tasks (paying bills, making calls)

    9:30 AM - 12:00 AM: Research for blog post

    12:00 - 1:00 PM: Lunch

    1:00 - 3:45 PM: Writing blog post about X

    4:00-4:30 PM: Pick-up kids

    5:00-5:30 PM: Afternoon Snack for kids

    5:30-6:00 PM: Playing game with kids

    6:15-6:30 PM: Folding laundry (with kids)

    6:30-7:00 PM: Preparing dinner/Free play for kids

    7:00-7:45 PM: Dinner

    8:00-9:00 PM: Bedtime routine

    9:00-10:00 PM: Me-time evening routine


    The Positive Impact on My Life

    By structuring my day like this, I give myself permission to say no to anything that doesn’t align with my priorities. This focus allows me to achieve more and feel good about my progress, boosting my self-confidence and overall wellbeing.


    When I block out time for my kids, I make sure it's exclusively for them. I don’t check my phone or worry about house chores. During the times when I do need to handle household tasks, I try to involve my kids, turning chores into a fun activity together. This approach reduces my stress and allows me to be more present and engaged with my family.

    I’ve also learned to anticipate challenging moments, like preparing dinner while my kids are home, and face them with more patience and compassion. Planning ahead for these situations makes a huge difference in reducing frustration.


    While I’m still getting used to these new habits, I already feel a positive shift in my life. I’m more productive, happier, less stressed, and even notice physical changes like improved energy and regular menstrual cycles. Most importantly, I’m able to be fully present with my children, which makes our time together more meaningful.


    If you’re a busy mom feeling overwhelmed by your never-ending to-do list, I highly recommend trying out these strategies. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this approach or any similar methods you use to stay focused and balanced in your own life. And if you want to dive deeper into this topic I recommend grabbing a copy of The One Thing. You can find it on using the following this Affiliate Link. Happy reading!


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