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Welcome to February! A low-key month with a lot of learning and reflection. Even though it was a somewhat calm and quiet month, it really brought home the importance of anchoring – a concept that I am super-passionate about. Enjoy this read, and if you haven’t read the first few reports, October is here, November is here, December is here, and the one from January 2024 is right here. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

🌱 How I Felt Going into February 2024

After the whirlwind that was the beginning of the year, February was actually very quiet. I spent all of my time at home in Chicago, recharging in solitude for most of the month. It felt very grounding to have that much time at home, just to hang out. I loved it… and probably needed it after all the recent travel.

My home in Chicago works like an anchor for me. It’s the place I come back to in order to reset. It’s incredibly important for me to have a place like that because it’s how I stay balanced. I refer to that as having a “basecamping” type of lifestyle (contrasted to “vagabond” type of digital nomad who is constantly on the move). It essentially means that I have that one permanent place to call “home,” despite enjoying a traveling lifestyle the rest of the time. It fits me perfectly, and I prefer it that way. This lifestyle also aligns with this month’s takeaway, which I’ll get to in the next paragraph.

🌻 Why Anchoring is an Important Concept in Goal-Setting and Productivity

The theme for the month of February was clearly “anchoring,” considering how many similar discussions and thoughts converged into that same topic. This is something I’m incredibly passionate about because I believe it to be a really important concept for using our resources (time, money, and energy) effectively.

So what does “anchoring” mean, really? Well, there are two definitions of it:

First, there is something called “anchoring” in psychology, and it has to do with decision-making. It’s basically the notion that you tend to believe the first thing you see simply because you saw it first, and therefore you rely more heavily on that piece of information. You feel “anchored” (emotionally attached) to it, as if it’s the correct choice by default. This is a cognitive bias, so yes – it does impact productivity – but that’s not the type of anchoring we’re talking about in this report (although it did show up in my reading material this month).

Let’s talk about the term “anchoring” within the context of productivity. It’s the idea of having an aligned anchor that grounds whatever process you have in place – a reset point – by which you can then measure progress. The simplest example I can think of would be the sun. Planet Earth revolves around the sun – that’s the process – but the sun is the grounding force that holds that whole process together, and because of that, you can measure each lap as a day. It’s a universal reset point.

Another example? Sleep. This is an excellent example of anchoring, which clearly also impacts productivity. Sleep is the reset point you need to break up your days. In fact, if we didn’t sleep, we wouldn’t be able to measure our days as “days.” It’s only because there is a beginning and an end in that circular process that we can track them. What happens if we don’t get any sleep? We start to struggle because that reset point never came. Anchoring is absolutely essential for productivity. We need it to make sure the process can continue on as expected.

My Mindful Monday Mapping program builds heavily on the concept of anchoring because I believe in it so wholeheartedly. The program is meant for entrepreneurs who want to achieve more impact while working less – without sacrificing health, happiness, and the quality of their services. This is a big goal, which is why we need a strong anchoring point to measure progress with, and we do that in the form of a guided reflection routine. That routine becomes the weekly reset that works exactly the same way. It’s actually an extra heavy anchor because it tracks all of the other anchors in your life and business.

I mentioned in this testimonial interview with Tara Whitaker that before implementing my Mindful Monday Mapping routine, I felt like I was a ship drifting on a big open ocean with no clear direction. This practice allowed me to drop anchor every week, reflect, and then continue towards a clear goal. Tara agreed. By giving yourself that check in point to evaluate how things are going and why, we can more quickly course-correct when something is off. It’s what sharpens our compass, thereby producing more productivity over time. In short, anchoring let’s you reset your compass, and with it, your sense of direction is just THAT much better.

So what are some of your anchors? Each process should have one.

Let me know in the comments below!

🏆 How Productive I was in February 2024

I was productive in February, but I wasn’t my usual self. How do I know that? Well, frustration crept in, and as you’ll see in the next paragraph, I made some poor decisions. When you go through a door to the left, there is always an opportunity cost to the right. When you go through a door to the right, there opportunity cost is to the left. This is why it’s so important to be on top of your decision-making skills. Productivity relies on it. The wrong decision can easily derail you.

For the longest time, my standard rule has been “Caroline, you are not allowed to make any decisions based on fear” and usually, I don’t have problems sticking to it. This month, I wavered. I took on one project that I should have declined… simply because it was easier to say yes to it than it was to say no. I broke my own rule, and boy did that lesson come back loud and clear. I managed to pull it off as contracted, but it was not without an incredible amount of frustration. To make matters worse, I actually broken even on the project in terms of costs, and I lost some precious time and energy that I could have directed elsewhere. Lesson learned.

📁 Projects Completed 

In February, I completed 7 projects, all of which were rich in takeaways. My goal for 2024 is to complete three projects per month (just like I did in 2023), so I more than doubled that, which was good. That being said, I could definitely have made better use of my time and energy by not accepting that one project that went south. I have now firmly made the decision to decline all such projects in the future, so this was the hard lesson I needed to reaffirm my own rule (the one I ignored). I cannot make decisions based on fear, and I will not make the same mistake again.

PLEASE NOTICE how this productivity report acts as a monthly reflection routine for me (i.e. an anchor) by which to measure progress. 😉 My compass is now re-sharpened.

🚀 My Favorite Project in February 2024

My favorite project this month was setting up my new time tracking system on Trackabi. As much as I have loved using Toggl over the past few years, my needs have changed, so I decided to make the switch. I wanted a fresh start, and so far, it’s worked out really well. This new platform is really easy to use, and it feels very organized (well, I set it up that way 😉), so it think it’s gonna help me track things even better.

Another fun little project I took on this month was setting up my Creator Network Profile on Convertkit, so that I can participate better in their events and grow my email list even more. I’ve been meaning to do this for a long time now, but I needed to prioritize my sales pages for Creative Systems Architect and Mindful Monday Mapping among other things, so I had to delay it a bit. But it’s finally up, and that feels good. If you’re a Convertkit Creator too, hit me up and we can collaborate.

I’m starting a new newsletter called “Creating Space” later this month, so it was actually nice to update my profile as a prerequisite project. The ducks are in a row now for this new project to go more smoothly. I’ll share more about Creating Space in the March report, but in case you’re interested in signing up for it, I’ll just leave this box right here:

⏳ Hours Worked in February 2024

My bright and shiny new time-tracking setup informed me that I worked a total of 77 hours and 30 minutes in February, which comes out to about 19.5 hours per week. Considering that February is a slightly shorter month and has more holidays, I have to adjust for that bias. We’re still right on target though.

My goal is to stick to around 25 hours per week or so, and this time, I came in a bit under. That was surprising to me because it felt like I worked more in February than I did in January. Not so. Hmmm… I think I felt that way because I spent more time in my home office that I have in the previous few weeks. My home office is also where I record music and work on other hobbies, so the environment tricked me a bit there. I was in my home office a lot, but I wasn’t always “working.” This is why it’s so important to look at both data and intuition / feelings when we reflect. If we don’t, we won’t get the whole story right.

I often get asked if I track all my time, and the answer is no. I track what needs to get measured, and that is anything that has a goal attached to it. There is no point in tracking something that doesn’t need to get measured (or needs to be reviewed). The goals I set for myself every year are there for very specific reasons – to keep me on track and help me work towards the lifestyle I want to maintain. Time is one aspect of this. I want to have enough time for things other than work, and in order to stay on track, I need to know how much time I spend on work. If there is a goal for something, there needs to be a mechanism in place for tracking and measuring it. Some sort of check in point, i.e an anchor. See how we came full circle there?

Within my business, we also have target to hit in terms of revenue, sales, marketing stats, and so on, so there needs to be a clear time-tracking system in place for all of that. I need to be able to see how much time was spent on billable vs. non-billable projects. I also want to be able to drill down into really advanced metrics for what works and what doesn’t work. Success in business is about paying attention.

Similarly, I need to know how much time I spend living my frameworks, like The Bookend Approach to Productivity and Mindful Monday Mapping, so that I can better guide my students. It’s important for me to live and breathe what I teach, and there is no better way to do that than by showcasing the stats in an active system.

If you have a goal, but aren’t currently tracking how much time you’re putting into it, I would love to know – why? Are you tracking something else in its stead? This could be a great conversation to have, so let me know your thoughts in the comments!

⌨️ Digital Images Organized in February 2024 

This past month, I took 419 photos, out of which 243 were deleted. That netted me 176 keepers. Most of them were from the weekend of Superbowl Sunday when I had a lot of fun working on the house, baking, and spending time with family and friends. They were fairly easy and quick to organize because they didn’t need extensive metadata or keywording, just a few small notes here and there.

When you have a consistent workflow that holds true for pretty much any situation, it’s fairly easy to stay up to date on your organizing efforts. It’s only when you’re insecure about your process and the steps involved that you end up struggling in getting things done. That’s why I’m such a fan of defining your operations in business as well as in life. There’s a process for everything, whether you like it or not, and when you’re clear on it, things just go so much smoother.

If you’d like to learn my workflow for organizing photos, join us in DPO PRO: The Ultimate Photo Organizing Masterclass.

👟 Steps Walked in February 2024 

In February, I walked 101,451 steps, which roughly breaks down to about 3500 steps per day. Goal not met, but at least I know why. The weather in Chicago was deplorable, as it often is this time of year, so I didn’t not want to go outside much. After so much travel, I also just wanted to stay put for a bit and.

I did make good use of my new walking pad in my new home gym area, but not enough. There was actually one day where I was over-zealous and did more than I should have done (including a ton of rowing), resulting in sore muscles and a 3-day break. And that only goes to show how small continuous improvement is better than intense sprints. When I take longer to recover, I tend to fall off the streak more. Note to self. 📝

My my step goal for 2024 is the same as in 2023 (minimum 5000 steps per day average) per day, so there’s clearly more work to be done here. I am finally starting to see some real progress towards this goal – even exceeding it during some months – but the step count needs to be consistently met before I move the goal post. Lasting, sustainable change takes time. It’s not something you accomplish in one day, so we’re just gonna keep going with this until we’re there.

🍋 Home-Cooked Meals in February 2024

February went pretty well in terms of home-cooked meals… with 77% being the final number. That’s good. The goal of 75% was met, so I can’t be mad at it. My husband and I got a little lazy towards the end of the month, so we had we not been carefully tracking this, we would have slipped up.

Just like with the walking, I’m keeping the same goal in place this year (which is 75%). This is just to make sure that we consistently and easily meet it, even during travel months. Once we have worked out how to best do that, I’ll likely up it to 80% or so, but for now, we have to practice being better at it. We’ve still come a long way from where we were when we started (32%), so there’s plenty to be proud of here.

I have realized that it’s not the amount of time it takes to cook that’s the problem. I have plenty of time slots where I can fit it in. It’s coming up with next and interesting meals that is the tougher objective. I am a systematized person in all other areas, so I know things will go much smoother if we have some standard meal plans to follow. That way, we would know what to cook and know what to buy all the time. The problem is getting the other family members on board with that idea. They do not like eating the same thing more than once, and they often “don’t feel like that dish” on any given day. For someone who loves planning, that bothers me, so that’s what we’re working on solving at the moment. Meal planning only works as an area of operations, not as a new project every single day, so maybe I should have my family take one of my classes? 🤣

🎧 Books & Learning in February 2024

This month, I listened to The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, recommended to me by TJ Jackson. It’s about a young African-American woman named Starr who is from a poorer area, but goes to school in a more affluent part of the city. Because of that, she feels like she has to show up as different personas. This becomes increasingly difficult for her, especially following the shooting of her friend Khalil by a police officer. Ironically enough, this book was full of anchoring examples (the psychology definition of the word), but I won’t discuss those here as it’ll detract from its overall message.

Starr’s world is not one that I grew up in, but I can relate to her in other ways. Having to switch personas, for example, based on who you are with and the environment you find yourself in (called “code switching”) is something I’ve experienced. I think many people, regardless of origins, have experienced that type of situation. I am currently in an interracial + intercultural relationship, so the way I show up during different family functions is a clear example. I always try to be myself as much as possible, of course, but there are times where I have to tone down myself bit to fit into cultural norms. It’s my hope that one day none of us have to do that.

I normally don’t read books other than self-development and skill-building books, so this was actually a nice break from those genres. I still learned a lot. It was an emotional story; at times, even heartbreaking. I don’t think I’ve reacted as strongly to a book since I read Lord of the Flies back in 7th grade (a totally different topic), and I suppose that’s warranted. I do think this is a worthwhile read for anyone who wants to debate politics, and definitely for anyone who is invested in the idea of equality and learning from the experiences and perspectives of our fellow humans. This book may be fiction, but unfortunately, it’s not far-fetched fiction.

☕️ Meaningful Conversations in February 2024

This month, I had a virtual tea dates with several people, two of whom were extra photogenic and let me grab some screenshot memories. First, I caught up with long-time student Karen Limbrick, one of our community treasures. She is always eager to jump into more learning and engage, so it was so fun to chat one-on-one over Zoom.

I also chatted with fellow photo organizing pro Kathy Stone of Calgary Photo Solutions. We’ve been colleagues for a long time, but haven’t had a chance to speak one-on-one for some time now, so it was great to catch up. Kathy does frequent teaching for Project Kin alongside of our other colleague Barbara Tien, so I recommend you check out their community if you’re interested in creative photo projects focused on family stories!

Even though I’m an introvert, I place a high value on personal connections. There is so much to be learned from listening to one another, and I feel the world needs more of that. I hope you’ll grab a slot on of these days, so I get to hear your perspective on things. Sign up for my mailing list to get notified when spots open up. Boxes are both above and below. 📧

⭐️ Success Celebrated in February 2024 

Growing up Swedish, I was taught not to “brag” or tout my accomplishments in any way, so talking about my success has always been difficult for me – hence this section. My mentor once told me to “never forget how far you’ve come” and to make sure you pause, look back, and celebrate every milestone. I took his words to heart, shed the “all-or-nothing” mindset, and decided that it’s OK to be proud of myself. February was a good month for me in terms of this… so, check this out:

This past month, I asked my student community if anyone would be willing to do some testimonial interviews with me to share their experiences in my two of my programs: DPO PRO, and Mindful Monday Mapping. The response I got was amazing, and we ended up recording 6 (count’em!) interviews that I put up on YouTube. I want to send a big thank you hugs to Tara Whitaker (MMM), Diana Uricchio (MMM), Valerie Clark (DPO PRO), Lida Bunting (DPO PRO), Rebecca Herzfeld (DPO PRO), and Lynn Burditt (DPO PRO) for showing us so much love! Thank you, ladies! I have the BEST students. ❤️

Even more amazing? I still have a few more testimonials to record with other students. If that’s not proof that we have quality programs, I don’t know what is! I’m definitely proud of all of them. They work – guaranteed – as long as there is follow-through. Like with everything in life. If you put in some effort, you get results, and these ladies are prime examples of the magic that can happen when you take your goals seriously! 🙌🏻

Below is one of the interviews – you can watch the rest over on YouTube!

😍 This Month’s Favorite Hubs, Tools, Services, & Products

Intentionally designing your universe is what makes the difference for business success, so in an effort to be more transparent, I’ve decided to share recommendations on services, solutions, platforms, hubs, and tools that I use myself. Some of these are affiliates, others are not, but I would recommend them regardless of that status – they’re just THAT good.

Here’s my list of things I loved in February 2024:

• Notion → Where would I be without Notion? Not as far along, that’s for sure. I run my entire life and business in Notion, so I can wholeheartedly recommend them. I will be hosting a Notion for Beginners event soon, so make sure to sign up to my email list to get notified when registration opens.
• Airtable → We have used Airtable for many years now – as a hub before Notion, and now for student-facing databases, external editorial calendars, and intake forms. Highly recommended!
• Forever → This is good platform for storing photo archives. I invested in this company when they were a startup a decade ago, and it has only gotten better since then. We have a workshop coming up on it this year, so stay tuned for more info on that.
• ShowIt → Love ShowIt! It’s the most flexible and best website platform out there, IMO. Plus, it’s run by nice people, which is a plus. Check it out if you’re a creative soul.
• Lightroom Classic → This is a classic, and a program I’ve been using for two decades. I teach it and several other solutions in my course DPO PRO. Join us to learn how to use it!
• Teachable → I’ve been a loyal customer with Teachable since back in the early Fedora days, which says a lot about how much I like their platform. It’s a great place to host your courses and workshops.
• Circle → Circle is easy to use for everyone – from students to coaches to guests. We love it as our community hub. It stands well on its own, but also integrates nicely with Teachable (see above).
• Trackabi → My new time-tracking platform, which is working out wonderfully so far.
• Toggl → I’ve just switched away from Toggl, but that won’t stop me from recommending it. It’s a great tool to use for time-tracking. The free account can do a lot!
• Audible → I love my Audible subscription for when I’m getting my steps in, and I recommend trying it out if you want to get your learning on. Sign up for a free 30-day trial through my link to get a free book (or 2 free credits if you’re an Amazon prime member!) – cancel anytime!
• Secret → This is a wonderful place for finding deals on software hubs and tools. Who doesn’t love to save some $$$? Invest a little, save a lot! I’ve saved thousands.
• Grove Collaborative → Love my Grove subscription! It saves me so much time because I can restock all my household needs easily. They write sweet messages on each box too! So cute. Get a free gift set by signing up through my affiliate link!
• Almond Cow → In 3 minutes, you can have fresh nut milk. What’s not to love?
• Nuuly → I get so much use out of Nuuly (my rotating closet subscription service). It’s like shopping, except you never get tired. Highly recommended! Use my link to save $20 on your first order.
• Taja → I really like this AI-driven platform for optimizing YouTube videos. It’s a great starting point for coming up with attention-grabbing headlines, descriptions, keywords, and more.

🫖 Tea of the Month

This past month, I went back to a staple that I’ve enjoyed for some time now, and that’s Positively Tea’s Tropical Island Breeze Rooibos. It’s a South African Green Rooibos tea with lots of fruit infusions, like mango, orange peel, rose, passionfruit, and papaya. This tea is by far the closest replacement I’ve found for my former favorite – Teavana’s Rooibos Tropica (the one that got discontinued). I regularly blend this with H&S Jasmine Dragon Peals for a delectable blend that is to die for – guaranteed.

Positively Tea Island Breeze Rooibos

Yield: 1 Cup

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Additional Time: 2 minutes

Total Time: 7 minutes

This is a naturally decaffinated organic tea that you can enjoy or blend with other teas. I often enjoy it together with Harney & Sons Jasmine Dragon Peals for a perfectly balanced cup. You can also enjoy it iced.

The ingredients are: organic green rooibos, organic mango pieces, organic papaya pieces, organic orange peel, organic rose petals, natural mango, passionfruit and papaya flavors.

Print

Ingredients

• 1 Cup Hot Water (212º)
• 1 Tsp Island Green Rooibos Tea

Instructions

1. Heat Water to 212º in a kettle
2. Pour over and steep for 5-7 minutes
3. Enjoy!

Notes

Purchase it here!

📐 Measure What Matters

Thank you so much for reading this report! I hope you enjoyed it. Please remember that productivity is very personal, and you DO NOT have to track the same metrics that I do. Your goals and metrics could be quite different from mine, and that’s OK.

If you’d like to understand where you should be focusing your attention, join us in an upcoming Quarterly Planning Workshop to identify your own goals.

🎬 Prefer to Watch This Report?

• About the Author
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Caroline Guntur Organizing & Productivity Coach

Hi there! I’m Caroline, and I’m here to help you get organized and be more productive, so that you can live better and have time for what matters.

www.theswedishorganizer.com

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