How to Apply the Get Shit Done Approach to Your Everyday Life (2025 Edition)

Once upon a time, I wrote a post called How to Apply the Get Shit Done Approach to Your Everyday Life. It hit #1 on Google for “get shit done,” and for a while, it summed up everything I believed about focus, momentum, and building something that matters.

But a lot has changed since then.

Life got louder. Work got messier. And the bar for “doing it all” got raised to absolutely unhinged levels.

We are now living in a world where you’re expected to:

• Run a business like a Fortune 500 CEO
• Create content like a full-time media company
• Parent like you don’t work
• And work like you don’t have a life

Throw in the explosion of AI tools, a million productivity hacks, and a cultural obsession with being effortlessly “balanced,” and it’s no wonder most people feel stuck, behind, or borderline burnt out.

So let’s set the record straight.

This post isn’t about hustling harder or finding perfect work-life alignment in some Pinterest-worthy calendar template. It’s about how to actually get shit done today, especially in a way that is strategic, sustainable, and real.

Not because you’re superhuman. But because you’re done waiting to feel ready, clear, or caught up.

You want progress. You want to build something that lasts. And you want to do it without losing yourself in the process.

Let’s get into it.

The Modern Chaos We’re All Up Against

Let’s be honest: getting shit done today is an entirely different beast than it was even five years ago.

Back then, “productive” meant blocking time on your calendar and not checking your phone for 45 minutes. Now? You need the mental discipline of a monk just to write one email without clicking away to three different tabs and accidentally ordering a new water bottle you didn’t need.

We’re up against a tidal wave of distractions that are cleverly disguised as progress. And unless you name them, they’ll run your life while making you feel like you’re the problem.

Here’s what you’re really trying to work through:

• Notification overload that fries your nervous system. Between Slack, text, email, DMs, and five project management tools all barking at you, your attention isn’t just divided, it’s under siege. The average knowledge worker checks their inbox 77 times per day (Harvard Business Review). That’s not multitasking. That’s momentum death.
• Comparison dressed up as inspiration. You log on for ideas, and instead you get hit with someone’s six-figure launch, their “just wrapped a client intensive in Bali” Reel, and a perfectly aesthetic Notion dashboard that makes you wonder if you’ve been living in the productivity dark ages.
• The pressure to be everything, everywhere, all the time. You’re not just trying to execute. You’re trying to lead, create, sell, respond, plan, reflect, scale, parent, and somehow also meal prep. And when you finally take a breath, you’re haunted by the list of things you “should” have already done.
• AI’s rising dominance and the fear of being left behind. Yes, AI can now write your blog (like this one!), build your deck, respond to low-priority leads, and give you ten LinkedIn hook options in less time than it takes to make coffee. But here’s the twist: it’s not the enemy. It’s the amplifier. The businesses and individuals using AI to buy back time and focus on what actually matters? They’re pulling ahead. Everyone else is drowning in busyness pretending it’s productivity.

We live in a time where it’s easier than ever to be overwhelmed, overcommitted, and underproductive – all while being surrounded by tools that were supposed to help.

So no, you’re not lazy. You’re overloaded. And the answer isn’t to do more. It’s to do the right things, better.

The GSD Framework, Updated for 2025

Let’s stop pretending that checking things off a list equals progress. That’s productivity theater. And you don’t have time for that.

Getting shit done in 2025 means trading fake urgency for focused execution. It means shifting from reacting to everything… to intentionally choosing what deserves your time, energy, and mental space.

You don’t need another planner or app. You need a framework that actually works in real life, especially if you’re juggling a business, clients, a team, a family, or all of the above.

Here’s how I define getting shit done now:

1. Clarity over complexity

If everything’s a priority, nothing is. Pick three needle-movers per week. That’s it. Not ten goals. Not a full-color kanban board. Just 3 things that, if completed, would actually move your business or life forward.

Ask yourself:

• What, if done this week, would reduce stress next week?
• What’s the one project I keep avoiding because it requires actual thinking?
• What’s most aligned with the outcomes I say I want?

Clarity kills overwhelm. Complexity just gives you an excuse to stay busy and stuck.

2. Time integrity beats time management

Time management is cute in theory. But unless you respect your calendar like your bank account, it means nothing.

Your time is a non-renewable asset. Act like it.

• Block time for focus. Defend it like your life depends on it.
• Say no more often, and don’t explain yourself when you do.
• If someone wouldn’t get access to your savings account, they shouldn’t get random chunks of your week either.

And remember: if you’re not deciding how your time gets spent, someone else is.

3. Energy matters more than hours

You can have a 10-hour day and still accomplish nothing if your brain is mush. You can also get your most important work done in 90 minutes if you’re dialed in.

Start tracking when you feel most mentally clear and use that window for your highest-leverage work. Build around your capacity, not around guilt.

Also: if you need a nap, take a nap. If your brain is fried at 2 PM, don’t try to force strategy out of it. You’re not a machine. You’re a builder, and that requires rest too.

4. Momentum beats motivation

Motivation is a liar. It shows up late and leaves early.

But momentum? That’s earned. You build it by doing the work even when you don’t feel like it. Especially when you don’t feel like it.

Here’s what works:

• Set 10-minute timers. Start.
• Reduce friction. Have your tools, tabs, or notes ready before the workday starts.
• Stop making it emotional. You don’t have to “feel like it.” You just have to start.

Every big win in my life happened because I did the small things when no one was watching. Not because I was in flow. Because I was committed.

Getting shit done is no longer about grinding harder or doing everything yourself. It’s about being ruthless with what matters and focused with what you commit to.

It’s not sexy. It’s not glamorous. But it works.

And it keeps you from waking up in six months wondering why you’re still busy and still behind.

1. Block time like a CEO, not a people-pleaser

Your calendar should reflect your priorities, not your guilt. Every week, block time for deep work before you let other people book your attention.

• Mornings go to focus. Afternoons go to meetings.
• Give your highest-value tasks a seat on your calendar, not just a spot on your to-do list.
• Protect that time like you protect your kids from unvetted TikTok trends.

And no, “I might have time” isn’t a strategy. If it’s not scheduled, it’s just a wish.

2. Batch decisions and eliminate stupid friction

You don’t need more willpower. You need fewer decisions.

• Plan your meals on Sunday so Tuesday doesn’t become a 45-minute fridge stare.
• Pick your outfit the night before like you’re five years old and excited about school.
• Use templates, saved scripts, and automation for repetitive tasks.

Every friction point you remove gives you back time and mental bandwidth. And that adds up fast.

3. Use AI to save your brain, not replace it

AI is not here to think for you. It’s here to think with you, so you can stop burning 90 minutes writing an email your future self will barely skim.

• Use AI to summarize meeting notes, generate content drafts, or outline strategies you’ll refine.
• Set up automations for low-stakes nurture sequences, recurring social posts, or first-pass reports.
• Let it take the grunt work, not the heavy lifting.

Don’t overcomplicate it. Start simple. Just make sure what goes out still sounds like you, not like a robot who read one too many growth hacking blogs in 2017.

4. Create digital guardrails that protect your focus

Your phone isn’t evil, but it sure as hell isn’t neutral. If you don’t put boundaries in place, it will chew through your attention span like a toddler with a granola bar.

• Delete the apps that tempt you into doomscrolling during work hours.
• Keep your phone in another room during deep work sessions.
• Use website blockers. Yes, even for Gmail. You’ll survive.

Distraction is designed to be addictive. You’re not weak, you’re human. Create an environment where your discipline doesn’t have to fight every five minutes to stay intact.

5. Do a weekly retro instead of hitting the panic button every Monday

Every Sunday or Friday, take 15 minutes and ask:

• What actually moved the needle this week?
• What drained me that didn’t need to?
• What am I avoiding that deserves attention?

This isn’t a journaling exercise for your inner child. It’s a strategy session with your future self. Fix what didn’t work. Repeat what did. That’s how you build momentum.

And if you’re wondering where to house all of this – Notion is my go-to. It’s clean, flexible, and doesn’t force you into someone else’s productivity template. I use it to track my content calendar, map out goals, run retros, and keep my brain from spinning out. It works because I built it to fit how I think.

You can’t operate like a boss if your systems are all over the place. Build one that works for you and stick to it. For me, Notion is that system. And I love the shit out of it.

Net net, you don’t need 17 productivity apps and a standing desk made of reclaimed wood. You need clarity, boundaries, and systems that work even when you’re tired, overwhelmed, or covered in peanut butter from your toddler’s snack attack.

Getting Shit Done Without Losing Yourself (or Your Family)

Here’s the part no one wants to talk about when they’re preaching productivity.

You can have the perfect system, a color-coded Notion board, and a full day of deep work blocked out. But if your life feels like it’s crumbling behind the scenes and if you’re burnt out, disconnected, or numbing your way through the week, then what’s the point?

Building a business, launching a brand, chasing ambitious goals… none of that should mean trading your peace or your people.

I don’t believe in balance. I believe in brutal clarity about what matters and the courage to act on it.

My business is big, but it’s not more important than being a present mom. There are seasons where I’m sprinting and seasons where I’m juggling. And then there are those quiet Wednesday afternoons when I get to spend the day with my kids just because I want to. That’s the stuff I don’t miss anymore because I’ve built a life where I don’t have to.

My perspective is simple: My business is infinite. My time with my kids is not.

That keeps me grounded. That keeps me focused.

And it’s not just the kids. One of my favorite rituals? I get to have lunch with my husband every day. It sounds small, but it’s not. It’s the anchor in my day that reminds me why I’m doing any of this in the first place.

Getting shit done isn’t just about work. It’s about building a life that feels like yours.

And that means:

• Protecting the non-negotiables like they’re meetings with your most important client.
• Measuring success by how aligned you feel, not just how much you got done.
• Remembering that progress without presence isn’t freedom. It’s just another trap.

You don’t have to lose your identity to be successful. You don’t have to burn it all down to build something meaningful.

But you do have to be honest. About what you want. What you need. And what matters most when the noise dies down.

And if you can stay clear on that? You’ll get more of the right shit done than most people ever will

Staying Consistent Without Burning Out

Let’s clear something up. Hustle is not the enemy. Burnout is.

Working hard is not the problem. It’s working hard without boundaries, clarity, or recovery that eats people alive. You don’t need more discipline. You need a rhythm that respects your humanity while still holding you accountable.

You can’t build long-term if you’re constantly crashing and starting over.

Here’s what keeps me in motion without melting down:

1. Know when to press and when to pause

High performance isn’t about going hard all the time. It’s about knowing when to push and when to recalibrate. Just like training, there are seasons of sprinting and seasons of maintenance. If you try to live in sprint mode year-round, don’t be surprised when you hit the wall.

Ask yourself weekly:

• What deserves 100% this week?
• What can run at 60% without hurting the business or my life?
• What needs to be cut completely, not just delayed?

2. Protect your nervous system like it’s part of your business strategy

This sounds woo, but it’s not. If your body is constantly in fight-or-flight, you’re not thinking clearly. You’re reacting. That leads to sloppy decisions, burnout, and disconnection from your goals.

Things that actually help:

• Sleep like your brain depends on it (because it does)
• Move your body, even if it’s just walking outside without your phone
• Take breaks before you’re exhausted, not after
• Turn your phone off when you’re with your people

You’re not lazy for resting. You’re smart for protecting your long game.

3. Build rituals, not routines

Routines are checklists. Rituals are anchors. They connect you back to yourself when everything else feels chaotic.

Your version might be:

• Morning writing with coffee before anyone else wakes up
• A midday walk with no headphones
• Friday wind-down where you review your week and reset for the next

Whatever it is, make it yours. Rituals give your days rhythm, and rhythm is what keeps momentum sustainable.

4. Drop the guilt about doing less when less is enough

Some weeks, “getting shit done” means showing up, delivering the essentials, and not overcommitting. That doesn’t mean you failed. That means you were smart enough to stay in motion without draining your tank.

Consistency doesn’t mean intensity. It means you keep going. Even if it’s slower. Even if it’s messier. Even if it’s not Instagram-worthy.

• You don’t need to burn out to prove you care.
• You don’t need to suffer to earn your success.
• You need systems that support your ambition and leave space for your life.

That’s what gets you across the finish line without crawling.

You Don’t Need More Time. You Need More Intention.

Let’s stop lying to ourselves about why we’re not getting things done.

It’s rarely a time problem. It’s almost always a clarity, focus, or follow-through problem.

We chase new apps, color-coded calendars, and complex systems because they feel productive. But the truth is, most of us already know what needs to be done. We’re just overwhelmed, under-recovered, or too deep in comparison mode to trust ourselves enough to do it.

You don’t need more hours. You need more intention behind the ones you already have.

Here’s the bottom line:

• You can be a present parent and still run a business that prints money
• You can use AI to maximize output without outsourcing your voice or values
• You can get the right things done without doing all the things

And when you finally stop trying to earn your worth through overwork, something shifts. You realize getting shit done isn’t about finishing everything.

It’s about showing up for the work that actually matters. And not letting the noise convince you otherwise.

You don’t need to hustle like your life depends on it. You need to act like your life is the point of all this hustle.

Now go build what matters. And get the right shit done.