Matt Tilmann

There’s something liberating about realizing how little the stars care about your to-do list.

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Issue drops tomorrow morning at 6:30 am EST.

#universe #selfcare #worklifebalance #mindfulness #productivity

Problem to Solve:

You keep saying yes to everything because it feels “productive.”

How do you tell the difference between growth and overcommitment?

At the end of each month, it’s worth asking: where did my #energy actually go?

What gave you energy this month — and what drained it?

Reflect on one activity, habit, or mindset that fueled you… and one that exhausted you.

So maybe instead of asking "how can I do all of this?" we should be asking "what actually needs to be done by me, and what can I let go of?"

Just something to think about.

I know, I know — easier said than done.

But seriously, trying to do everything yourself isn't the badge of honor we think it is. It's just a recipe for burning out.

Don't start playing Tetris with your calendar, trying to squeeze everything in. Don't turn yourself into some kind of #productivity contortionist, bending over backwards to somehow make it all "fit."

That's a trap, and it doesn't work.

The real solution? Something has to go.

But listen, I need you to hear me on what comes next: Please don't do what I know you're probably already doing.

You know that overwhelming feeling you have right now? Like there's just way too much on your plate?

Here's the thing: you're not imagining it.

There genuinely is too much. Your gut is telling you the truth on this one.

Problem to Solve:

You planned your week perfectly, and then life laughed.

How do you roll with it without feeling guilty for letting plans go?

Sometimes the best moves happen when you stop forcing things and just pivot.

Where have you had to shift lately, by choice or by circumstance?

Think of one area where your focus had to change.
What did it teach you?
And what kind of peace did it bring once you stopped fighting it?

Launching my referral program, I opened six tabs researching "perfect incentives."

Caught myself. Closed everything.

Ran my Clarity Check.

I just needed three simple tiers. Fifteen minutes later it was live.

No perfection required.

Just real progress.

I didn't need a new planner.

I needed decisions to be easier when I had 7 minutes of energy and a half-eaten sandwich.

Now I ask 5 questions before opening any tab.

The rescue: What decision am I avoiding? What's my actual energy?

One clear move beats magic every time.

Last spring I had a "brilliant" newsletter idea.

Three weeks later: seven tabs of research open, two half-finished outlines, zero published words.

My clarity check would've saved me 20+ hours of wheel-spinning.

The drag wasn't laziness but a broken system.

Share one way you reset when you’ve fallen behind whether it be a system, a mindset, or even a single step.

You’re overwhelmed by open tabs, unread messages, and unfinished tasks.

How do you decide what actually deserves your attention again?

For today, something to think about is that when you feel off track, the hardest part isn’t starting again but simply giving yourself permission to.

What helps you reset your rhythm when life gets messy?

The 15-Minute Chaos-to-Clarity Reset You don’t need more time. You need a reliable reset.The 15-Minute Chaos-to-Clarity Reset is a simple, repeatable system for parents and creators who feel overloaded. In one short session you’ll quiet mental noise, clear a small physical radius, and put the next right action into motion—so you end the day feeling steady, not scattered.Why this matters Overwhelm is a systems problem. When everything is urgent, nothing moves. This reset reduces cognitive load and restores momentum fast. Tiny scope, real results. A 6-foot cleanup radius + a 3-item “Must/Should/Could” list = immediate clarity without perfectionism. Built to be reused. Same steps, same timer, same cues—your brain learns the routine and gets faster every time. What you’ll get Step-by-step Guide (PDF/DOCX): A 4 page guide covering Mind Reset, Environment Reset, and System Reset, plus a 90-second Quickstart. Daily Reset Card (1-page): Printable worksheet to run the reset any time. Weekly Reset Page: A 15–25 minute routine to pr

✅ Designed for the overwhelmed, time-strapped #creator who wants calm & focus.

You don’t need another hour or a high-cost coach — you just need the right reset.

👉 Grab it now: mittendad.gumroad.com/l/chaos

Feeling like your to-do list is running you instead of the other way around?

Meet my new 15-Minute Chaos-to-Clarity Reset — a simple 3-step system that fits into even the busiest (parent-creator) schedule.

🕒 15 minutes.
📄 1 practical PDF download.

You don’t need to plan your week from pressure.

You can plan it from peace.

What would it look like to build next week around your energy, not your to-do list?

Try this:

🌿 What restores me: ___

🕰 When I’ll make space for it: ___

💡 Why it matters: ___

Let’s close October with clarity and care.

Subscribe to Mitten Dad Minute The Mitten Dad Minute is a quick, refreshing read for parent-preneurs and solo/entrepreneurs who want more time, more freedom, and more self-care — without sacrificing what matters most. Build your golden years now — not someday. Click to read Mitten Dad Minute, by Matt Tilmann, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.

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What's one task you keep repeating that could be automated this week?

Then take 10 minutes—not tomorrow, not next week, but today—to close that loop.

Automate one thing. Systematize one process. Eliminate one recurring task.

Because the best time to automate was six months ago.

The second best time is right now.

The work will keep expanding. The urgent will keep crowding out the important. And you'll keep telling yourself "someday" while your energy drains away on tasks that shouldn't require your attention.

Pick one question from above. Just one.

Answer it honestly.

Because here's the uncomfortable truth: if you're too busy to automate, you'll stay that way.

Each answer reveals an automation opportunity hiding in plain sight.

You don't need more tools. You don't need a complex tech stack. You don't need to become a workflow wizard overnight.

You need fewer manual loops.

You don't need perfection. You need a foundation you can refine in minutes instead of building from scratch every time.

3️⃣ What meeting could become a 3-line update?
Not every conversation needs a calendar invite. Sometimes clarity beats collaboration.

1️⃣ What am I repeating that hasn't changed in months?
If you're doing the same task the same way week after week, that's not dedication—that's a manual loop begging to be closed.

2️⃣ What do I touch that an AI could draft 80% of?

You don't "make time" to brush your teeth. You do it because you value your health.

The same applies to your time and mental energy.

Instead of waiting for the mythical "calm period," I started asking myself three simple questions once a week:

Meetings stretched longer. My to-do list morphed into what I now call a "to-don't list." I was spinning wheels, burning energy, and calling it productivity.

Then came my wake-up moment: automation isn't a luxury project you tackle someday. It's hygiene.

Here's the truth: that's like saying you'll start exercising when you're already in shape.

I used to wear my busyness like a badge of honor. Entire mornings vanished cleaning up broken workflows—workflows that kept breaking because I never had time to fix them properly.

How many times have you said it this week?

"I'll build a system for that when things calm down."

"I'll #automate this process once I have more time."

"I'll set up that workflow after this busy season."

Sound familiar?