6 things you're probably not doing (but should)

Hey there,

Your productivity problem isn't that you need more tools; it's that you never kill what no longer serves you.

I see it every year. Sales reps and leaders start January with the best intentions, downloading new apps and creating new systems, but by February, they're buried under the same digital clutter that crushed them the previous year. After 17 years in sales and 10 years managing teams, I've learned that addition without subtraction is just organized chaos.

Here's what we're covering today:

• The exact digital resets that clear mental bandwidth

• The cognitive cost of digital clutter (and how to eliminate it)

• Links to templates and tools to make this dead simple

Let's get into it.

6 Things To Review Every January To Reclaim Your Focus Even If You're Already Overwhelmed

To actually start fresh, you need to eliminate before you optimize.

Here are the six resets that clear the noise so you can focus on what moves the needle.

1. Email Reset

Archive everything and set up or reset the 3-inbox system.

Every unread email is a micro-decision your brain has to process. Even if you're not actively thinking about them, they're creating cognitive load.

Start with inbox zero, set up your filters, and commit to the system.

2. Newsletter & Promo Purge

Unsubscribe from anything that doesn't immediately serve you.

If you're not opening it, it's noise. Go through your inbox and unsubscribe from newsletters, promotional emails, and updates you ignore.

Every eliminated subscription is one less distraction competing for your attention.

3. Subscription Audit

Review and cancel recurring charges you forgot about.

Pull up your credit card statements and look at every recurring charge. Streaming services, software subscriptions, apps you signed up for and never used. (They add up fast)

Most people are bleeding $50-200/month on subscriptions they don't use. Cancel them.

4. Slack/Teams Cleanup

Leave channels you're not actively contributing to.

If you haven't posted in a channel in 30 days, you don't need to be there. Channels you were added to for one comment six months ago are just notification pollution.

Here are 5 little-known Slack settings everyone should know (but most don’t).

5. Meeting Matrix (Leaders)

Audit every recurring meeting and eliminate, delegate, or shorten.

As a leader, your calendar is your enemy if you don't control it. Run a meeting audit. Every hour you reclaim is an hour you can spend on strategic work or coaching your team.

Use my meeting matrix to systematically evaluate each one.

6. Habit & Project Reevaluation

Kill projects that have been on your list for months.

If it's been sitting there for 90+ days, you're not doing it. Either move it to a "someday/maybe" folder or delete it entirely. (here’s how I manage mine)

Same with habits. If you're tracking habits that no longer align with where you want to go, stop tracking them. (here’s how I track mine)

Your systems should drive you forward, not anchor you to outdated goals.

That's it.

Here's what you learned today:

• Digital clutter creates cognitive load that kills productivity

• Elimination is more powerful than optimization when starting fresh

• Every subscription, channel, and meeting you remove is mental bandwidth reclaimed

This audit is about clearing the noise so you can focus on what actually matters: closing deals, leading your team, and having time for your family.

Start with one. Archive your inbox. Cancel three subscriptions. Leave five Slack channels. Do it today.

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