I think the first time I heard the words “Jam Session” was from Darren Hardy, perhaps in the Compound Effect. I was living in small town Oklahoma without family close, raising three smalls ages 6 and under and building our network marketing business.  This concept has been so powerful for redeeming the time and getting more done in less!

And, while my version of Jam Session looks quite different from Darren’s, it’s still a powerful concept that anyone can use.

What is a Jam Session?

If “Compartmentalization” and “Time Management” had a baby, it would be a Jam Session. A Jam Session takes the idea of “Compartmentalization” and gets super specific and intentional with creating a space to tackle that one thing.

A Jam Session is a dedicated time that’s focused on ONE particular task or goal.

Did you hear that?

ONE.

Darren recommends 90 minute Jam Sessions where you silence all devices and notifications, find a quiet place and focus completely on one task until completion without allowing yourself to become distracted or pulled into another task.

#easiersaidthandoneDarren

Darren gets up at like 5am and likes to do a 90-minute Jam Session before the day gets going.

I remember thinking, “Ninety whole minutes,to yourself, Darren? In silence? Without someone needing food or a bottom wiped?! What is this dream life are you living?!”

But.

As my kids have gotten older, it’s been easier and easier to make longer Jam Sessions happen.

So, if you’re in the trenches with three kids three and under like I was, take heart. It does get easier!

A Jam Session is designed to get you through a perhaps daunting task on your to do list that needs more than 5 minutes to hammer out.

A Jam Session is the perfect way to accomplish a creative task that requires you to be fully present and diving deep, or mapping out a complex plan or idea.

What makes a Jam Session powerful?

A Jam Session becomes other-worldly in terms of productivity and getting the absolute most out of your time by creating a space that is as distraction free as humanly possible.

Because, as far as time management goes, distractions are the Number One Enemy.

And for the Mompreneur, they’re the Number One Most Difficult Thing to Avoid.

This means we have to be super strategic and intentional about making a Jam Session happen and choosing the right time and place for one, no matter how long or short it happens to be.

You clearly don’t attempt a Jam Session at 6:00pm when the tiny vultures are circling and dinner is happening (or not happening) on the stove.

For instance, I’m up early right now writing these words to you. Ivy’s night schedule surprisingly left me feeling like I could face the day before 7 am. I told myself that if I could make a morning Jam Session happen, I would focus on this post for you.

So, I’m snuggled up here on the sofa with a cup of tea in my Yeti waiting for the sun to peek over the horizon. I’m not checking social media or attempting to multitask in any way. You’ve got my full and undivided attention right here for as long as it takes Ivy to fill her diaper and get tired of her swing. BOOYAH.

At other times, I have intentionally planned a Jam Session around Jeremy being on duty with the kids for an hour or two or when I have someone helping with them for the afternoon.

I would say that for the best possible and most “true” Jam Session, you need to be alone (i.e., not working in the middle of the house while the kids run circles around your work space at the dining table).

I’m not saying that you can’t get things done this way, but it’s not a true Jam Session and you’ll likely end up quite frustrated because your space isn’t distraction free.

A Jam Session also requires you to have a predetermined task to focus on. It doesn’t count for you to sit down with your smartphone and mindlessly scroll social media for an hour.

But you woudn’t be doing that anyway. Bah!

You’re a dream builder and you are a BEAST at choosing smart tasks to move you toward your goals!

So, get your Jam Sessions scheduled for this week!

1. Look at your calendar and identity pockets of time where you could remove distractions for 30-90 minutes.
2. Write down the date and time for your Session.
3. Also include what specific task you will use your Session to accomplish.
4. Leverage the power of Compartmentalization and give yourself permission to focus on that one thing and let everything else go.
5. Silence all devices and close out email and Facebook during your Session.
6. Refuse to attempt to multitask during your Session.
7. Avoid the temptation to “check” messages or notifications (this is soooooo hard!)
8. Crank. It. Out.

I believe in you! We can learn to leverage and manage our time well and enjoy designing a beautiful life around our passions and callings – you’ve got this!!