If you’ve ever ended a workday feeling like you were busy the entire time but unsure what actually moved forward, you’re not alone.
In industries like food and beverage, most professionals aren’t struggling because they lack discipline — they’re struggling because they’re operating in constant reaction mode.
Meetings run long. Emails pile up. A new priority appears before the last one is finished.
For many women in leadership roles across the food and beverage industry, the pace is relentless. Managing teams, responding to shifting priorities, and driving business forward often happen all at once.
The result? Many talented professionals feel productive all day but still leave work feeling behind.
During a recent Females in Food leadership development workshop on productivity, productivity strategist Amber De La Garza shared several simple strategies that help professionals move from reacting to their workday to leading it.
The good news is that becoming more productive doesn’t require complicated systems. Often it starts with a few small shifts in how you plan and approach your day.
Here are four practical strategies that can make an immediate difference.
1. End Your Day With a 15-Minute Plan
One of the most powerful habits Amber recommends is something she calls the Daily RAP — Review and Action Plan.
It’s a simple 15-minute practice done at the end of the workday.
The process is straightforward:
- Review what came in during the day
- Capture any unfinished or new tasks
- Identify tomorrow’s top priorities
- Schedule time to complete them
According to Amber, the purpose of planning is not to make the next day perfect.
It’s to create clarity.
When professionals start the day without a plan, they immediately enter reactive mode — responding to emails, requests, and whatever feels most urgent in the moment.
But when priorities are already decided the day before, the next morning starts with focus instead of decision-making.
2. Stop Working From One Giant Task List
Many professionals rely on a single task list that continues to grow over time.
The problem is that when a list becomes too long, it becomes overwhelming. Instead of helping with productivity, it creates friction.
Amber recommends separating tasks into two lists:
- A master task list
This holds everything that needs attention — ongoing projects, future tasks, ideas, and responsibilities. - A daily task list
This includes only the priorities that realistically need to move forward today.
The key is that professionals should work from the daily list, not the master list.
This simple shift reduces decision fatigue and allows people to focus on the work that matters most right now.
3. Put Priority Work on Your Calendar
Time is abstract.
Calendars make it visible.
One of the biggest productivity challenges professionals face is that their calendars often reflect only meetings — not the work they actually need time to complete.
Amber encourages professionals to schedule priority work the same way they schedule meetings.
When a task is identified as a priority, block time on the calendar to complete it.
This approach helps professionals:
- protect focused work time
- better understand their daily capacity
- ensure meaningful work actually gets done
Just as importantly, scheduling work creates a realistic picture of how much can actually fit into a day.
Because how we manage our time ultimately shapes how we lead.
4. Write Tasks as Actions, Not Reminders
Another common productivity mistake is writing vague tasks.
Many lists include items like:
- Presentation
- Proposal
- Follow up
The problem is that these aren’t actions — they’re categories.
Amber recommends writing tasks as the next specific step instead.
For example:
- Draft proposal for client
- Outline presentation slides
- Send follow-up email to supplier
Clear tasks reduce hesitation and help professionals move into action more quickly.
It’s a small shift that removes friction from the workday.
Productivity Is About Leading Your Day
Productivity is often misunderstood as doing more in less time.
But in reality, productivity is about clarity.
It’s about knowing what matters most and making sure those priorities move forward.
As Amber De La Garza reminds leaders, productivity is not about doing everything. It’s about making sure the right things get done.
And sometimes the most powerful shift starts with something simple — taking a few minutes to step back, get clear on your priorities, and lead your day instead of reacting to it.
