THE JOY OF MISSING OUT

Tonya Dalton is the founder and CEO of inkWELL Press Productivity Co. As a productivity strategist and speaker, Tonya teaches others how to customize systems for achieving their dreams. Her podcast, Productivity Paradox, has surpassed more than a million downloads and consistently ranks in the top 50 of all business management  podcasts on Apple Podcasts. Tonya has been featured on Real Simple, Entrepreneur, Inc., and other major media outlets. She resides in Asheville, North Carolina, with her husband, John, and children, Jack and Kate.

“If you’re ready for more Joy and less fear… read this book.” – Jon Acuff, New York Times bestselling author of Finish

“Tonya gives you the courage to prune back those to-do’s that are holding you back from the person you were made to be.” – Dr. John Townsend, New York Times bestselling author of Boundaries

“Tonya shares why missing out is exactly the right choice to make and encourages you to live a life aligned with what’s important!” – Leena Rinne, VP of Consulting at Franklin Covey

1. What does being productive mean to you? Does productive mean getting a lot of tasks crossed off your to-do list or does it mean doing work that satisfies you? How do you think your idea of productivity might change after reading this book?

2. What did you think of Tonya’s definition of overwhelm? She shares “Overwhelm isn’t having too much to do, it’s not knowing where to start.” Do you agree or disagree with this idea? How do you feel when you don’t know what to work on next or where to begin your day?

3. Have you witnessed “the glorification of busy” with your friends or coworkers? In what ways? When you think of your ideal day, what is missing?

4. Do you often connect your self-worth to how busy you are throughout your day?

5. Is there one main role you closely identify with? (It might be mom, career woman, caregiver, student or something else.) Do you think you could add an and to this role? How do you want to define yourself? What would life look like if you added a little and?

6. Are you choosing your own path and priorities in life? Do you think there are other people or things that are trying to choose for you?

7. How do you feel about the time you’ve spent in your life so far? Do you feel you’ve invested your time well?

8. How do you want your friends and family to describe you? Does that desire help you begin to identify your North Star?

9. What kinds of distractions do you deal with on a regular basis? What can you do to eliminate those?

10. What tasks are you efficiently doing? Can you take things slower and remind yourself to use your time effectively so you focus on quality not quantity?

11. How does the idea of getting rid of your to-do list make you feel?

12. Which of your demanding tasks drain your energy? Is there a way to break these tasks down to “eat the elephant” and make them easier?

13. What are your Million Dollar Minutes during your busy days? If you don’t think you have any, take another look at your day and think about the moments of gratitude—
those Million Dollar Minutes are often hidden there.

14. What choices are you making that add stress to your life? What changes can you make to ensure that you treat your priorities as actual priorities?

15. Is it easier for you to say yes to others than it is to yourself? When you think about the idea that “every time you say yes, you are saying no to something else,” what have you been saying no to?