In partnership with

Welcome to another edition of the 1% Habits Newsletter!

This is where you’ll get up-to-date information on small wins to improve your habits, productivity, and life satisfaction. 

Let’s get to it.

— SPONSORED AD —

Receive Honest News Today

Join over 4 million Americans who start their day with 1440 – your daily digest for unbiased, fact-centric news. From politics to sports, we cover it all by analyzing over 100 sources. Our concise, 5-minute read lands in your inbox each morning at no cost. Experience news without the noise; let 1440 help you make up your own mind. Sign up now and invite your friends and family to be part of the informed.

Sign up today!

— END SPONSORED AD —

📈 How to Cut Through Overwhelm (My “Life Triage” Method)

Last week, I shared some thoughts on how to make progress when you’re feeling stuck. [If you missed it, you can catch up here: How to Make Progress (Even If You’ve Been Stuck for Months).]

Today, I want to talk about something a little different—but just as important. It’s a lesson I learned the hard way when my business (the one I’d spent five years building) crashed almost overnight.

Let me give you a little background.

When Everything Fell Apart

For the past five years, I poured my heart and soul into growing my main business. It was going well—until it wasn’t. Thanks to some big shifts with Google and the rise of AI, my website traffic tanked. Practically overnight, the thing I’d spent years nurturing was on life support.

If you’ve ever had something you care about fall apart, you know the feeling. It’s a gut punch. For a while, I was in survival mode, just trying to figure out what to do next.

But here’s the thing: I wasn’t just dealing with a business crisis. At the same time, I was juggling a bunch of other things. I was working on multiple side businesses. I was coaching my kids’ sports teams. I was trying to stay healthy, be a present dad, and spend time with my wife. The to-do list kept growing, and my stress level was off the charts.

Maybe you can relate. Maybe you’re also wearing too many hats—at work, at home, in your community. Maybe you feel like you’re always running, but never catching up.

If so, I want to share a concept that helped me dig out of overwhelm and get my life back on track. I call it “Life Triage.”

What Is Triage? (And Why It Matters)

The word “triage” comes from the medical world. In an emergency room, when a bunch of patients come in at once, doctors and nurses can’t treat everyone at the same time. So they do triage. They quickly assess each patient and put them into three categories:

1. Critical: Needs immediate attention—life or death.

2. Serious, but stable: Needs help soon, but not right this second.

3. Minor: Can wait, or might not need treatment at all.

The goal is simple: Save as many lives as possible by focusing on what matters most, right now.

It might sound a little dramatic to compare your to-do list to an emergency room, but hear me out. When you’re overwhelmed, everything can feel urgent. But the truth is, only a few things are truly critical. The rest can wait—or might not even need to be done at all.

That’s where “Life Triage” comes in.

How I Used Life Triage to Get Unstuck

After my business crashed, I realized I couldn’t keep doing everything. I was stretched too thin, and it was starting to show—in my work, my health, and even at home. I was cranky, distracted, and tired all the time. Not a great way to live.

So I sat down and did my own version of triage. I made a list of everything I was working on and everything that was taking up my time. Then I asked myself three questions for each item:

● Is this absolutely critical to my life or my family?

● Is this something I can put on hold for now?

● Is this something I can let go of completely?

It wasn’t easy. Some things were obvious—like spending time with my family, or rebuilding my main business. Others were harder to let go. I love coaching my kids’ sports teams, but I had to drop one.

I also trimmed back on side businesses (including this newsletter for a few months), social commitments, and even some hobbies. It was tough, but the relief I felt was almost immediate. I could breathe again. I had time to think. Most importantly, I had energy for the things (and people) that mattered most.

Why “Life Triage” Works

Here’s why this approach is so powerful: It forces you to get brutally honest about your priorities.

When you’re overwhelmed, it’s tempting to try to do everything. But that just leads to burnout. By focusing on what’s truly critical—your “vital few”—you make real progress, reduce stress, and actually enjoy your life again.

Plus, when you clear out the clutter, you create space for new opportunities. You can say “yes” to the things that matter, because you’re not drowning in a sea of “maybes” and “shoulds.”

— SPONSORED AD —

Imagine having all the tools you need to build small, consistent habits that lead to big changes over time?

With the whole Store Bundle, you’ll get an all-in-one collection of over 100 premium printables designed to help you master the art of building 1% habits.

Unlock your best self—one small habit at a time. The Whole Store Bundle gives you instant access to 150+ printable planners, trackers, and journals, so you can organize your life, crush your goals, and stay motivated every single day!

— END SPONSORED AD —

How to Do Your Own Life Triage

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, I encourage you to try this for yourself. Here’s a simple action plan to get started:

1. Make a Master List

Grab a notebook or open a blank document. Write down everything that’s on your plate right now. Work projects, family commitments, side hustles, volunteer roles, social events—everything. Don’t filter or judge, just get it all out of your head and onto paper.

2. Sort Into Three Categories

For each item on your list, ask yourself:

● Is this critical? (Absolutely must do. Non-negotiable. Supports your health, family, or main source of income.)

● Is this important, but not urgent? (Can wait. Adds value, but won’t cause disaster if you pause or delay.)

● Is this optional or unnecessary? (Nice to have, but not essential. Maybe it’s just taking up space or energy.)

Be honest with yourself. Sometimes we keep things on our list out of habit or guilt, not because they’re truly important.

3. Focus on the Critical Few

Circle or highlight the items you marked as “critical.” These are your top priorities. For now, give yourself permission to focus almost all your energy here.

If you’re like me, you’ll notice that your “critical” list is a lot shorter than you expected. That’s a good thing! You’re narrowing your focus to what matters most.

4. Press Pause or Let Go

Look at the “important, but not urgent” and “optional” categories. Is there anything you can delegate, delay, or drop completely? Remember, this isn’t forever. You’re just making space to breathe and regroup.

If you’re worried about letting people down, try this: Be honest. Let them know you’re taking a step back to focus on what’s most important. Most people will understand—and some might even be inspired to do the same.

5. Review and Adjust Regularly

Life changes. What’s critical today might not be next month. Make it a habit to check in with yourself every few weeks. Ask: Am I still focused on what matters most? Is there anything I need to add, pause, or let go?

Some Final Thoughts (And a Gentle Nudge)

I know it’s not easy to cut things out—especially if you care about them. But I can tell you from experience, “Life Triage” is one of the best things you can do when you’re overwhelmed.

When you focus on the vital few, you make real progress. You get your time and energy back. You show up better for the people you love. And you give yourself the space to rebuild, recover, or just breathe.

If you’re feeling pulled in too many directions, give this a try. Start small if you need to. Even cutting out one or two non-essential things can make a huge difference.

Here’s a quick recap of the action plan:

● Make a master list of everything on your plate.

● Sort each item into “critical,” “important, but not urgent,” or “optional.”

● Focus your energy on the critical few.

● Press pause or let go of the rest (at least for now).

● Review and adjust as life changes.

Thanks for being here—and for giving me a reason to keep showing up, even when things get tough.

🗂️ The Resource Roundup

🎵 Habit Songs: Insights from BJ Fogg, Ph.D. and Stephanie Weldy M.Ed. - How can tiny changes create lasting impact in your life and your child's? This episode explores Dr. BJ Fogg’s Tiny Habits method and his new Habit Songs for Kids project, revealing how small behavior shifts, music, and emotional awareness can spark lifelong positive change.

🔋 The Flow State: Definition, Benefits, And How To Achieve It - Have you ever wondered how to unlock those magical moments of being “in the zone,” where time melts away and productivity soars? This insightful article explores the science of the flow state, offering actionable tips to help you achieve it more frequently and enjoy its powerful benefits, from boosted mood to enhanced performance.

😰 No More Social Anxiety - Does social anxiety make everyday interactions feel overwhelming and leave you questioning if it will ever get better? This article offers a relatable deep dive into the struggle with social anxiety and provides three practical strategies—shifting your focus, practicing controlled exposure, and reframing your thoughts—to break free from the cycle of self-doubt and fear.

Thanks for reading.

Talk soon!

Cheers,

Steve Scott 

— SPONSORED AD —

Imagine having all the tools you need to build small, consistent habits that lead to big changes over time?

With the whole Store Bundle, you’ll get an all-in-one collection of over 100 premium printables designed to help you master the art of building 1% habits.

Unlock your best self—one small habit at a time. The Whole Store Bundle gives you instant access to 150+ printable planners, trackers, and journals, so you can organize your life, crush your goals, and stay motivated every single day!

— END SPONSORED AD —