Today, we are all about making the most of our time and staying productive. But what happens when we feel overwhelmed by the number of things we need to get done, but don’t enjoy doing them?
Are we really living our best life if so many of our activities are dread-inducing?
Getting things done can be so much easier when you know why they are important. Keeping up with your tasks and responsibilities doesn’t have to be a chore; in fact, staying organized makes life run so much smoother.
Instead of putting off tasks and responsibilities until tomorrow or next week, take advantage of the small changes you can make to start making your life a little better sooner rather than later.
Let’s talk about ways to help you stop putting tasks off and start doing things now.
Start with a To-Do List
Having a list of things that you need to get done can help keep your momentum going and set the tone for the day.
When faced with the daunting task of writing down tasks and remembering which ones are next on your list, take a second and write them down.
To-Do lists can vary from being paper lists, to digital.
There are a lot of different ways to organize your tasks, and what works best for you is totally up to you. You can make a checklist for each task or you can make one master checklist that encompasses all your responsibilities.
Related: Time management definition, skills and tips.
Organize Before You Dive in
It is important to separate the tasks you enjoy from the ones that are necessary to get stuff done. If you keep them in the same pile as your “dull” tasks, they will never get done.
Before you take on a new project, write down the benefits you will get out of it. For example, if you want to learn a new skill, write down the value you will get from this skill.
- It could be getting a promotion at work.
- Starting a business.
- Improving your fitness routine.
- Looking good.
- Or it could be anything else.
Now, look at your list of tasks and try to separate out the ones that really have the potential for you to get a benefit from doing them. If you cannot think of any, then they are not worth doing.
Think Before you Say Yes or No
Letting people come to you with their requests and assignments is a great way to build relationships, but sometimes it is also important to put your own boundaries in place.
There is a difference between saying “no” and “not now,” so make sure you have a good understanding of the difference before you decide to decline a request.
Always be careful not to use the word “no” in a way that becomes a crutch for your own excuses.
If you find yourself constantly saying “no” whenever someone asks you to help, try taking a step back and thinking about it.
Related: Learn how to say no.
Is it really a “no,” or are you just trying to put things off? Sometimes we say “no”, but ultimately, we will need to say “yes”, we will have to accept the task, so why not get through with it without further delay which might cause unnecessary stress and inconvenience?
Set Timers and Alarms
Everyone has that particular task that they always say they will get to “later.” We all have tasks we try to put off, but they are always there, no way to avoid them. So why not stop procrastinating and do them now?
Setting a timer or alarm on your phone is a great way to help you stay committed to that task, to remind you to take action.
Set up a timer on your phone or a kitchen timer or any other device that you have around the house. To remind you to start your task.
You can also use a dedicated timer app or an online timer service.
When the time is up, your timer should ring to remind you to start the task without any delay.
Take a Short Break Every Now and Then
You are probably doing a lot of things right now and might feel tired or exhausted. Instead of staying on that track, step back and spend a couple of minutes doing something you truly enjoy.
It could be something as simple as going for a walk or taking a nap, taking a few minutes to step away from your normal routine will allow you to recharge and refocus your energy.
This mini-break can also be a great way to clear your mind and help you refocus on the tasks you’d like to get back on track with.
You can also think of these mini-breaks as a reward for the work you have done.
Try a New Approach: Every Day Is Deadline Day
You will feel happy and satisfied if every day you are making progress towards a goal, improving your life, or improving yourself.
There are no “off days” in business or in life. Keep pushing forward every day, even if you don’t feel like it, and never give up.
If you find that you are constantly putting things off, but you are not making any progress, it is time to make a change. It is important to realize that those days off and moments of laziness will add up, but so will the days when you get a few things done.
Don’t Multitask While You Are Working
Multitasking is a myth. There is only one thing happening at a time, and it is your attention. It is where you direct your attention.
While you are working, you can’t be watching something on your phone, watching a movie on Netflix, looking up something on Wikipedia.
Sometimes, it would be a great if you keep your phone out of sight and out of mind while you are working on any other project.
This way you will have a much better chance at completing the task at hand, and you will have less of a chance of getting distracted by something you really shouldn’t be doing.
Stay Curious
It is important to always keep an open mind, and never stop exploring new ideas and opportunities.
It may seem like the only way you can possibly improve your life is by following a certain path or doing certain things, but you can always find new ways to make things happen.
It is easy to get stuck in a rut and think that there is only one way to live your life, but that’s not true.
You may think you have to follow a certain path to get where you want to be, but you have more options than you realize.
Always keep an open mind and dig deeper. You will be surprised at the new ideas you uncover.
Don’t Forget about the Importance of Self Discipline
It’s easy to fall into the trap of procrastination, especially when faced with tasks that are mundane or uninteresting. However, self-discipline can be of great help. It plays a crucial role in breaking this cycle and allowing us to tackle these tasks head-on.
By cultivating self-discipline, we develop the ability to overcome our natural tendencies to procrastinate and instead prioritize and complete tasks efficiently.
Self-discipline enables us to maintain focus and motivation even when faced with unenjoyable tasks. It helps us build a strong work ethic and instills a sense of responsibility in our actions.
When we practice self-discipline, we develop the habit of taking immediate action rather than delaying or avoiding tasks altogether.
By addressing these tasks promptly, we not only prevent the accumulation of unfinished work but also experience a sense of accomplishment and relief.
Self-discipline empowers us to take control of our actions and prioritize our long-term goals over short-term discomfort, ultimately leading to increased productivity and personal growth.
