Decluttering and automating are just two ways of checking more items off your to-do list.
Sometimes, our to-do list seems insurmountable, the demands on our time and energy feel unrelenting, and we just want to crawl back under the covers and hope the work magically completes itself. Avoidance is sure to make matters worse, of course.
What we need to do when there’s a lot to be done is to take action.
If you’re needing a wildly productive day to plow through the demands on your plate, here are a few steps to make the most of it.
Start Solid
Setting yourself up for success begins in the early morning. Refrain from reaching for your phone first thing and instead ready yourself for the day with activities that fuel you. Whether that includes reading, meditation, exercise, journaling, or simply sitting quietly with that first cup of coffee, start your day off by preparing your mind and body for productivity.Devise a Plan
Running around from task to task like a tornado blowing through town isn’t the most refined strategy you could use to tackle the tasks at hand. Take a moment or two to jot down what’s on your mind and identify the top three most important tasks to be done. Next to each of those, estimate how long each will take to complete and designate the specific time block within which you’ll work on those. Finally, if any items you’ve jotted down take two minutes or less, do them immediately, and enjoy the satisfaction of checking them off.Declutter
As you go, improve your efficiency by decluttering your space or your digital files. A messy environment can cause undue stress and delays. Be cautious, however, of not allowing this task to become a form of procrastination. Quickly do what you can to improve your productivity.Take Regular Breaks
As you work your way through your productive day, it might feel counterintuitive to take breaks, but doing so actually can increase your productivity. A 10-minute walk outside, a five-minute stretch, and even a 15-minute nap may allow you to expand your capacity for the day in its entirety.Automate, Delegate, and Renegotiate
Whenever possible, take time to set up automation for repetitive tasks such as bill paying or perhaps certain email responses. Further, develop your ability to delegate. One common form of delegation is ordering groceries online and having the store do your shopping for you. For each task you’re managing, ask yourself, can someone else do this? Consider also, for each, whether renegotiating expectations is warranted. If you’ve got an appointment that you’re not sure is necessary, a due date that needs to be extended, or some other collaborative effort that could use some bandwidth, renegotiate the details and relieve some of the pressure.Minimize Interruptions
Interruptions can be surprisingly difficult to recover from. If you’re in the midst of focused mental work, especially, do what you can to minimize interruptions. Tell those around you that you’ll be unavailable for a certain time. Shut your office door. Work remotely in a secluded location.Celebrate
At the end of the day, you'll likely find that not everything went according to plan. Choose the top three most important tasks for tomorrow and celebrate any and all progress you made today. End your day with a solid wind-down routine and plenty of sleep so that you can seize the day tomorrow.
