Regardless of where you live or what you do for a living, we all have the same 24 hours in a day. The great equalizer is how we spend those hours. There are days when we walk away from our desk and look at a to-do list that is all done! On other days we walk away at quitting time and haven’t made it through the list and know that tomorrow morning we have to finish that list in addition to a new one!
How can you get more done in a day when you only have 24 hours to work with? Here are some things I practice:
- Is there a project that seems too daunting? Task you are putting off for no particular reason? Chances are there is a “particular reason.” It could be that the task is outside your wheelhouse. Or it is simply that doesn’t fit with your vision and mission for your business or your life. If you have a project that is hanging over your head, step back and look at the true reasons you’re not finishing it. I’ll bet you’ll uncover what’s blocking you and once you do, you’ll be able to move forward. Even breaking a large project into smaller chunks can go a long way toward completion.
- Did you know that you were not born a procrastinator? None of us are. It is a behavior that we learn as we go along. In some cases, people procrastinate as a way to rebel. In other cases, we simply may not have enough information to move the project forward so we do nothing. Determine what your true reason for procrastination is and move past that.
- Did you know that stressing about a project or your to-do list can lead to poor health? It can. Use your 24 hours wisely when it comes to project completion and to simply taking care of yourself. A project crossed off – or delegated to another – will help you move onto other tasks and will also benefit your overall health and wellbeing.
We believe in to-do lists as a guide for our workday but not as a strict taskmaster – a to-do list is not a punishment for things left undone – it is a tool to help you stay focused and crossing an item off is reward itself!