The other day, I sat down at my desk and found myself staring listlessly into my computer screen. With multiple lists surrounding me, some items highlighted in pink or starred in all caps, I simultaneously felt overwhelmed and unmotivated. When my husband asked me how I was doing, my first thought was to respond with how "busy" I was and that I would be non-stop all day. But instead, I said to him, "I have so much $#it to do, and none of it feels like it's going to make me any money." And that was the problem. I had made a huge, deep list for myself, but none of it felt crucial to running or building my business. I realized I’d fallen into the trap of being ‘busy’ without actually being productive. Sound familiar? So, it got me thinking:
How can I better organize my tasks so that I can go from busy to productive?
I imagine that some of you might resonate with this. I know I'm not the only one who finds herself spinning her wheels and having nothing to show for it at the end of the day. Enough already.
If you've read Own Your Wellness, you know I'm not a fan of good enough. When your doctor tells you all your lab results are "normal," we don't take that to mean you're in excellent health. Well, the same applies to our time management. Just because we are all "busy" doesn't mean that's what we should settle for.
I don't want to be busy. I want to be productive!
So, how do we reorganize our lists and schedules to finally start seeing results, whether in our businesses, family, or health?
Know Your WHY
When I was a personal trainer in a big gym, we would occasionally be called on to mentor new incoming trainers. When reviewing their program design for a specific client scenario, I would sometimes ask, "Why are you choosing this exercise for this client?" If they couldn't give a specific reason, it was out. Well, this can also apply to our to-do lists. If you don't know how that specific task will help move you toward your goal(s), it's gotta go!
Tackle the Hardest Task First
Another common pitfall is pushing out that one thing on your list that seems daunting. Somehow, it keeps getting copied onto the next day and then the next. It's the one thing you really need to do but are never in the mood to handle. You know what? That's probably the only important thing on the whole darn list. Make a deal with yourself that you don't have to do anything else if you get that thing done. I know, you can't possibly blow off all that other stuff. Yeah right. Yes, you can. But you won't. If you get that one thing done and dusted, you'll have serious momentum for busting through the other things on your list. Or better yet, crossing off junk that shouldn't have made the list to begin with.
Don't Multitask
You've undoubtedly heard before that multitasking is indeed a myth. We can't see and do different things simultaneously, as much as we'd like to lie to ourselves. And yet, we still try to do it-- all day. You know how when you're watching a TV show, and it gets boring for, like, 20 seconds, you start scrolling through social media, but then you remember to look up at the show, and you've lost the plot and now have to rewind. Yeah, that's multitasking at its best. Don't structure your days so that you're just highlighting your ADD. Do one thing. Do it well. Then, go on to the next.
Breaks Help You Focus
Yes, they do. If you know that your (one) task will take 2 hours, tell Siri to remind you to stand up in 45 minutes. Do some quick squats, hold a plank, take a short walk, or just pet your dog. Then back to it. These tiny breaks for our minds and bodies help us stay fresh, keep the ideas flowing, and help you avoid physical and mental burnout. The key is not to let the break take you off course. Make them short and sweet, and then get back to it.
Minimize Distractions
Distractions are inevitable. Whether it be someone at your door, the phone ringing, or just an itch you need to scratch, don't let a momentary distraction throw you off your plan. That said, minimize what distractions you can. Set your devices to "work" mode, close the door to your space, or put your phone in another room. Whatever your personal Achilles' heel is when it comes to distractions, recognize it and find a way to mitigate its pull on you. You can even use your fave distraction as a carrot to dangle. For example, I often find myself staring out the window. Instead of forcing myself just to get back to work, I set my timer for 45 minutes and then get outside for a walk or just chill outdoors for my break.
Even if you only try one or two of the above suggestions, I hope this helps you feel less like you're just going through the motions in your day and more like you're actually getting somewhere. Personally, reminding myself of why I need to accomplish that one hard thing is exactly what I needed to do. That hard thing changes daily now instead of just being copied onto the next list and the next one, too. Feeling like I'm actually doing small things to make forward progress is a wonderful feeling. Now, when my husband asks me how I'm doing, I can say,
I'm on fire! 🔥
Which of these tips resonates with you most? Let me know in the comments!
I’m always here if you want to chat about your health, explore the next steps, or connect. You can email me directly at dd@dfitlife.com or book a complimentary call here.
Let’s make time work for you!
Yours in health,
DD Forrest
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