How to get stuff done

We all have “stuff” we need to get done — work stuff, family stuff, friend stuff, your stuff! The list goes on.

One of my favourite ways to get stuff done is to make a ‘to-do’ list. It means mapping out my day and striking out each task as I accomplish it. Today it was: get gas, hit the grocery store, stop at the drug store, pick up coffee from the Keurig store. . . Mission accomplished!

Organization comes with benefits

I feel good when I cross things off my list. I’m rewarded with free time to do something I enjoy or time to get started on something I can never seem to get to.

Staying focused, organized and productive has its benefits. Here’s a few.

• Enjoy more time to relax.
  When you’re organized, you’ll find more time to relax and enjoy. Want to read a book without quilt? Want to fit exercise into your schedule? Get organized!
• Reduce your stress. There’s nothing worse than panicking over the things you need to get done and sweating because you don’t know how you’re going to find the time. When you’re organized and getting tasks done, there’s less panicking, less stress and more time for self care. There’s also fewer opportunities for error, which in itself reduces stress.
• Improve your memory. Being organized contributes to getting the important things done and clears your mind of unnecessary thoughts. When you’re organized, you’re less likely to forget important events, steps or tasks because you have fewer things stored in your mind.
• Make clearer decisions. When you’re not juggling 20 things at a time, you’re in a better position to make clear decisions and fewer mistakes. The knee jerk decisions you make when you’re racing to the finish line may only come back to bite you later if you haven’t taken the time to think them through.

Organization — it’s not that hard

Organizing your day isn’t that hard, but it does take discipline to stick to it. Here are a few tips to consider that work for me.

Schedule time for email. Does your work come with a steady flow of email? We all think emails need to be answered as soon as they arrive. That’s not always the case.

Try setting yourself a schedule to review your string of emails. This might be the first half hour or hour of your day, another hour before lunch and an hour mid afternoon or before you leave for the day. Knowing when you’re going to address emails means you can stop thinking about them and focus on more important tasks.

I agree, this might not be the easiest strategy to stick to, so find one that works for you. The key is giving yourself un(email)interrupted time to work.

Prioritize your list. There will always be items on your list that are more important than others. By ordering your plans for the day, you’ll make sure everything gets done. Remember my list? My priority was to fill up my empty gas tank. Without gas, I wasn’t going anywhere!

Keep in mind, if your list requires running around, the order you perform your tasks might be more appropriate. For example, if your list includes dropping off papers at the lawyers and it’s on your way to the dentist, you might want to prioritize the drop-off so it happens on the way.

Too much stuff? Declutter. Getting rid of unnecessary items may feel like a daunting task, but comes with benefits of its own. By getting rid of things you don’t need, you’ll be better able to find the things you do need. Your focus will improve without the distraction of clutter around you and you’ll feel naturally less stressed.

Try adding decluttering to your to-do list, even if it’s just an hour a day.

Stick to one thing at a time. Do you like multitasking? Accomplishing more than one task at a time may seem like a skill that can work effectively on smaller tasks. However, it’s not always a good idea when you’re working on bigger projects. Jumping from one task to another is my way of avoiding my bigger project. Guess how many times I fit in smaller tasks while writing today’s blog? That’s not to say you shouldn’t take breaks. We all need a time to recharge. Fortunately for me, my fitness watch tells me when it’s time to move!

Break up those big tasks. When you have a larger task, organizing a family event or delivering a new product at work, for example, it’s a good practice to break the bigger task into smaller ones. Add them to your to-do list and prioritize. Smaller tasks are easier to accomplish and less stressful to think about.

Remove distractions. More times than not there are other activities happening around us that we can’t always ignore. Small children need attention, a co-worker is looking for advice or the TV is airing your favourite show. Find yourself a quiet place where you can concentrate and stay focused on the task.

Make it a routine. Doing something at the same time each day turns a task into routine. When it’s routine, it’s sure to get done! Does your day or week include turning in a report? Plan to tackle that report at a regular time you can stick to.

Getting stuff done isn’t always easy, but when you do, there’s no better feeling than a productive day!

Here’s something I’ve learned. When you’re feeling overwhelmed by the number a things you think you need to do, write a list. You’ll get all those thoughts and worries out of your head. The first thing you’ll realize is, you’re not in as bad a shape as you thought. Give it a try!