- reneesullins8
How can we possibly get EVERYthing done?
Updated: Jun 7, 2022
Take care of your time.
Does it feel like there are not enough hours in a day? You'd be surprised there might be . . . or at least, close.
Well, it might not be that you have 'poor time management', (ahem, like my teenagers and college students), but it may be a lack of awareness of time, or lack of preparation, or failure to prioritize? I'm all about simple solutions that can make my day better, more productive and happier! And this is what I want to share with you here.
Do you have days when it seems like there's a lot to do, and no matter how hard you try, it's not all going to get done? I don't know about you, but at the end of 'that kind of day', I can feel frustrated, regretful and even upset with myself.
Sound familiar?
Here's a few things I've found to be helpful to get things done...
some may be obvious, but bear repeating. I like to break things down into their smallest parts. Often, the smallest of details can make a big shift in our mindset and success.
First, make a list of all the things you want to accomplish on a given day. I've found it helpful to do this the night before and then check it again first thing in the morning - there'll probably be more to add after you've slept (sleep? that's another blog coming).
Then, pick THREE of those things that must get done that day. Prioritize those if needed. Put the time of day when you plan to do it, or at least a time frame (morning/lunch/evening). Make that an "appointment" that can't be missed. Literally, make an appointment with yourself - put it in your calendar (Google is my fav) and make sure it's synced to your phone! Set alarms on your phone, Apple Watch, etc. to remind you.
Unless you are really diligent about having a 'physical planner, right where you see it OFTEN, planners can get hidden under papers and other miscellaneous things on a desk/countertop/nightstand - been there, done that. It's like my clients who keep their calendar/planners in their backpacks when they get home from class. They don't bother to take it out, put it on their desk and REVIEW if for homework/deadlines, etc. It doesn't work.
So...have an easy way to keep track of your daily 'to do' list. It's crucial; it's easy to forget or get side-tracked if it's not 'written down' (or on your computer/phone) . The Google calendar is easy to set up. How to set up Google calendar. One of my students taught me years ago and it was a game changer. Be sure to color code your events. Here's an inexpensive, cool paper planner I actually use as my back up that I found on Amazon. Simple to-do list weekly planner.
Last, are there items on your list that can be moved to another day this week ( I'm not talking about procrastination)? Move it to another day - right then.
Now you have your to-do list for the day....now what?
Be sure to have access to it throughout the day.
Look at it when you wake up, mid-morning, at lunch, mid-afternoon, evening before bed...or more...it just takes a second - (I know you have your phones with you all the time, lol)
Is there anything you can delegate to someone else to help get it done? A child, spouse, neighbor, friend? Can you get something to make the task easier? Here's an example of how I 'delegate' a household chore which frees me up to do other things (including stuff I want to do!)...a GREAT MOTHER'S DAY GIFT - for you! My favorite household helper!
You've got to have the right tools to make the job easier and more efficient.
My husband shared this bit of wisdom with me when we first married. It's SO true. When I don't have the right tool - hand tool, power tool, kitchen tool, storage tool, etc. , it makes my job harder and sometimes impossible to succeed.
ACTION STEPS FOR THIS WEEK:
Set up your Google calendar or calendar of your choice.
Sync to all your electronic devices.
Buy a physical planner if needed (see my suggestion above).
Start your to-do list. Prioritize the top three things you want to do today.
Don't forget to delegate what you can.
Breathe...it will get done.