So, I’ve got one of those busy weeks. Perhaps you have a similar week situation. The kind of week where your to-do list is looming like an insurmountable mountain. To make things worse, even thinking about how you’re going to get everything accomplished makes you think about just hunkering down with pie and Netflix. So, if you’re thinking about pie and Netflix, here are three suggestions to help you conquer your mountain, feel good about rocking your to-do list, and avoiding too many calories and brain candy.
1. Just Start
Seriously. I realize this is a “umm… okay” sort of statement. However, I had an English teacher my freshman year of high school tell us that the hardest part of writing is the first sentence. I now realize that was just a motivational hack to get us started. But, there’s a lot of truth in the idea. I went for a run today and the hardest section was the first 100 yards. The rest felt pretty good. Finishing is tough, but sometimes starting is scarier. After you finish reading this post stop everything else (including Facebook) and get going on your mountain.
2. Set a timer
A few years ago I ran across a time-management system called the Pomodoro Technique. The basic idea is that you set a timer for 25 minutes and then take a 5 minute break. After four 25 minute sessions you allow yourself a 15 minute break. It’s brilliant because you aren’t working all day… you’re working for 25 minutes and then the opportunity for a 5 minute respite is right there. Whenever I’m really buried with tasks, setting an old school kitchen timer does wonders. If you’ve never tried this, the timer is 5 bucks, and the productivity is far more valuable.
3. Chunk it Up
Although I often use chunk to describe one of my favorite guitar tones, chunk in this instance is something entirely different. Chunking a project out sounds like: “You aren’t writing a thirty page paper, you’re writing two pages today.” I’m in the midst of finishing up a project for work that was rather massive. As I began to break it down into more manageable sections, not only did the project seem less ominous – it was also easier to wrap my head around the scope of the project. Break down your project and you’ll find it less threatening.
There you go… 3 quick and implementable tips to get you rolling with your week. Climb your mountain, don’t eat too much junk food, and feel good on Friday evening for getting so much accomplished!
Til next time,
DP