Do you get overwhelmed by the amount of work that sits on your to-do list? I think we all fall into this place, some more than others. Personally, I’ve noticed a progression: my to-do list increases while my available time decreases (because of added responsibilities). This presents a problem that can lead to massive overwhelm; creating poor practices for getting things done (execution) or worse, procrastination. Today I share with you a valuable framework to implement that will help you better approach your workload and get the positive results that you’re after.
The framework is built around creating an environment of high productivity; minimizing frustration and maximizing efficiency – all based on a simple design.
Progressive Mindset
The first factor in setting up this framework is the acceptance that we can do it all…just not all at once. This is important. You’re the gate keeper of your to-do list, so you own the decision in what is accepted and rejected. The goal is to only accept items that relate to immediate needs or that directly contribute to goals and objectives.
Leverage your Resources
Another essential piece of the frame work is finding a way to distribute the load by utilizing your available resources. This is a great way to counter your weaknesses by leveraging the power of another source’s strength as if it were your own. A resource can range from other people willing to assist, utilizing specific technology, adopting proven methods, or any other source to assist you in your execution efforts.
Continual Prioritization
Not only should you keep a list of priorities that indexes the most important to the least important task, the list needs to be continually reprioritized to make sure that focus is kept in the right direction. As you reprioritize be conscious of due dates, level of difficulty, anchoring tasks (task that require the completion of another task first), available resources, etc.
Your priority list is your road map for execution. Given the complexities and sheer number of items you have to accomplish, it’s extremely difficult to be highly productive if your productivity isn’t deliberate towards your most important tasks. I suggest using technology such as a spreadsheet to manage your working lists. At minimum a notepad will suffice. I’ve found that managing two separate lists (one active list consisting of tasks that require immediate attention, and another list for future items) is the best way to keep is the best way for me to keep my priorities straight.
Make each task an individual project
Approaching each item individually will yield you with the best results overall. This means eliminate the use of miss-understood concepts such as multi-tasking. Working on multiple tasks at once distributes your focus; weakening the power of your direct concentration.
Execute According to Plan
It all comes down to execution! This is the most important part of the framework. This is also the most difficult to manage because we’re not always certain of how and where to start. Procrastination tends to pay the most annoying visit during this phase. Reduce the chances of falling victim to action paralysis by keeping your focus on what’s most important to accomplishing the positive results you seek.
Make adjustment
Making adjustment is the final point of creating a framework for getting positive results. This process empowers you to solidify what works, adopt new processes and withdraw from ineffective ones. Operating under the most ideal conditions is essential for guaranteeing that you get the positive results that you desire.
This framework provides an efficient approach to consistently get the positive results that you desire.
DISCUSSION: How do you manage your to-do list? What tips can you share to help the community? Let’s keep the education brewing to increase or effectiveness in getting positive results.
{ 67 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey Jk,
I was looking forward to a “Jk” article instead of a guest post! I mean don’t get me wrong I love the guest post, but they usually don’t compare to one of your articles. I was very much looking forward to the next one you would publish!
Good thing I saw your tweet via Twitter, man I lovvvveeeeee Twitter it’s awesome! Hey, and I retweeted you to help your promotion, because I know you could use all the promotion possible to get your word out to the world! We mist get your word out to the world together with each others help.
Your framework for positive results is awesome! I also think one must first start out by having a positive/progressive mindset, because that’s where your productivity boost will begin. That’s pretty much where everything begins. The mindset you start out with and continue to have will play a big role in your overall achievement. Think negative and most of the time it will over take you and make you slack, hate, and become jealous. I always say constant repetition will put you on the path to progression!
Believe me if you want, but I know from personal experience.
Jk I didn’t know this first starting out, but I have learned along the way that breaking down goals into single task makes it that much easier to draw the overall picture. I lovvvveeeeee painting, matter fact I have been making shirts for people for some time now, and when I paint I don’t try to paint the whole thing at once. They is way to difficult. They key to being a good painter is breaking the whole down into pieces you can handle day by day.
Last but not least EXCUTE, EXCUTE, & EXCUTE! One more time EXCUTE! Let nothing get in your way.
Thanks again!
God bless,
William Veasley
William Tha Great recently posted..Use of Online Marketing Strategies for Small Business
Tha Great! How’s it going? I’m trying to up my twitter game – glad it paid off in catching your attention. In fact – I’ve noticed a some traffic coming from Twitter which is always nice! I like what you shared about breaking goals into single tasks – that’s really the pitch here. We have to take on each chunk of work, as it’s own chunk of work. Hey – I appreciate what you bring to the community man – thank you!
Hey Jk,
Thanks for the awesome response! You are the best mannn!
Everything is going good now. Just trying to keep myself as focused as possible all by myself on late nights like tonight. Just got off work and ready to try and knock out as much work as possible! I was so eager to get off work! I was supposed to get of around 7pm, but someone called in sick so I decided to get the extra hours. My boss always knows he can count on me rain, sleet, or snow.
I really been working hard to up my Twitter game too! I love Twitter the more you get involved with it the more your appreciation will grow for it I promise. You have to learn how to manage your time on there that is key. Also, I would advise stay constant with it. Those have helped me more than anything.
I also left my link for the article I wrote on boosting Twitter followers. I wasn’t sure if you took a glance at it or not. I might serve to be useful!
Thanks again!
God bless,
William Veasley
William Tha Great recently posted..3 Simple Ways to Boost Twitter Followers!
Just checked out that article again. That’s good info man. That was actually the very first article that I commented on of yours. Nice. You are gifted in with your drive…it’s only time until all that you’re working for now, comes into fruition.
Very true Jk. Execution is the point. It’s the premise of all personal development book(s). Everything deals with taking action. The more action you take. The better than chances. You’ve executed this post rather than holding onto it. Guess what? You’ve succeeded.
jonathanfigaro recently posted..Super Fab Five Ways To Be Like Mario
JF – it surely does come down to execution. Without it, nothing can be achieved. And, because of its great power – we sometimes hold back because of fear (of failure). Thanks for being the longest standing member of the community here – I appreciate it.
JK – I love what you has to say about execution. I, unequivocally, agree. It all comes down to execution. As you mentioned this is the hardest part of all because procrastination tends to creep in when we don’t know how tog et started. Bottom line is JUST DO IT. Take action and get to work. You must have something that keeps you motivated and that excites you enough to take action.
I know what you mean about the TO-DO list. I used to have a very rough time with this issue because it seemed like the more I wanted to get done the less time was available to me to complete my tasks. I would often stay vey late at night trying to get as much as possible completed before heading off to bed and I would sacrifice tons of sleep.
I later learned that, that was a huge mistake! In fact, I wrote an article about the importance of sleep for entrepreneurs which I think you may find interesting.
Anyway, back to the point. The way I now manage my to do list is, before i get started I get my notepad (always keep my notepad handy) and I write down 5 things I want to accomplish for the day. Now, these are significant items that help me move forward. But I aim at accomplishing only those 5 things and making sure that I am consistently aiming at progression. If I don’t finish all 5 items, I simply add those to my list for the next day but my list never gets above 5 items. The reason I do this is because if I were to continuously add items I missed the day before to the next days workload, soon I would have tons of action items to get done and become overwhelmed once again, defeating the purpose of creating the list int he first place.
Hector Avellaneda recently posted..4 Elements To Overcome Deserve Issues
Hector – Thanks for the great comment. I love the way you strategically approach your to do list. When I get down to the complexities, I have a similar system. I have a Must Do portion of my list that is basically for high priority items. No matter what those items have to get done on that specific day.
I honestly think when it’s all said and done; we need to implement our own style into the equation. It’s great to have a base to start from…but after we have that nailed down – we need to make sure that we adjust according to our strengths.
Hector it means a lot having you as a part of the community. Seriously, you bring value to the table. Thanks
PEACE
Thanks JK! It’s my pleasure man. I always learn something new reading your articles.
Hector Avellaneda recently posted..The No1 Plan To An Early Mortgage Pay Off
Jk! The Hustler rides again! Great to see a post from yourself, I kind of feel bad about sending you a guest post now.
I got a quote from ViperChill one day, which read, “We can do anything we want to, but we can’t do everything”, and that quote has stuck with me ever since. It’s true, we can’t do everything we want to; I can’t see myself writing a novel anytime soon, even though I want to. My spare time is spent online now.
One thing I might suggest is to pick out one thing on your list that you ABSOLUTELY MUST DO NO MATTER WHAT, and then do it, no matter what. We feel proud of ourselves if we accomplish something big, and by doing at least one big thing for each day, we’ll feel a lot better about ourselves
Stuart recently posted..Ways To Make Valentine’s Day More Lovable
Thanks for the great comment Stu! I like the quote from VC – I believe it 100%
As you shared, I too think that it’s important to have that one must do on your list. For me, that’s the thing thats at the top and it doesn’t move or get checked off until it’s done.
And yes, the hustler rides again! There have been a lot of GREAT guest post as of late – but for a while I’ll be driving the content.
Thank you for the loyalty Stu – it means a lot. PEACE
Great advice.
I would like to add that planning your weeks save a lot of time as well.
By batching tasks and placing related tasks together you will be able to work more efficiently.
Prioritizing your to-do list makes an enormous difference as well. Start on number one, complete it and then move to number 2 on the list.
That way you will get things off the list as quickly as possible.
Daniel M. Wood recently posted..How to See the Truth About Yourself
Daniel – thank you for the great comment man. Planning is essential in my life. I have to allocate blocks of time for certain tasks…if I don’t they keep getting pushed to the side. Last week I took off two days of work just to get stuff done – stuff I’ve been trying to get done all year! Getting things done gets the momentum rolling.
PEACE
In other words, streamline your focus, know what steps to take, hit targets before moving on to the next, don’t lose sway, then win the deal or complete the tasks. A cracking blueprint for staying driven and succeeding. Love how you keep us on the straight and narrow all the time JK and I, for one, need this on a regular basis as I’m too good at letting work stack up. Now I know where to come for more..
John Sherry recently posted..5 Reasons Why Being Alone Is Brilliant
John – as usually, you come in with the most simple statement to sum up an entire article…I love it. Yes, streamline your focus! This type of information is important to me because it’s what keeps my head above the water. I figure if this stuff really works for me it can at least present others with a new perspective or confirmation to their current practices. Thanks John – it’s an honor that you consistently make each article brighter, and more simple!
Jk,
Great post my friend!
The two methods that you’ve outlined that have helped me most in my life are:
Leveraging resources- this has been a difficult one for me to embrace because I have a tendency to try to do everything myself. However, I’ve learned in business that oftentimes other folks can do things better than I can. That was a liberating one when I finally let it go!
Execute According to a Plan-My productivity goes up ten fold when I have a game plan built around my priorities. This is a huge one for me!
As the great Jim Rohn said, “results are the name of the game!”.
Thanks for sharing this framework Jk, to help us get the results we all desire!
Like in sports, Jason, the game plan exists for a reason. It’s built with strategy and address the need for adjustment when uncontrollable arise. The game also requires to utilization of all players (the resources)…even Jordan needed Pippen.
I’m glad you liked the post and even more glad that you give your time and insight here at the notebook. Thanks man!
Hi Jk,
Wonderful post. I really like what you had to say about making each task an individual project. It’s true. Even though I’m a pro at multi tasking, there are times I really need to focus on one thing. This doesn’t mean everything else gets neglected, it just means that one at a time is better. Quality over quantity! Thanks for this helpful post Jk! Good stuff:)
Dandy recently posted..How to express yourself to others
Hi Dandy, in my profession multi -taskers are highly sought after and get paid generously for their skill set. It’s a quality that anyone can develop – but most don’t because it requires a level of focus that most aren’t interested in obtaining – at least for work stuff! What I’ve found, great multi-taskers give the impression that they are working on multiple things at once, but in reality they are batching their priorities, and knocking them out with high efficiency.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and always showing up to add more value to the conversation. Thanks!
Jk,
Awesome post! My strategy is similar to the one you laid out. It generally begins with positive visualization. Then I break down every single aspect into small very small steps that I organize to accomplish over a specified time period. My inspiration for doing this was a book I recently read called “Getting Things Done” by David Allen. It has helped me do things I never thought was possible. I am still a work in progress but the information your provided will keep me focused and on track.
I would say more but I got to keep hustling!!
Frank recently posted..CHANGE can be Beautiful
Hey Frank – off the jump let me thank you for the book mention. I’m always reading and looking for suggestions – so I’m glad that you mentioned it.
I think the start is ulta important. Maybe just as important as execution. If we start something with a bad attitude or expecting the worse – then we’ll likely attract just that.
I’m a work in progress too. I think the we should always be a work in progress. As soon as we think we’ve arrived, we’ll get left as we bask self-delight. We have to constantly work to be best that we can and whatever we do, setting the right examples along the way. That’w what we’re about , right? PEACE
Thanks Jk this has come at the right time, am re juggling my working routine. Ive got a back log of work to get up to date with. Am sitting here with a pen and a pad
Theirs some useful tips here that I can use in my new Framework. such as…
Execute According to Plan Ive taken note
Procrastination has been killing my morning exercise routine, its hard to leave the comfort of my lovely lady in bed. I think I need more Monk discipline, Not working out has had an negative effect my energy, So I need execute as planed.
Mr. Christie! When procrastination comes to haunt, I would love to say – JUST DO IT, but that’s only a temporary motivator and doesn’t bring about the life-long-lasting drive that can live within us. One way I’m getting there (amongst many other things) is to take a strategic approach at things. And by strategic, I mean envisioning the start and finish.
You have a presence about yourself…you bring so much to the table. Thank you Lloyd!
Thanks J… Your so vary right – JUST DO IT is the name of the game, and thanks I will use my third eye
Hey JK,
Loved these tips. I find too that having good everyday habits helps too–like rising early and being organized. Thanks for sharing!
Jennifer Brown Banks recently posted..Cashing in on the Anthologies craze! An insiders secrets to success
Thanks Jennifer! Good habits certainly apply when it comes to getting positive results! I appreciate you taking the time to comment.
Hey Jk,
I may take a somewhat unorthodox approach, but instead of focusing on the most important thing(s) early in the day, I take care of all of the “low hanging fruit” first to get these items out of the way so I can concentrate on what’s most important.
This approach works for me because it allows my focus to be sharper without the smaller distractions still lingering around me.
Alex
Alex – I love what you do because it’s tailored to what works best for you, but still based on a structure, that you can repeat over and over…allowing for your focus to ensue. Thanks for sharing that…and for your continual support!
Jk, this is a very practical list, and it’s good for people like me. I am sure I’m not alone here, but I absolutely HAVE to have to-do lists to function. I can get overwhelmed fast WITHOUT one. Having one has taught me not to spend too much time on one task and to delegate enough time to other tasks.
Also, I like how you gave special attention to a breakdown of smaller things that are more achievable – this really makes a difference for me. Too many things can look overwhelming, so I have to break it down (cover up a certain portion until I’m done with another). Thanks for letting me know I’m not alone in this.
Bryan Thompson recently posted..The 1 Fear that will Destroy All Chances of Your Success
Hello Bryan – I can’t even imagine having much less of a workload so I’m always looking to develop my ability to thrive within any deck of cards I’m handed. My professional life has taught me a lot about being organized, following processes and how those things can help deliver the successful results that we want.
Fortunately there are endless amounts of resources that can help us get there. I want to be one of them.
Thank you for being one of the most common faces on the notebook. I appreciate it man!
Hi JK,
Very excellent post. The key for me to focus at one task at a time. I find it that I finish tasks a lot faster when I focus only on one thing at a time. Prioroitizing also helps a lot. I also think mental planning is crucial, this is half the work for me. If I know mentally what I’m going to do, then the rest tend to be easy just taking action. Thanks for sharing JK
Dia recently posted..Why do I worry so much
Hi Di. How are you my friend? One item at a time goes a long way. It seems inferior to it’s multi-tasking counterpart. But honestly, most people aren’t good at multi-tasking (they only think they are). Productivity increases when our focus increases.
Thank you so much for the comment and always making it to the note book to show your support. You’re the man! PEACE
The single most important thing I ever did to enhance my efficiency and productivity (aside from positive mindset) was eliminate distractions. I identified the things I did that equated to big slots of time. Even if it wasn’t a lot of time spent each day on it, the activity adds up at the end of a week.
Most of the time we’ll see progress (and a checked off to-do here and there) when we are honest with ourselves. We have to ask, “what am I doing that is hindering my progress?” It isn’t always, “what do I have to do next to make progress?” We get in our own way so often it’s silly.
Jon recently posted..Is Passion Enough To Keep Your Business Afloat
That’s big Jon – if distractions are present, then we can rest assured that we will drastically decrease our ability to maximize our results. I’m glad you brought that one up. “what am I doing that is hindering my progress” is a very wise questions. One that I need to ask myself AND ANSWER HONESTLY, much more often.
Thanks Jon for the great comment. I’m sure your insight will serve as value to another (it has to me already). PEACE.
Hey JK!
These are excellent and essential tips to managing feelings of overwhelm. I did a video post on this subject matter a month or so ago and one of the things that I highlighted is that no only is it important to do the things you’ve set out here, but it’s important to quite the voice in your head that stresses you out.
You know, the one that is like…I’ve so much to do, how will I get all this done, oh – and I have to do this. When we listen to that voice it builds anxiety internally. Ironically, it also distracts us from being able to put our full attention on the task at hand.
Overwhelm exists when you spend too much time thinking about what you have to do instead of just doing it. Tell the voice in your head to simmer down. Then, get to work!
Marlee recently posted..How to Make “Common” Content More Unique
Hello Marlee – you make a great point about the hushing the voice. I know that voice well. I can be in the middle of something, being ultra productive and the “voice” comes out of no where whispering something in my ear completely throwing off my game. That voice gets me thinking…thinking about what else sits on my plate (workload) gradually leading me to the point of feeling overwhelmed.
I’m going to have to review that video – I’m always down to incorporate new perspectives….that’s how my perspective broadens.
Thanks for always bringing energy and great additions to the subject matter. Look forward to some new flavors in the near future. PEACE
Jk, reading your responses to the comments above, I found that I am not the only one who holds the battle cry “JUST DO IT” for special occasions. Although I am process oriented person, I cannot deny that there are a few tasks that I rather not do; and every once in a while (ok twice in a while) when I face Procrastination (that’s with a capital “P”, if you please), I think of Nike’s (the athletic apparel company) simple tagline in a form of a mantra:
Just do it… to grow
Just do it… to learn
Just do it… to achieve
Just do it… you’ll be glad that you did
…on that note, I am inspired to find an image depicting the goddess of Victory, Nike. Ciao!
Great post!
Ajen recently posted..Living Your Dreams Without Expectation
Hello Ajen! Welcome to the site and I appreciate you taking the time to not only comment – but to COMMENT. Thank your for sharing honestly that procrastination consumes you at times. I think it happens to us all, at least to a degree. A quick jolt of motivational umph such as saying “just do it”, helps big time!
Well, thank you again for the great comment and adding value to the discussion. I hope to see you back in the future.
Hey JK,
I’m continually looking for ways to make myself more efficient. This post couldn’t have come at a more perfect time. Right now, I’ve been utilizing a white board to keep abreast of tasks. This sentence has really challenged me….In fact, I’ve been reading it over and over again:
“Approaching each item individually will yield you with the best results overall. This means eliminate the use of miss-understood concepts such as multi-tasking. Working on multiple tasks at once distributes your focus; weakening the power of your direct concentration.”
I can’t say that I agree or disagree right now. One thing is for sure, it has me thinking. The reason being: I never seem to approach things individually. With a desktop and a laptop set-up, I’m continually rotating myself between both. This is definitely something I need to work on. Thanks for the insights, as always, man!
Howie recently posted..A More Detailed Case for InfoBarrel
Hey Howie,
I’m glad this article was timely for you. I think this is one of those subjects that we always have some room for improvement. It was really a high level overview – but enough to at least spark some thought into developing a consistent way to approach the “madness”.
Thank you for continuing to follow the notebook. PEACE
I’m a huge fan of the concept of singular focus JK. As you said above, the idea that multi-tasking is effective is total bunk. For example, you simply can’t write an effective blog post when your blackberry is chiming in every 30 seconds to let you know you’ve got a new email. That’s crazy and it’s utterly distracting.
I like the concept of two lists as well. The now and the later. I do something similar and it works. Simply put, when I take the time to focus on my list and follow it, I’m better off for it.
Great read, as always my friend.
Marcus
Marcus Sheridan-The Sales Lion recently posted..Husband- Father- Blogger- Business Owner- A Sales Lion Close-Up
You know Marcus, I used to consider my self a good multi-tasker…but since I’ve been taking the singular approach, I now realize how inefficient I was, compared to where I am now. I think multi-taskers will argue this all day – but until they try the alternate, they’ll never know.
Let me take a quick moment to thank you for the time that you give here in not only reading but commenting. Always know that I appreciate it man. PEACE
On my job i’m a multi-tasking person (that make my boss very happy) but when i’m home and i work for me, i do my tasks one on the time. I realase i’m more efficient when i do like this, before i was working just like on my daily job and i was quite disappointed with the results.
I wrote on a piece of paper what i will do in the next four hours (when i will get a litlle breake and things like that), this helps me concentrate better.
Patel Urvisha recently posted..Treatment for Diabetes In Dogs
Hi Patel. Welcome to the notebook and thank you so much for taking the time to leave comment. Sounds like you know first hand the differences between multi-tasking and tackling tasks individually. And, as I have found, you also find that the latter approach is more efficient. Thank you so much for the comment. I hope to see you back in the future.
JK,
I tend to multitask at times, and do notice that this fragmented type of attention can make things more difficult. It leads to progress but then I’m stuck with numerous unfinished tasks, which can be stressful to say the least. I love your point about realizing we can get everything done, but just not all at once. There are always priorities and we just have to notice what needs to be done now, and not let the other future tasks steal out mental energy or cause us stress. Someday I’ll learn this lesson.
Joe – I’ve been there too…multi-task so much that at the end I’m still left with 10 task 75% complete. I’m still in learning too, Joe – and through that process I’m finding that a lot of ways I thought were the best way, really aren’t. Openning my mind has helped me in not only in my personal growth but all aspects of life.
By the way – welcome to the notebook man. Great ebook you just released buddy!
PEACE
Jk – man, you’ve got a formula here to get somethings done. I can tell you’re going to leave a serious mark in the business world.
Two words that stand out in this post are plan and execution. If you have a solid plan and you put all of your energy and talents behind making it happen everyday, there’s absolutely nothing you won’t be able to accomplish in life.
You’re an inspiring young man – thanks for all you do Jk!
Mark Harai recently posted..Startup Tip Series- How to Raise Money for Your Startup Now
Hello Mark – You are welcome…but let me thank you for the support…and help with Twitter!
Your comment on planning and executing holds true with me too. Having a solid plan and focusing my energy on executing usually always converts a win.
Again, thank you for the support Mark…and for commenting.
Hi Jk, this past year I would get my high priority tasks done but certain things I just never got to. Eliminating distractions like email helped, but not enough. I finally realized that I was just putting too much on my plate, so I’ve stopped doing some things and outsourced others. I’ve also decided to break the long neglected tasks up into smaller chunks so I can work on them a little at a time.
Jennifer Barry recently posted..10 Keys to a Successful Relationship
You brought up a great point Jennifer, sometimes we flat out allow too much on our plate. Like our parents taught…we should only grab what we can eat! Or, at least have realistic expectations on executing.
Thank you for the comment Jennifer!
You are the man JK!
Leveraging your resources is also a great way to get positive results! once again, great post! Thanks so much for sharing 
Love your points man! Focusing on a single task at a time does make things move on a great path
Samuel recently posted..How to Manage Your Time in Your Internet Business – Work Better and Have More Fun
Hey Samuel – thank you for the note and adding to the conversation. I’m the kind of guy who gets going and forgets that he has help. So keeping my resources on my mind, and using them goes A LONG WAY.
Thank you for the support!
I can’t believe i didn’t comment on this post! I’m slipping. Focus is the focal point of all objectives. Focus creates a better vision and a greater outcome. Great post jk! You killing boy!
jonathanfigaro recently posted..Do You Have Family
Jonathan – you actually did comment on this last week. You’re up there on the list. But I always appreciate you coming back for more!
Execute according to plan is so simple, but so powerful.
It’s so easy to think something is done simply because you thought it through. It’s been said that structuring a problem is half the battle, and while that’s true, it’s the actions that follow that actually make the difference. Worst case, you learn another way how not to do something.
J.D. Meier recently posted..Jonathan Figaro on Lessons in Life
I tell you J.D. – I think you’re a genius when it comes to this topic. Your book is great. I have to purchase another copy because the one my wife got me for xmas is at the office – being utilized by many. Seriously, it’s a hit!
Action orientation is the difference maker! Thanks J.D. for sharing your insights!
JK!! AWESOME post! You nailed it! It’s so easy for us “hustlers” to get down on ourselves because we’re self motivators trying to do a million things at once…the keys are, organization and persistence! Thanks for the advice!
Happy Monday!
Hey Mike – yes, it’s important that we keep aggressively organized and take actions in the same fashion! I always have to remind myself of that.
Mike thanks for the continued support man. It’s great having you around!
PEACE
It is not very easy having to cope with many things at once. So the first approach I take is to keep it simple. I don’t keep a physical list, I just have goals. And I pick on each goal to achieve per time. If I were to have a to do list, it will be goal based. That is, execution strategies specific to each goal. More like a mental road map for achieving the goal. Instead i use the goals as benchmark for how much progress I am making and try as much as possible to focus on one goal per time. We cannot afford as creative people to lose sight of what is paramount. The more we try to do a lot at once, the less we eventually end up achieving.
Thank you JK, for the useful tips. Leveraging on the abilities of others is definitely one key way to buy yourself more time to do what you alone can do. In the end, we are never going to be able to achieve greatness all by ourselves. So, keeping your strengths and doing only those things you have the superior ability to do is paramount. When it comes to creativity, less is more!
Tito Philips, Jnr. recently posted..11 Fundamental Business Questions For Every Startup Entrepreneur
Hey Tito – I wish I could do away with a list – with my profession, it’s a must. It’s an extra “thing” to manage, but it’s like having an assistance, something to keep me reminded of what’s next, and next, next. I like what you said The more we try to do a lot at once, the less we eventually end up achieving. Ain’t that the truth!
Thanks for the comment Tito – I appreciate the continued support and I love your new site: UniteNigeria! Can’t wait to catch up with you to learn more. Until, take care can. PEACE.
JK: Great post. I really appreciated what you said about having a realistic idea of what we can actually do. “We can do it all…just not all at once”. It is so true. I think that is what I try to always focus on because you can really start unfairly beating yourself up if you don’t realistically create expectations of what can actually be done in a day. For me to I also follow the advice of Thomas Troward. One of my favorite quotes he shared is that “Order is Heaven’s first law”. I think there is so much to be said about organizing your thoughts, your mind and of course … your “to do” list
Sibyl – alternaview recently posted..Are You Really Learning and Moving in the Right Direction
Hi Sibyl: I think the size of the mountain scares us from conquering it. It only requires one step; one stretch at a time, and in time we’ll arrive. We surely can’t leap up Mt Kilimanjaro…it takes baby steps. Thanks for the comment Sibyl – take care!
I do my” to do” list in the morning while I’m reading and drinking my first cup of coffee for the day. When something that needs to be done pops into my head I just jot it down and continue reading. When done I take the list with me and try to do at least 3 things on the list. This work well for me. I include this with other strategies that I have to keep me focussed on what’s most important and don’t let those things be held hostage by trivial, inconsequential activities.
Riley
Riley Harrison recently posted..GOAL SETTING THAT WORKS part 6
I do not maintain something liek a ‘to do list’. I just go about with whatever comes to my mind. Though at times, it may create problems, I believ that it is the best way to lead a happy life.
Ranjith recently posted..The rise and fall of hopes
To each his own right? With all that I have on my plate – I just couldn’t operate in an organized fashion without keeping an active list. But each persons situation is different – so I respect anyones approach – especially if it works for them…and even more if it leads them to a happy life.
Hey Jk,
Well said – I love your tips on how to deal with massive to-do lists. Very helpful!
“Personally, I’ve noticed a progression: my to-do list increases while my available time decreases (because of added responsibilities).” – Funny, I also noticed the same trend.
It all boils down to prioritizing your tasks and then taking action to achieve your envisioned results. I’ve been reading a book (you’ve probably heard of it) – Getting Things Done by David Allen – that has been helping me in this area immensely, and it starts with keeping an up-to-date list of incoming tasks that needs to get done and then making the time to accomplish said tasks.
I especially agree when you say, “Working on multiple tasks at once distributes your focus; weakening the power of your direct concentration.” I’ve tried to do this in the past and tackle multiple projects at once, but, in the end, I never seem to get far. I would often think that tackling more projects at once would help me get more done, but more often than not, I would just get so frustrated with the lack of results that occurs by dividing your focus. Now, I’m slowly learning that more isn’t exactly better and that I should maybe stop making myself crazy with work and stick to one task at a time.
All-in-all, you wrap everything together nicely. Execution is also important; for, without action, there can be no progress. And I can definitely say that I’ve been a victim of procrastination more times than I’d like to remember.
Awesome posts with sound, valuable advice to better manage one’s workflow!
Christina
Christina Crowe recently posted..Are All Marketers Evil Why Building Links Can Save Your Business
I’m glad you liked this one. I tell you, it’s such a struggle for me to concentrate on one thing – but when I’m able to do it – it makes all the difference. ALL THE DIFFERENCE. for me, everything that I do is about putting out the best quality and being as efficient as possible in the process so I can move on to the next thing.
Thanks for plugging the David Allen book. I’ll have to check that out…maybe, just maybe he’s a distant relative [Allen]!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks Christina!
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