Always Playing Catch-Up? Stay on Task!

I’m notorious for always playing catch-up. If it’s not on work, it’s on sleep, bills, exercise…you name it. I even have to play catch-up with my book club sometimes!

Argh.

It’s aggravating and stressful. But with the new year, I made a commitment to get my catch-up pile caught-up and to make it a new habit to stay that way. Here’s the strategies I’ve been employing…so far, I’m making headway.

Be Realistic. There’s only so many hours in a day, a week, and a lifetime. So be realistic in what you commit to. Can you really take on another volunteer project without sacrificing either your personal or family time? Can you take it on without hindering your effectiveness elsewhere? If you’re a freelancer, I highly recommend using something like Freshbooks or another timer for your desktop so you know exactly how long tasks take you; I’ve often budgeted only 30 minutes for something but later found out it took me 75 minutes instead.

Prioritize. What do you really want to do? This is applicable whether you’re a dealing with a work situation or a personal one. What’s important to you? After working far too much last year, I decided that I was going to prioritize my clients and work with only the ones I liked best. Not only was it a relief, it was nice to be able to devote my full energy in just a few places.

Focus on One Thing Each Day. Endless to-do lists can be totally overwhelming. What’s the most important thing you need to get accomplished today? It might be a load of laundry or it might be a 10-page proposal. Whatever it is, tackle that first and devote your full attention to it; then, work on the rest of the list.

Schedule When You’re Sharp. What time of day do you think most clearly? For me, it’s right around 4:15 a.m. The house is quiet and I’ve had one cup of coffee. From 4:15 to 4:30 is when I sit down and plan out my entire day. By employing a realistic approach to how long things really take me, I’m much better prepared to set a realistic goal for the day.

photo credit: ASurroca