Sometimes its just hard to get down to it…
Oh, how many times I’ve just headed for the coffee pot (or Starbucks in truth) thinking I need a coffee break and THEN I’ll get down to it!
I guess in truth though, I don’t need more coffee or more breaks. I think what I need is a different mind set. I need to focus on working more and harder.
Well, here are a few ideas of how to get a bit more productive and stop procrastinating.
Your day is a story. Scientists have established that those people who are most productive in their private and work lives, tend to constantly view their day like a story. They review what they’ve just done and plan what they’re going to do, but they do it constantly and in doing so are able to focus their attention where needed.
Close down for a day… Well, sort of. Sometimes there is so much going on, so many interruptions, so many questions, you just don’t get time to do anything! Well, once in a while, take yourself away quietly, close your e-mail, don’t tkae any phone calls. Tell everyone you’ll be unavailable for a few hours and just get your head down and get stuff done!
Not only do you no doubt need to clear your desk, but sometimes it works well to clear your mind – take a pad and paper (yes, you can still buy them) and jot down everything that’s on your mind. Every small scrap that’s digging at you. By doing so, you’ll find you release your mind from thinking about all the “fuzz” and clutter, enabling you to focus on the important tasks at hand.
I know that some or indeed perhaps all of these ideas have been tried before, but sometimes we just need a “jog” and if this article works as a jog for you, then great! I’m really pleased.
So here’s one last thought and yes, it has been written about before, but is also perhaps a little encouragement to practice the “touch it once principle” (TIO). This is how it works… simply put, for all those e-mail invitations and requests, look at them once, address them, reply to them or dump them – just once! Get them out of your hair. Do it or dump it.
