Get It Done

Many people ask me how I manage to get so many things done and this always makes me pause and reflect because it isn’t something that I really focus on. I see all the things I don’t get done while others see the things that I get done.

I came across a statement that reminds me of how I sometimes feel. It says, “Some days, she has no idea how she’ll do it. But every single day, it still gets done.”

There are many days, weeks and months that I look at the list of things that are on my schedule and I wonder if they will ever get done but when the time passes, I realise they were all done and I wonder how.

So for today’s post, I thought I would share some thoughts from my self-reflection.

Planning is key to excellent execution

We have a tendency to underestimate how much needs to get done. This applies to many areas and stages of our lives. Students underestimate how much they need to study until it is upon them and adults underestimate the tasks until they are in the middle of completing them.

We need to identify everything that needs to be done, add them to our task list, and allocate time to complete them remembering tasks that need full focus and those we can do alongside others. Add some time for contingencies and pace yourself from start to finish to avoid burnout.

Use a ‘to do’ list; Add myself to it

I find having a to do list helps me to get a lot done but more importantly, I check I am on my own list. It is so easy to have a list of things to do for everything and everyone but your own tasks are missing.

This might be adding an hour for your quiet time, 15 minutes to read a book, remembering to pick up your prescription or write a chapter for your next book, 30 minutes to put your feet up at the end of a busy day.

When I have a project, I have ‘to do’, ‘to buy’, ‘to pack’ lists and when you have that many lists, it is easy for other personally impacting things to not make the list unless you make a deliberate effort.

De-clutter is key

This applies both to my space and my mind. I hate clutter of any kind in my working spaces, physical, mental, emotional and spiritual spaces, and I fight to keep them clean. This means having routines and orders for my physical spaces, and setting boundaries for all others. It starts with my definition of clutter as others may not perceive or see what is clutter to me or they might see it and not agree with my definition of clutter.

When my sons were growing up, I asked one of them if his room was clean and tidied up; he replied and said, ‘yes, by my own standards, but not by yours.’ He understood that my standards and his were different and cleverly used this to his advantage.

After my latest job, I jokingly told my brother that I only allow the necessary amount of clutter in my mind at any point in time. One day at a time, one week at a time, one task at a time are principles I adopt. I free myself to focus on the immediate set of tasks.

Best effort always

I love the quote by Maya Angelou which says, “Love life. Engage in it. give it all you’ve got. Love it with a passion because life truly does give back, many times over, what you put into it.”

This quote summarises my approach to getting things done because I always aim to give my best effort, do my work passionately and allow my actions to be driven by love for the people who are always at the end of the task whether it is a work project, food project or any others. I find things that make it more pleasurable such as having a great playlist and fantastic team to work with.

Attitude and Effort are both within my gift so I always make sure they are maximally deployed.

Breaks are not optional

I have a natural tendency to not stop until the job is done so this is something I need to actively work on to make sure I don’t burn out. I like to rest when all the work is done but sometimes all the work can’t be done before rest is needed and these are the critical times when I have to fight my natural inclination and urge to continue working rather than take a break.

So take a break when you need to but more importantly recognise when this is necessary. One way to make this happen is to schedule your breaks into your plan as milestones; that way you look forward to them and treat them as you treat all other key milestones.

Thanks for reading my post; I hope some of my pointers help you. I look forward to reading some of yours too. See you next week and don’t forget to share this with others.