How many times have you caught yourself saying “I can’t do “this” task right now, without knowing how it fits into the bigger picture” or “I just need a plan”? Procrastination seems justified at that moment. Why would you wish to “waste” time if “It does not matter?”
Ask yourself this: Is this really the need for the circumstances to be perfect; for all the pieces of the jigsaw to be in place, before we can move on and complete the task? Or, is it something else…is there a tool you can put into place so that the big picture is clearer?
To more easily see the bigger picture and stop delaying (progress can be defined as incemental daily steps…) do these 3 things.
- Use a capture tool. This doesn’t have to be anything complicated. Maybe just a pen and paper but start your day by undertaking a brain dump onto a sheet of paper. List everything that you need to do, together with any deadlines. These tasks can be work, family or personal must-dos. Then group tasks together, where possible, and schedule time in your diary to get each done. You may find it easier to use a memo app on your phone, or maybe even a voice recorder app – whatever works for you.
- Allow white space. When scheduling your tasks, it’s easy to cram every waking moment with something to do, only to then be frustrated and off-roaded by an urgent or unforeseen something that crops up at the last minute. Often…things take much longer than they “should.” (read: “than we allow or realize.”) Don’t let these circumstances get the better of you. Instead, ensure that you allow for unforeseen events by leaving plenty of white space in your calendar – Worst case scenario, you’ll be able to easily pencil something urgent in, best case scenario, you’ll have extra time to dedicate to other tasks or for that coffee with a friend.
- Focus on the end result. Make sure that you keep your end goals in view. It can be easy to become side-tracked by unforeseen events but bear in mind the bigger picture and ensure that whatever you are doing is leading you towards your end result. It may be necessary to sometimes stop, take stock and to reposition to align with your goals. This is okay and perfectly normal. Just keep those end results in mind.
It’s surprising what a difference an extra 30 minutes can make to your productivity and your day as a whole. That’s not to say that it’s easy to discipline yourself to getting up 30 minutes earlier. If you find it a struggle, then try doing it gradually. Set your alarm a few minutes earlier every day and start counting the ways that you can harness morning success into lasting success.