You have a lot on your plate. So much so you feel like throwing in the towel – and it’s only Monday. Don’t let this overwhelming feeling derail your productivity.
Here’s the trick to having a productive week when you’re overloaded and overwhelmed:
Try This:
Make your first task a “softball” task, one you can easily achieve within 30 minutes. It’s like a slow moving pitch you can knock out of the park with your first swing of the bat.
Some examples:
- Clean off the top of your desk
- Sort your inbox
- Review yesterday’s notes
- Return an email or phone call
Do something achievable. Then, focus your mind on doing one task at a time, one concern at a time, and one thought at a time.
Here’s Why:
Crossing that first item off your list gives you a tremendous sense of achievement. It’s a real motivational push that sets in motion the process of getting stuff done.
Remember: You can’t get anything accomplished until you accomplish that first task. Get it done. Then, move on and conquer things one-by-one. You’ll be amazed how quickly your stress level will dissipate.
[photo by John Orrell]
Day-Timer Spokesperson Jeff Doubek can be reached at [email protected] |