I am the Queen of multi tasking as you all may know by now, however, it is not always a good thing. Do you find that when you have so many tasks that need to be tackled, that overwhelming butterflies/anxiety feeling sets in and then nothing gets done? Let’s discuss how to get your tasks done. I was starting to feel that way that other day. I was looking at my laundry lists of things that needed to get done and it made my mind go completely blank. I had no creative sparks to write any enlightening blog posts, I kept on delaying dictating my charts, and I didn’t post to Instagram for a couple of days in a row. I know this all sounds soooooo dramatic but when you try to do too many things, sometimes nothing gets accomplished. Here are 5 tips that work for me to get it done right now. Stop procrastinating, stop making excuses, stop staying up till 2 in the morning before the deadline of something is due. Get it done right now!
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5 Quick Ways to Do Right Now to Get Your Tasks Done
First Things. Close All Your Browser Tabs
If I am writing a blog post and need to get it done in an efficient manner, I close every single tab I have open on my Safari screen. I cannot tell you how many times I’m procrastinating on a project and then before I know it, I’ve spent 3 WASTED hours researching something completely irrelevant to the task at hand. Then I’m scrambling at the last second to make it work. No other browsers. Just the one. This goes for all things in life and work. Grading papers, just keep that one tab open. Trying to get that work assignment in, just only focus on that one document. I know it seems like such common sense but we are so trained to be easily distracted by the next viral video that those precious working hours are zapped away.
Remove All Other Electronics
I know another no brainer but if your phone is next to you, you get a text……oh lets respond, hey I got some Instagram updates, lets see who recently commented, ohhhhh that dress is pretty….scroll scroll scroll……where is this shot taken? Croatia? Isn’t that where Game of Thrones is filmed? Let’s look that up, look at this great travel plan for Croatia. I bet I can find some Pinterest articles on this……didn’t my friend Tom go to Croatia? Let’s check the book, yes he did! Sending Tom a private message…….holy crap. It’s 10:30, where did the last 4 hours go? So tired…..I’ll just do this in the morning……
Does this sound familiar?
I know it takes discipline but move that phone in the other room. I promise you will get that task done in half the time you slotted if you just remove that HUGE distraction.
Prioritize Your List
Sometimes I look at my growing list and pick the projects that are fun/flashy/mindless first when in reality those are the lowest on the totem pole of importance. How I prioritize my goals now are two ways, which project is due first and which project has the best compensation. If you are being paid for a blog post or that project that is due results in you getting that overtime pay, get that one done first. I know these are all such common sense logics but when you really break it down…..your time is money. Stop wasting your time on things that aren’t making you money. If your goal is to start monetizing your Instagram, then start working on building your account up. Stop wasting your time on Facebook, Youtube, or getting involved in some online drama. If you can be doing something with your time right now that is making you money, why are you procrastinating? What are you doing at this exact minute that you should be doing something instead? I know it is hard to blog and work full time but it is feasible. I am living proof of this. What is due first and what makes you money, get those done right now. This is me telling you and pushing you to get that task done. No excuses.
Do Not Start Something Else Until You Are Done
When you multi task it leads to a lot of projects that are “in the works” but not really finished. I have about no lie 50+ incomplete blog posts in my undrafted folder. I have an idea, write out the skeleton of the post and then I get distracted and start working on something else. Then that post sits in the unpublished grave yard and usually never sees the light of day. Don’t open a bottle of wine in the middle of a project, don’t get up for a snack, grab a nail file, decide at this exact second it’s the time to pay your credit card bill. Finish that task…..completely. Sign, sealed, and delivered. For me that means, all images are added, the pinnable picture is added to the top, and it is scheduled to go live at midnight. If it’s a work project make sure it’s proof read, scanned for errors, and in final submission mode. This also means keep that phone in the other room until you are fully done. I’m serious. Don’t get it yet. Willpower you have it!
Stop Making Excuses and Just Do it!
Sometimes you need that swift kick of someone telling you “did you get XYZ” done yet? No? Why not? 99% of the times in my life it’s my mom or Mark. “Did you call about your tire warranty yet” “did you get that email back to your new sponsor?” “Are all your papers finally graded yet?” (my mother loooooves that one). Ultimately these tasks are YOUR responsibility and your commitments. I mean isn’t it rewarding to know that people are relying on you? You have the authority, the expertise, the knowledge to complete these tasks. When I start getting overwhelmed with my tasks, I sit down and think about how truly amazing I’ve reached this part in my careers that I am responsibility for such important assignments. People are relying on you and value your contributions. Clear your mind, get rid of the distractions and get it done.
There are my five very quick and dirty motivational points for you to get that task done. I followed these techniques while writing this post. It was hard. I’m not going to lie. I was itching to open a new browser to see if my Amazon package arrived. I wanted to check my Instagram the entire time while writing this. I thought I could maybe just get a few papers graded quickly. I really wanted to watch another episode of Gilmore Girls with a glass of wine. I didn’t do it. I was able to accomplish this task in less than an hour when most blog posts take me at least three due to all my daily distractions. What do you do when you HAVE to get a task done? Do you find yourself down to the wire? Do you get overwhelmed and nothing gets accomplished? I’d love to hear what works for you to get your tasks done!
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I definitely start with the “Easy” stuff and make my way down the list! xo, Biana –BlovedBoston
Prioritizing is key for me. I always have liars everywhere. They’re so handy!
These are great tips. I tend to do a lot and nothing is the way that I would like it, but hey it’s done. I really need to just carve out time to get things done the best way.
Xoxo,
Whitney & Blaire
Peaches In A Pod
I am the worst at getting distracted easily, so I appreciate these tips! I need to shut everything down but the blog post. Now I just need to work on multi-tasking!
Closing all tabs and putting my phone in another room is how I get my stuff done! When I used to work in an office my boss asked me how I left everyday without having a single unread email. I told her that I dedicated time in the morning and in the afternoon to go through them, time where my browser would be shut down and I wouldn’t answer my phone. When there’s no distractions, it’s amazing what you can accomplish in a day!
I couldn’t agree with you more!! I teach my students these practices, too – my biggest problem is having multiple tabs open. When I’m working, I’ll just open a new, clean window to rid myself of distractions.
Great post! Distractions feed procrastination. I had a million things to do this week in all areas of my life since I will be out of town 10 of the next 12 days and all I could do was focus and tackle!
Closing browser tabs is soooo essential for me, too! Otherwise I end up getting distracted, then suddenly find myself completing an ASOS/Nordie’s order and my task STILL isn’t done, lol. :)
-Ashley
Le Stylo Rouge
Oh man, I make a check list that I get really obsessive compulsive about and crossing things off makes me SO happy. Love the prioritizing tip! x
Yes yes yes! This is the only way!
Hahaha I am so guilty of multi-tasking all the time and starting three things at once. Oops!
This is so inspiring! I love the post:)
irenethayer.com
YES but this is SO HARD! I am seriously all over the place when I am doing stuff.. sometimes I come back and I am like.. OH yeah. Forgot I was doing this! EEK! Great tips!
Thanks for the motivation, love!! I think we are all guilty of this but I think working on one task at a time is the best advice. Hope you have a great weekend!
xo, Kristina
Medicine & Manicures
i am definitely not as good at multi tasking, i find i am much more efficient just focusing on one thing at a time. that being said i definitely get distracted and i have to remember to remove other electronics or close all the tabs. i always have a zillion tabs open haha
Closing all the browser tabs is THE ONLY WAY to get things done for me… I’ve got too many email accounts and if I see something pop up, I’ll click over there and then waste so much time trying to get back to whatever I was doing. Same with putting my phone on DND while I’m working on something… work group text/text questions/etc are time sucks!
Great post and tips, lady! Prioritizing my lists and tasks definitely keeps me on track. I do need to be better about putting my phone somewhere else when I’m trying to focus!
All great tips! I’m the worst at multi-tasking and getting distracted by other tabs and screens.
Sooo good! Multi-tasking is a productivity killer! I close my browsers as well when I’m writing a post, but I’m the same way you are; I have like 50 draft posts. Some have been in draft form for over a year, haha!