“Prioritise your priorities”

 

You know how it works... at this time of the year people make half-hearted New Year resolutions through some sense of tradition and thinking that it is “the done thing”, without fully committing to making the necessary steps to achieve their goals. Therefore most people allow these goals to quickly fall by the wayside.

Goal setting shouldn’t be restricted to your January to-do list, but instead should be on your agenda throughout the year. It doesn’t have to be about one big fresh start, but it can be about attainable goals and taking small steps to help you actually achieve what really matters to you.

With too many things on our mind, it is often hard to know what to focus on and it is easy to lose sight of what is important to us. You cannot hit a target you cannot see, so to help you figure out your goals and priorities you might want to ask yourself the questions below. Before you do though... grab yourself a pen and paper, sit in a quiet corner with no distractions and off we go!

1) Think about your life. What things matter to you right now that you would like to change?

Write them down and put them in order of priority. Tackle each one at a time.

2) What actions do you need to take to draw you closer to your goal?

Be realistic and specific with order, dates, time of completion etc.

3) Which action will have the most impact or contribute to your success the most?

4) Write down: “The consequences of me not taking this action are..."

5) What obstacles are in your way and how can you overcome them?

Now that you thought about your goals and priorities all that is left to do is to take action. Action speaks louder than words. Before you know it with a little bit of commitment and determination, taking small steps will lead to a bigger goal and the change you want.

 

Why to-do lists don't work

We all have our own methods and tools that help us to stay focused, motivated and productive. One of those might be a “to-do list”. There are a lot of benefits of having a list of things to remind you what you need to do, helping you prioritise your tasks and give you a sense of achievement when you tick off achieved tasks.

Recently I came across a few interesting articles and some research that indicates that to-do lists can be overwhelming, ineffective and can leave you feeling demotivated and pressurised.

Emotions play an essential role in how we think and solve problems. They impact our motivation and productivity, therefore if those emotions are negative, they will narrow our thinking, creativity, memory and efficiency. Positive feelings on the other hand will increase our intrinsic motivation, whilst improving cognitive flexibility and analytical skills.

According to data collected by a company called iDoneThis, 41% of to-do list items never get done and only 15% of completed tasks were ever on a to-do list in the first place, so therefore there will always be unfinished tasks on your list. Furthermore, because there are often incomplete items on your list, it can be seen as a nagging tool provoking anxiety, feelings of failure and worry that you have not accomplished what you set yourself to do.

Software pioneer, Marc Andreessen suggests the substitution of a to-do list with what he calls an anti to-do list, or if you will a ‘Done List’. Rather than having a list of things to do, replace it with a record of your daily accomplishments instead. Recording your wins and achievements will create a rush of endorphins, increase your energy levels, motivation and give you a sense of satisfaction from completed tasks.

You may think that there is no point writing a list of things that you have already completed, but as research testifies, spending few minutes reflecting on your day and writing down your accomplishments will make you appreciate progress that would have otherwise gone unrecognized and will improve your ability to plan going forward. Making progress (even small wins) will also fuel your drive and engagement, boosting your energy and motivation, leaving you more productive. Additional study from Harvard Business School also suggests that setting aside 15 minutes of reflection at the end of each working day can make you better at your job and lead to better performance due to a boost in self-efficacy. Writing things down identifies what was helpful as well as providing a visual stimulus that will create positive feelings.

Everyone is different and some people probably will not be able to work without a to-do list, whereas for others, a list may not work. Whether you decide to use a to-do list or not, I think there is a real benefit in taking time to think about your day and celebrate your achievements. Just make an appointment with yourself, or if you'd rather put it on your list of things to do... :)

Too many things to do, not enough time...

Too many things to do, not enough time…

I am sure I am not the only one who sometimes finds herself frustrated when I have a long list of things to do and not enough time to complete them all.

Apart from having a long list, I have more ideas that keep occurring to me. Although one could think that that is very helpful, sometimes being blessed with too many ideas can also feel like a curse. The more ideas keep coming to me, my mind is more occupied and I find myself distracted from one task, as there is plenty more I can concentrate on… so frustration comes again…this time because I am not effectively using my time to complete what I have started.

Sound familiar?

Wait, there is more…

Do you have a perfectionist within you that sometimes wakes up and says “this is not good enough”, “you can do better than that”? As every task can always be improved, now, procrastination kicks in. Rather than completing the task I am working on, now I am looking for ways to improve it which can distract me for days from achieving the finished result.

There are a few things that I do to help me find focus and help me more effectively complete my tasks. I hope you will find them useful too.

Think on paper

Before you get on with any task, spend some time on planning and setting your priorities. Sometimes people may think that sitting down and taking time to think about what they need to do is not as productive as taking action, but the point they are missing is the fact that unless they have a very clear direction, they are likely to be distracted along the way and waste a lot of time. Take time to capture your ideas as the quicker you will have it done, the quicker you can get started to achieve them.

Set your priorities using ABC Method

Brian Tracy talks about a very simple priority setting technique that I believe is very effective.

Once you have a list of things to do, place an A, B, or C before each item on your list before you begin the first task.
"A" stands for "very important" something you must do otherwise there might be some negative or serious consequences if the task is not completed.
"B" stands for "important" something you should do. There might be some negative, mild consequences if the task is not completed. B tasks are not as important as A tasks.
"C" stands for things that are "nice to do" If not completed, there are no negative consequences. C task is not as important as 'A' or 'B,' tasks.

When deciding what letter you are going to put by each task, think about your goals and objectives so that the priorities you set are moving you in the direction of something that is of real value to you.
Once you have determined your ABC tasks, prioritize these tasks by writing A-1, A-2, A-3, and so on in front of each item. Your A-1 task is the biggest and most important task you need to complete. Do the same for B and C items. You should never do a "B" task when there is an "A" task left undone.

Avoid distractions and discipline yourself

If you are lacking self discipline, you are not the only one! People can always find distractions and “more important” things to do that will stop them or pull aside from achieving their task.

Rather than beating yourself up about being distracted, making excuses or feeling sorry for yourself, build in discipline to every task you do. Promise yourself to do nothing else until this one job is complete. Make a conscious decision and ask yourself the question: “How will I feel when I achieve my goal” or “What consequences will I face if do not complete my task”

Keep your end goal in mind and imagine how satisfied and happy you will feel when you complete the task. Say no to all distractions and focus on accomplishing your priorities. If you feel really stuck and your inspiration is gone, have a quick break to take your mind off things, maybe talk to a like minded friend to bounce some ideas off, go for a quick walk, take a deep breath and come back to the task refreshed and more stimulated.

Once you start completing tasks that matter to you and add value, as opposed to tasks that take your time but don’t give you desired results you will feel enthusiastic, motivated and satisfied by achieving your goals.

Reward yourself

When you complete the task, reward yourself for doing well. Your reward could be anything from words of encouragement “Well done”, a cup of hot chocolate, a walk, hot bubble bath or watching a movie with someone whose company you enjoy. Do something you like.

Although there is never enough time to do everything, there is always enough time to do the most important things, so make sure you choose your tasks wisely!

Good luck!