“The secret of getting things done is to act!” —Dante Alighieri***
We all need to get things done. There was a brief period of time, during the COVID-19 shut down in America, when there was no urgency in getting through a To Do list. As everyone was shut in at home, leaving only for food and supply runs on deserted streets, there was little or no real urgency in checking things off of the daily list of urgencies that occupies our attention on a regular basis. Now as life begins to return to normal and we face life from a much more surreal vantage point, we pick up the lists and schedules and again face the age old question of how to get things done.
After 3 million plus pandemic related deaths worldwide, a year of lock downs, social unrest and political mayhem, the urgency of most tasks we do seems exaggerated at best. We still however have to get it done. My post COVID answer to the question, “How?” Could quite easily be in full agreement with Nike, “Just do it!”
I realize, however that that might not be as helpful as I might intend it to be. It can be an overarching attitude however, to keep us focused. Don’t dawdle. “Just do it!” Don’t panic. “Just do it!” Don’t put it off. “Just do it!” I like the ease in which that answer flows off the lips… but again, I am sure it wouldn’t make the list of best self-help tips of the year.
There is much to be found on the subject of getting things done if one searches the internet. I’m sure much of it may be helpful. I have written on the subjects of prioritizing, staying focused, organizing and more, in the “Time Trap or Treasure” and “Three Simple Reasons Why We Procrastinate” posts (among others under Organizing & Time Management). I hope it was/is helpful but somehow more advice is always welcome. I say this because, no matter how much advice we may gather, we still have a need for more insight because it’s still not getting done as soon or as well as we would like. So let’s try another approach.
Typically we might address getting things done with suggestions such as:
- Create a daily “To Do” list – be realistic and committed to getting things done
- Tackle Your “To Do” List by completing the most important tasks first so you remain productive
- Schedule frequent blocks of time on your calendar to work on bigger long term projects; by the time the due date arrives it’s all done!
- Turn the ringer off on your phone (or forward your business line) so you can focus
- Use Post-it Notes to keep track of ideas and reminders
- Utilize your electronic calendar to record important dates and reminders
- Batch Similar Tasks into the same time frame, i.e. set time aside to read emails, return phone calls etc.
- Schedule your day with everything you need to do by putting it on your calendar and committing to it
- Keep your workspace clean and clear
- Create files, drawers and locations so there is a place for everything and everything in its place
Next Step, Be Creative
Once we have established the key areas of establishing order and focus, scan the plan and identify what still feels incomplete. If we feel there must be more that still needs to be implemented because it’s still not getting done, perhaps we might want to look at the “How” of what we are doing and not just the What. We could look at the “how” as the manner in which we carry out the tips and ideas that we may have selected for ourselves. For example…
#1 Create a daily “To Do” list
We know that one important way to stay on top of tasks is to create the Task List or To Do List. Typically, we are told to check things off as they get done, gaining a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment as we do it. We may be told to create these lists on a daily, weekly or monthly basis or utilize tools that feature all three in one place where we have daily goals or To do’s that would be categorized as short term goals, with the others being medium and long term goals. What might be helpful from a “How” perspective would be to treat the short term lists differently. If one is creating a new list on a daily basis, consider letting the list be a continuing list that we keep adding to. Don’t put time restraints on each task. Just list the things that need to be done. Add them to the list as they arise. Cross them off as they get done. This allows a little more freedom and a little less pressure on us and we would still have the psychological pleasure of knowing something was completed.
#2 Tackle Your To Do List by completing the most important tasks first so you remain productive
I have often heard the “complete the hard tasks first” suggestion. Sometimes that really works. There are, however, times when it just doesn’t happen that way for me. So, first, we can give ourselves permission to deviate, for good reason only, to get things done. In this case, I found that on occasion, I just need to get all the putsy stuff done… the little things… because they are weighing so heavily on my mind that I just have to get them out of my purview and remove them from the list altogether. With them out of the way, I am actually removing the distractions and can focus better and breeze through the big stuff. That’s my experience, it may not work for you.
#5 Use Post-it Notes to keep track of ideas and reminders
Instead of Post-it Notes, we could use a dry erase board, chalk board, plain poster board, artistically drawn poster board or a beautiful inspiring notebook or diary to write down reminders, ideas and thoughts we need to see. The catch with this is that we remember to actually look at them. What can sometimes happen is that we put something out and it becomes part of the atmosphere, like a spot on the wall that we actually NEVER look at. It starts to blend in and we ignore it. That’s totally contrary to the goal of a reminder. We do this with Post-it’s as well, so the key is making a conscious effort to look at these items daily… maybe we have to schedule time on the calendar to scan the room and look at reminders!
#9 Keep your workspace clean and clear
Another “How” might be related to the workspace. Instead of simply making sure the work area is clean and clear, maybe we might benefit from making it a more creative space. This can happen by thinking about what makes us feel inspired and prompted to create and produce. For me, not only is it a clean desk but also something I like to look at, such as a nice piece of abstract art. Add to that the sound of smooth jazz or gospel jazz playing softly in the background, and the scent of Rosemary and Eucalyptus scented oils flowing from a diffuser across my workspace
and I have a winning atmosphere for production!
These are just some examples of how we can improve our efforts to get things done. Approaching it in this way might just be the missing ingredient to getting things done.
Just Be Creative
My point in making these suggestions is simple. While others may give us some proven ideas for ordering our work styles and being productive, we can add our individual flare to make it our own. When we do that we might find we are able to commit to it even more. Creativity can lead to greater productivity. If we create more inspiring environments, we may find it easier to produce and it can be more pleasurable.
Psychologists have determined that promoting creativity in ones work environment, allows an individual to establish psychological distance from their concerns or problems that might normally interfere with their concentration. Creativity gives way to possibilities. When we are creative, our minds tend to expand and allow new and inventive approaches to enter into our thought processes. Whether it is dreaming up a new way of transporting people from one location to another or getting things done in a small business or small office, creativity can be the icing on the cake. It can take the mundane and make it exciting thus inspiring us to do more and go further.
As we get back to busy, add one more item to your “To Do” List, be creative!