It’s that time of year again — that time when people start posting about stress, overwhelm and To Do Lists that are over flowing!
We’re all busy — that’s for sure. For some people, it becomes stressful. But, for others, it’s just a matter of taking the drama out of things and just getting tasks done.
Overwhelm is a choice. So is using a word like overwhelm. Why speak such negativity to yourself in the first place? It just programs your brain in a negative light. And, no one needs more of that.
So what are some tips one can use to get control over their lives when things get busy?
Here are some of my favorite:
Tip #1: Eliminate anything unnecessary from your schedule. If it’s not bringing you closer to your goals, ditch it. Stop cluttering up your life with stuff that keeps you busy.
Tip #2: Prioritize what you have left on your list after you ditch the unnecessary stuff. Not everything is urgent. Start working on the high priority things first and get those done. Everything else can wait.
Tip #3: Hire others to help you out — this may or may not be possible depending on your budget. But you can’t do everything, so enlist others.
Tip #4: Use technology to save you time. Order things online to avoid having to run around town. Often you can get free shipping.
Tip #5: Stop multitasking. It’s inefficient and a horrid thing to do to your brain. It actually harms your brain and increases anxiety.
Tip #6: Stay off of social media and gadgets. These create inefficiencies and anxiety and are huge time wasters. Allow yourself one 15 minute period per day to be “online” unless it’s 100% related to the work you need to do.
Tip #7: Make the decision to not let the “many things” on your To Do List create an emotional response in you. Just do one thing at a time. Complete it. Then move on. Reframe it to … I get to do these things. Sadly, many people in this world don’t get to do many of the basic things we get to do each day. We have so much to be grateful for.
Tip #8: Get a free account at FocusMate.com and do one task per session. I’ve been on Focusmate for years and use it from time to time especially when I’m tired and begin to lose my focus. Oddly, I haven’t used it much in the past 30 days and have found it more of a distraction.
Tip #9: Just say NO to adding anything more to your list. Practice saying NO more than you say YES. This helps keep things in check. 🙂
I always believe you’ll get the right things done. So let go of that worry. It all works out in the end. Wishing you a productive AND peaceful day ahead!