How to Get a Lot Done Without Getting Crazy By Suzi Elton At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Do you find that you consistently have a backlog of tasks to perform that seems endless? Does it overwhelm you when you think of how much you need to get done? Do you sometimes want to hide your head under the covers to avoid all the things on your "To Do" list? Does the relentless nature of so many demands on your time feel "crazymaking" at times? Do you wonder if there could ever be a way to get out from under it all--or at least feel in control?

Here are a few ideas that should help you.

1.) Make a list of all the items you need to do. Put them in order of priority with the most important items first. If there are items with consequences involved, they should be on the top of the list.

2.) It helps to type the list up in a word processing document so that it is easy to reorganize the list keeping the top priority items first.

3.) Keep your attention and efforts on the top priority items at all times. There will be numerous temptations to deviate from your top priorities. No matter what happens, stay focused on them. When you accomplish your most important priorities every day, you will automatically feel more in control. Yes, there will still be a lot to do, but focusing on the most important items creates a momentum that increases your energy and self respect.

4.) Simply staying focused on the top priority at all times gives a feeling of control and success.

5.) Every day, take your list and reorganize it, keeping the main objectives for the day on the top of the list.

6.) Stick to the list. Yes, every time your eyes land on other tasks on the list, you will feel a tug to do them. Just tell yourself that every item will be handled in its own time.

7.) Any time you are able, carve out several hours or several days where you can handle as many annoying items on the list as you can. This is a great thing to do to overcome the frustrated and overwhelmed feeling caused by a pile of minor items that consume your time and energy.

8.) Reward yourself with some play time when you've made huge progress on your list.

9.) Take a look at your list and see if there are things on it that should be handled by someone besides yourself. Are you doing things that you can afford to hire out? Are you doing things for others that they should be handling?

10.) Are you doing things that you shouldn't even be doing at all? Are you a compulsive volunteer and keep committing yourself to doing more things to help others out? Give serious consideration to taking a hiatus from volunteering. Yes, there will be a strong pull to "help out". Before you automatically say, "yes", give yourself an "out". Give yourself time to consider it further. Take a look at your current list of commitments and To Do's. Think long and hard before taking on something else.

11.) Review your list and eliminate anything that is simply a time waster. This could be a perfectionistic need or simply something that's been on the list so long that it's become pointless. This is one of the best and simplest ways to cut the list down.

12.) Realize it will never all get done. There will always be a long list--as long as you are an active and vital person. Change the objective to enjoying your life rather than completing the list. Completing the list is as pointless as a dog chasing its own tail. Even if you could succeed, so what? The list will soon grow again.

Staying focused on your top priorities will always give you the feeling of getting a lot done. Giving up the feeling of "getting crazy" about having so much to do is optional--but recommended.

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