What Do You Do When You Can’t Figure Out What to Do Next? By Suzi Elton At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Do you ever have a zillion tings to do, but no clear priority item? Does it seem sometimes that everything on your To Do list is equally important and that you just can’t figure out what to do first? Do you believe that your list would take you a week to complete, but you need to get it all done today? Do you find your head spinning trying to figure out what to do next and becoming paralyzed in confusion? Do you have so many things to do that you haven’t even written a list? What do you do when you can’t figure out what to do?

1.) Make a list or take the items from your list and categorize them. Make 3 columns down the page. At the top of the first column, put "Tasks with Consequences". At the top of the second column, put "Some Urgency". At the top of the 3rd column, put "Least Urgent".

2.) In the first column, put any item that has consequences. Maybe it is a late fee, or something else depends on its completion, or you won’t have food in the house.

3.) If every single item ends up in the first column, your problem is exceptionally intense. In that case, number each item starting with the most dire or extreme consequences first. These are according to your preference or need in assigning the direness factor. These would be different for different people.

4.) Now, look at the list again and be extremely brutal about choosing items to put into the "Least Urgent" column. Things in this column can be put on hold today and maybe even this week. You may even find that they can be struck off the list entirely or realistically relegated far into the future.

5.) Now put the remaining items into the "Some Urgency" column and number them in order of importance.

6.) Realize that it is highly likely you will not complete the list today, and maybe not even this week. The important thing though is to handle the most important items first and to keep your attention on those items in the first column.

7.) It would probably be helpful to use this technique to revise the list at the end of the day. This will help you be clear on what you got done on that day, and to get your next day’s agenda in order. Be sure to keep your highest priorities at the top of the list. Being clear on tomorrow’s priorities contributes to more restful sleep too!

8.) Realize that you can take short breaks (of defined lengths) when you need to. Deciding to sit down for a 15 minute treat works great, as long as you end your break exactly on time. It will give you renewed energy to complete the items on your list.

9.) Realize that you may never get your list done--because you keep adding items to it. Don’t turn this into a problem. Simply keep rearranging the list by priority every night. Most of us are very busy nowadays. It is part of modern life. Don’t overwhelm yourself with this fact. Just accept it and work with it rather than resisting it.

10.) Be clear in advance about which items absolutely, positively MUST be done on a given day. Do whatever it takes to get them done on that day, preferably as early as possible in the day. If you are clear the night before about what those items are, hopefully that will get you up a little earlier if you need the time.

11.) Get as much done as early as you can. Doing this gives you a burst of energy to finish more items on the list before the day is done.

12.) Know when to quit. When all critical items are handled and you are tired, be OK with at least taking a break. If you are exhausted, by all means, give it up for the day.

Using these techniques will help a lot when you can’t figure out what to do next.

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