Let’s face it--we all have those to-dos that fall to the bottom of our list and linger there for days, weeks or even months. This is true whether it’s because you have much bigger priorities or you simply just never feel like organizing the pile of receipts sitting on your desk.
Whatever the reason, lingering to-dos are the source of stress and frustration--so why not just knock them out? You’ll certainly feel more at ease once they’re off of your plate!
It’s easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day stuff, but it’s important to remember what you’re passionate about and how to make the most of it. If you’re desperately in need of a 25-hour workday and simply can’t figure out how to fit everything into the workweek, it’s time to look at streamlining your planning processes to make time for what you really love--creativity!
Oftentimes, we get hung up on distractions such as Facebook, emails and other things that catch your eye during the day. Sound familiar?
My biggest solution for this problem is to incorporate time blocking into your daily schedule. Whether it’s a full day of planning or several hours in the office, I make sure to set aside time that is exclusively for catching up on projects and getting organized. Lock the doors, silence your phone and log out of emails and social media--all of that can wait until you’re done with what matters.
On the other hand, sometimes there are just too many tasks to do and you must determine how to rank them in terms of priority. Although running away may seem like the easiest (and perhaps the most logical!) option, you may just need to look at your to-do list from another perspective.
For me, when everything seems like it’s a priority, I go through and figure out which ones have been on my plate the longest. Depending on how I’m feeling that day, I might go for the easiest ones first. When you’re feeling overwhelmed, it can help to see items crossed off of the list and the feeling of accomplishment will motivate you to keep going.
The important thing is to make sure nothing falls to the wayside simply because you don’t have time for it or don’t feel like doing it. If it can’t be done right on that day, set a deadline for it to be completed so that you will make time for it--otherwise, it will just keep haunting you at the bottom of your to-dos. Once you do sit down with your big projects, it goes back to the locked-door policy, so you can really focus all of your attention on the task.
Once you free up some time in your day, you’ll notice how much more you can get down beyond the routine minutiae that used to take up your time. Spend that time on developing your business to the next level, be it through planning a side hustle or taking on more clients. You’ll feel much more fulfilled when you start spending your time on the things you love, not just the things you feel obliged to do!
Jennifer Taylor is the owner of Taylor’d Events Group, a planning firm that specializes in celebrations of all kinds in the Pacific Northwest and Maui. She is also the creator of The Taylor’d Plan, a self-administered class for wedding planners who are new to the industry and looking to grow and develop their skills.
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