Getting Things Done -II

Do you constantly feel overworked and stressed while getting things done? Are you struggling to find a better way to get daily tasks done on time? Do you dread to see work piling up on your desk? If yes, then you are yet to achieve the epithet of an efficient multi-tasker. Multi-tasking is not just about doing many things at a time, rather handling and delivering tasks assigned within the time allotted, with minimum or zero mistakes.

In this article we shall give you some valuable tips on Getting Things Done on time.

* The first step for doing any job perfectly is to prioritize all the jobs you have in hand. Every morning, before you start your work, make a list of the three most important tasks that would make your day fruitful. It could be something, which has an urgent deadline, yet you have kept it pending for a while now. Completing something like this may ease your burdens instantly.


* Once you have made your top priority list of the three things, work on them. And, work only on these three things without getting digressed to others tasks. To keep yourself away from distractions you can stop taking calls, reading emails, even email notifications, other alerts till you have completed the ones you had listed as priority.


* When you have completed these top 3 tasks, you can either move on to other smaller tasks, or even call it a day. Accomplishing what you had planned to, at the start of the day, will not only make you feel accomplished, you will also be relieved, even if its just for that particular day.


* Multi-tasking is not always a virtue, because it may often make you feel you are about to complete many things together, when it is not actually so. Hence, it always makes sense to focus on doing one thing at a time. Taking time to do one thing at a time helps in Getting Things Done efficiently. If for example, you have 5 tasks in hand, you may complete just about 20% of each of them if you are doing them at the same time. What eventually happens is none of them get completed and you are stressed with the thought that all the tasks need to be done.


* Doing one task at a time may seem slower, but will definitely relieve you of the stress baggage once it is completed. And, you can easily move on to the next task. So, when you are overwhelmed with too many things, stop and choose the top priority one.


* No work can help you when you are stressed beyond limit at work. Take a day off and invest the time for a specific purpose. Say for instance, if your workstation needs to be cleaned, or your paperwork is becoming a pile on, you should take a personal day off from work, and focus on that task. Do not attend phones, read or reply to emails, or sit before the laptop unless you need it to complete what you have planned to do. This will make a positive difference when you find it difficult to balance office with housework, schoolwork or other important things that need your attention.


* Always keep your desk clean. Visual clutter sends out negative vibes of too much pending work, even when the situation is not as terrible. A worktable, free of paper clears mental distractions and gives you the feeling that you are in control of the situation.



Getting Things Done is not as difficult as it seems, when you start following the suggestions listed above. When burdened with too much, just stop, sit and pick the most important thing and work on it. Set aside a separate time for email, paperwork and the smaller less important tasks.
Log on to www.thinkproductive.co.uk for more useful tips and tricks on getting things done.