There's No Time!!!

Feel like you are constantly racing against the clock, never accomplishing all you’d like? It’s a terrible feeling. 

To break out of that cycle, it’s first helpful to recognize what’s causing it. Too many distractions? Not prioritizing the truly important stuff? Trying to take on too much? 

I’ve been having a lot of conversations on this topic recently. Here are a few steps to help you feel more on top of it all, including some great ideas I’ve sourced from my #Ellevate and other networks:

Be realistic. You’re not going to get it ALL done. You are not going to tackle 14 projects that take 3 hours each within a 24 hour day. It’s not possible. And thinking it is will just make you feel bad when you don’t. Let go of that idea. 

Prioritize. What are the 1-3 most important things you want to get done today? Do the most important one FIRST. You are more likely to have energy for it earlier on, and less likely to get sidetracked.

Start small. You don’t have to get it all done in one go. What if you just devote 15 minutes to your task? Chipping away at a project will give you the satisfaction and increased motivation that comes with forward action.

Don’t forget the long-term. It’s easy to get distracted with day to day tasks and lose track of the bigger things. What’s something to which you’ve really wanted to devote some time? What’s one small thing you can do this week in order to move toward that goal? When will you do it? Set aside time on your calendar specific to this task.

Remove distractions. Turn off your phone. Better yet, put it in the other room. Log out of Facebook. People keep interrupting? Move to a less distracting environment. 

Don’t go it alone. Make it clear to others that you are focusing on a priority and why it’s important. Ask for their support in leaving you free from disruption, watching the kids for an hour, or even taking on some of your other tasks. Stating your intentions out loud also makes it more likely they’ll get done.

Celebrate your successes. It’s easy to beat ourselves up for what we didn’t get done. But look at all you did! Give yourself some credit, ok? And ideally a reward for all you accomplished. You go! 

What are some of your time management tips and tricks? I’d love to hear what’s worked for you!

Want to work on some personal strategies for feeling more productive and less stressed? Schedule a consult here: https://christineoneillcoaching.as.me/conversation.