Five Ways to Get Things Done

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Five Ways to Get Things Done

How many times have you said to yourself “I’ve been busy all day, but I just haven’t gotten anything done!”

OR

“Nothing ever seems to get done around here!”

How common is this? We’ve all said it in the past. If the past is a predictor of the future, we’re destined to say it again!

Here are some simple steps that may just help get things done. They work around the house, at the office, and at school. Try them. Make small adjustments so they work for you and your specific tasks.

Let’s get started!

#1 Identify your goal.

What do you want to ‘get done”? Is it cleaning the bathroom? Straightening the potential client file? Finishing a project for Biology? You can apply this step to anything, anywhere, any time. Just make it specific.

For example “Clean the house.” Is just too broad, too big and too daunting. “Clean the family room,” is more specific, more doable and less daunting. Apply this specificity to any goal. You will know your identified goal is specific enough if you say to yourself “Hey, I can do that!”

#2 List the steps/materials needed to accomplish #1.

The last step on this list will be the goal that you identified in #1.

Depending on the goal, identify and put in order of occurrence the steps needed to accomplish the goal.

Performing this step will help you organize your process. It will help you identify the specific tasks needed to accomplish your goal. It may help you refine and quantify your goal. It can help you avoid hazards and areas that may trip you up as you progress through the process toward accomplishing and reaching your goal.

You may need to gather materials or obtain ‘buy in’ from other persons involved. Who will you need to contact to accomplish your goal? List their names and contact information on your list. It’s a good idea to identify why they will be critical in helping you reach your goal.

Once you have completed this step, you will have an easy to follow and use guide to accomplish your goal. You’ve done a lot of the work in advance.

You will know you have done this step correctly if you look at the list you have done for #2 and say “I can do this!” A large, daunting or complicated task has been broken down into accomplishable steps.

#3 Focus

Now that you have thought through the process, recognized what you want to accomplish, recognized how you are going to accomplish it, don’t let anything distract you! Bright shiny objects, tasks and activities will catch your attention.

Don’t let yourself get distracted by those photo albums on the family room shelf. That’s a task for another time. It is not on your progress list. A phone call to a colleague may bring a dazzling new project to your attention. It is something for another time, a goal for a different day.

#4 Start

This may seem obvious, but it is often put off. If you never start, the chances of accomplishing your goal are nil. All your work and focus are for naught. You have nothing to fear. You have identified your goal, laid out the steps and materials needed, identified persons involved, and listed ways to contact them, and ordered your activities.

In short you have done all the thankless parts of the process already. You have focused your intent. Distraction is off the table. You’ve made a commitment and are prepared to accomplish the tasks and reach your goal.

#5 Finish

Again this may seem obvious, but can be overlooked as you immerse yourself in the process. If your goal is a worthy one, and your process is well planned, your focus is directed and you’ve jumped in—ready to swim to the other end of the pool, now do it.

Sure you may make adjustments along the way, but they should be strategic ones, based on things you have learned as you work through the process, and serve to hasten the accomplishment of the goal. Don’t let the project discourage you.

History and a myriad of biographies have taught us that working your plan to the end is an integral part of accomplishing your objective. The process itself may bring new projects into focus, uncover opportunities and result in positive accomplishments along the way.

And when you have reached your goal, completed your process—celebrate yourself. Enjoy the moment.

And then start the next project.

You will have gotten ‘something done’.

As they say in the directions on the shampoo bottle:

Lather…

Rinse…

Repeat.

Expect results!

Words of wisdom.