Today is a super practical post that may help you feel a little less stressed when you are working through these summer days. I find it so much more difficult to work in the summer, because where I work in Ohio we get so few nice days, so few sunny days, and such a short outdoor festival season. I am distracted by my window as much as I am my phone. I actually sit with my back to the window when I really need to concentrate.
Whether you are like me and just love what is outside, or you feel a touch out of balance year round, here is a small, practical tip that helps me feel good about each day.
The night before, preferably the last thing you do before you are “done” for the day, write out your to do list in this way:
Select the thing that is the hardest or requires the most focus. Ideally this is something that will take 60-90 minutes or less, but if it takes longer, you may want/need a break after that amount of time.
From there put things in descending order order from priority and focus/difficulty all the way down to mindless or routine.
This is what one of my recent lists looked like:
AM
*Upload/schedule podcast and set up distribution. [This was my first time, so I would need lots of focus.]
*Create list of needed shorts for editor [this required me to think about what I wanted turned in to shorts and what dates I needed them by]
*Revise script for my classes at conference. [I am teaching and need to make sure everything is clear, flows well, and I have good handouts. Therefore, I need to focus]
PM
*Check links on new websites
*Review feedback from marketing company coaching me and create action steps
*See how many blogs, videos, newsletters, and podcasts I need to make/record this week.
*Get a quote on a project from someone [so send details and request quote]
Your list will look very different from mine. I start with things I don’t know how to do well or that don’t interest me in the morning when I’m fresh and most people aren’t awake [I was in my office at 7:15am today, long before my phone starts to blow up.
Since I find feedback from my marketing coach interesting, it is good for the afternoon [unfortunately, I was so excited when I saw it I did that before creating my shorts…well, we are all learning to walk in balance.]
Try this for a few days. You will feel much more satisfied because you will find those big, intimidating projects are wrapped up early in the morning [or at least a big chunk is gone] and that gives a surge of motivation and confidence that keeps you moving down your list.
By the time the afternoon comes and you don’t really feel like doing anything else you’re down to the mindless things you can do while listening to an audio book or music. That keeps you moving along.
Try this and share your feedback, success, or your tips for getting things done.
Remember, we all fail sometimes, try to fail forward. #Redefine succeed, Redefine Fail
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