10 Tips to Get Your Shit Done
As someone with ADHD, even while medicated I have this urge that feels like a need to do many things at once. I know better than to attempt multi-tasking to a large degree because I’m no good at it.
Yet, I can be doing one thing and feel this nagging need to do four other things. This makes it difficult to know what I want to do or even what I should be doing. I constantly have a long list of things to do, but almost all are things I am choosing to do rather than needing to do.
I never get through the entire list in a weekend. Sometimes I don’t ever clear certain items from the list and stop adding them altogether.
It doesn’t help that I have many things I ought to do, all while having a bunch of things I WANT to do to build my future. I have often stated how I wish I had a cloning machine because I can’t do everything on my own. It’s exhausting and infuriating to an intense degree.
So, going back to basics, I’ve cleared off most of my gigantoid list this week. (Yes, I kept the made-up word gigantoid here, because it’s a great non-word.) I’m going to share with you some tips I use for my own sake in case you also have issues clearing off your to-do list.
Tips on Clearing that List
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- When looking over the list, the first thing I recommend is notating which items are quick and easy. They should be the first ones you take care of. It will not only make you feel good about yourself for your accomplishments. It’ll get those things out of sight and mind, making room for the rest.
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- A similar tip is organizing your list into sections. These sections should be whatever works best for you. I often do mine by the day they need to be completed or by personal priority level. This helps me to stay on top of things better when I have way too many things to get done.
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- Alternate between things you want to do and things you need to do. It might seem like you should handle the necessary items first. But that will only make you feel more burnt out and unhappy. Mixing in the things you want to do is like rewarding yourself for the other items you’ve crossed off.
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- Maintain focus on the task you’re working on. But if you’re like me, this will be the most difficult part. Most often I end up distracted by something else for a bit and then pull myself back to the task at hand. This goes on and on until it’s finished. But I have my hyper-focused moments where I do nothing except one specific task until it’s completed. Either way, the important part is to try. The more focused you are, the quicker you will complete the task and move on to the next one.
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- There will be times when you’re doing one thing and realize you need to be working on something else. Take a little time to know if it’s important enough to switch gears. And find a way to get back into your original task with ease to complete it afterward.
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- Know when to call it a day. Sometimes we have this ridiculously long list of things to do and we keep going and going all day. This is because we’re feeling as though we cannot stop until we finish a certain amount of tasks. Instead, once it reaches a certain time of day, call it quits and save the rest for tomorrow. Giving yourself time away from responsibilities is one of the greatest forms of self-care.
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- Try making more than one list. This may or may not work for you, but it is worth a shot. It goes hand in hand with separating your tasks into sections. A word of warning: Don’t be like me. I write things on random slips of paper only to forget where the hell I wrote them when I’m hunting for them later. That leads us to the next tip.
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- Always write things down as you think of them. They may or may not be important. You may or may not get time for them. But you’ll never know unless you have it written down and don’t forget about it in the first place. If you write it on a random slip of paper, try to remember to add it to your compiled list as soon as you can.
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- Go over your list at regular intervals, and cross off things that no longer matter or need doing. They’re only taking up space both on the list and in your mind. Some people do this first thing in the morning, which is how I tend to do it. Others do both morning and night. Do what works best for you. Whether you look it over once a week or 5 times a day doesn’t matter. What matters is that it’s helping you purge your list of things you no longer need to worry about.
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- And the final tip: I recommend adding simple tasks you would be doing anyway so you can cross them off. Yes, this will make the list even longer, but the satisfaction is worth it. I do this with things like laundry on my weekly laundry day. I know I’m going to do it. I don’t ever forget to do it on that day. But being able to cross it off is a good feeling of accomplishment. It also motivates me to take care of more tasks.
Some Parting Words
In the end, it’s all about playing mind games with yourself. A list has become more than a means of remembering to do things. It is in and of itself a tool to make you feel better about yourself and what you’ve accomplished. Don’t let lists overwhelm you. Take control of them and try different techniques to find the best format that works for you.
One final note: Don’t think you have to keep the same system forever. I didn’t even get into all the possible mediums for these lists. But there are a ton of digital options to try. In fact, I find trying out various mediums and setups to be quite fun. I am always changing the ways in which I remind myself to do things. That’s what keeps it exciting and worthwhile for me. Experiment until your heart’s content, and please enjoy getting your shit done. It can be one of the most fulfilling and rewarding feelings you experience.
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