Achieve more with less: Use these 7 tips to expertly manage your day.
That task you’ve been avoiding, what is it about that task that’s preventing you from attending to it?
Is the task one that would be genuinely hard for most people to do? Is it a task so large that it seems too daunting to engage in it? Do you happen to be lazy? Have you procrastinated 20 minutes into 2 years? Do you lack the necessary skills to perform? Did you aim too high without considering your current position in life? Is there something from your past that’s preventing you from engaging in that task?
While not an exhaustive list, you may be able to relate to one or more of those scenarios. Let’s examine these ones.
- Is it a genuinely hard task:
Why did you pick it in the first place? Surely, there must have been a reason. What is it? If it’s an important reason, then you have to keep going for it. People may not support you, and some may think it’s stupid, but you already had an earlier motivation that led you to the conclusion, “This is important”. If it’s a genuinely hard task, don’t rush toward it in an effort to get everything done, because that’s why you’re probably in this category. It was a hard task, you did too much too fast, you got burnt out and now your motivation is dwindling. If it’s a task that you genuinely believe most people would struggle to do, that’s all the more reason you should attend to it because your purpose may be to occupy that seat obtained through the rigorous adventures on the path least traveled. That being said, go all-in, however, do not rush it. You’ll only grow old faster as a result.
2. The task seems daunting
Why don’t you break it up into manageable tasks?
You want to walk for an hour a day? How about you do 30 minutes twice as opposed to an hour straight if you struggle to get up on a regular day?
You’re a beginner and would like to learn a musical instrument. If you’ve been procrastinating, how about you do 10 minutes a day to begin with?
You would like to stop panting every time you walk down the stairs. How about you spend 20 minutes on cardio every day (or other day)?
You would like to read a book a week? How about you do 15 minutes a day?
As daunting as a task may be, you can always break it up into smaller chunks to make the goals easier to achieve, as you progress and get more skilled, automatically, you’ll start looking for the next challenge.
3. Are you just Lazy?
How about you start looking for things you enjoy?
If you actually like doing something, there are very good odds that you’d stick with it.
So, how about you look for something you truly like and then proceed to give it your all?
The reason for this is to allow your brain to know that you can actually complete tasks, and maybe all you’re lacking is discipline.
As for motivation, some days it comes, other days, it doesn’t. You need to realize why you’re chasing that goal you’re chasing.
“I’m tired of going to the gym, it’s too stressful on my body”.
Well, you’re either going to experience the voluntary pain that occurs as a result of pushing your body to the limits or you can experience the pain that occurs as a result of your body letting you know that it wasn’t properly taken care of.
There’s no pain-free option. I’m sorry g, but it’s going to be one or the other.
Which is your pick?
4. Tendency to procrastinate
I’m not judging here because most people have a tendency to procrastinate to an extent. Now, the degree to which that affects your life is up to you.
Do you have an important project due tomorrow?
You can choose to watch YouTube videos, however, that project will still be due tomorrow.
Did you put off the gym for a month in order to “enjoy yourself”?
Well, those calories aren’t going anywhere, so you’re either going to deal with it now or later — and often, it’s not a great experience when it’s the latter.
Did you fail to put your room in order?
It’s still going to be there for you when you get back, just as you left it.
You can choose when to do things. However, when you keep procrastinating, it’s only a matter of time before your delayed responsibilities catch up to you.
5. Lacking essential skills
If you weren’t fit for the position, why did you take it?
I guess that doesn’t matter now, life happens, and all we can do is contend with it.
Instead of feeling sorry for yourself, having your heart riddled with impostor syndrome, and failing to move forward. You should spend as much time as necessary to ensure you’re capable enough of being positioned in that role.
“Fake it till you make it”, they say.
You’ve faked it good, now you’ve got to put in the work to ensure you’re deserving of the position upon which you’ve been bestowed.
6. Did you over-aim?
You should realize that everyone starts from somewhere.
You may see someone and think they’ve got everything, but there’s no need to compare themselves to you. Who knows what their life situation is? And even if you do, how does that matter?
The only one with your experiences is you. You’re wasting too much time thinking about others. Stay focused! What is your goal? Where are you in relation to that goal? Have you been doing the right things to get to that goal?
For instance, you’re a blogger who’s just starting out and trying to get 20,000+ reads a month. You may be one of the lucky few who gets to do that, but generally, it’s not the case, you need time. So, why would you then beat yourself over failing to reach a goal that takes time to achieve?
Always consider your goal in relation to where you are in life. As you improve, so do the goals.
7. PAST TRAUMA
Is an event from your past holding you back?
Are you absent in your kids’ lives due to how your dad treated you?
Are you unable to negotiate for yourself because your mom always told you “No”?
Are you unable to tackle new challenges because other people said you’d never amount to anything?
You’re going to have to let all that go.
Of course, that’s easier said than done, you can have a chat with your therapist to assist with that. You could expose yourself to similar experiences to see how well you fare — You may be surprised to notice that your 30-year-old self can fare a lot better than your 10-year-old self did in similar situations. You could also learn to write and use that as a source of meditation.
Feel free to click the link below if interested.
FINAL THOUGHTS
There are many reasons for not attending to your responsibilities. That being said, you cannot afford to let those reasons prevent you from moving forward in life. Despite the reason, those responsibilities are still going to be there for you: As you sleep, as you wake, and during your anxiety attacks. They are still going to be there for you and the best way to deal with them is to figure out why you’re incapable of dealing with those responsibilities and attack the problem head-on.
I wish you luck!
SIGNING OUT
TONY
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