One Simple Mental Trick to Get Rid Of Overwhelming Workload

“If you want to make an easy seem job mighty hard, just keep putting off doing it” ~ Olin Miller

We all know that massive action equals massive results. But we don’t need to do everything on our own. If we have to do everything on our own, then the feeling of overwhelm is the obvious reaction to that.

we have only 24 hours a day. Every has the same number of hours in fact, not even a second more. but some people seem to be thriving and quickly finishing one after the another and on the other hand, few just get spooked merely by the volume of number of action to that.

But there is a technique, which can help you decide quickly what is the best possible action, at any given situation. We call it 4D/A Rule

The 4D/A rule is on the premise that for any activity in front of you, you have to make either of these choices amongst 4Ds and A. Next time any activity, which comes to you, you have to test that activity on the barometer of 4D/A. It means you have to categorize that activity into any of the below-stated actions:

· Delete it;

· Defer it,

· Delegate;

· Do it,

· Automate it.

If you follow the above practices of categorizing your work activities amongst above parameters that would never make you feel overwhelmed. The reason behind that is for the first three kinds of decisions, it is not coming to you “immediate” basket, so you make your ‘current’ action list uncluttered.

Generally speaking, there could be an only limited number of activities would require your immediate attention. Also, if you see the last two categories, even in the case of activities, which you are supposed to handle yourselves, you have two choices. Either you can do it yourself, or you may consider automating the process by putting some additional time in building some system or processes, so that next time, it gets done on an automated basis.

Just to elaborate it a little bit more: All the activities on your desk will need to go to either of the categories.

· Delete it — All the work coming to your desk needn’t be done. Some emails or messages may be simply ignored, as they don’t fit into your priority work list at all. Examples could be tons of email just marked a cc to you, which require no inputs from you and even no action from you in near future. Delete it here means delete from your to-do-activity list only. You may choose to retain those in your inbox for any future reference.

· Defer it — Defer it to a later time depending upon the level of prioritization.

· Delegate it — if you think, the work doesn’t require specialized expertise of your level and another person can do it, delegate the work immediately.

· Do it. If the work does not fit into any of the above categories and it requires you specific involvement and use of your intellectual (unless you can automate it further), then you have to plan to do it yourself in the committed timelines.

· Automate it: If by using some systems and putting some time upfront, you can automate the work activity, which gets done on its own through the system, it’s better to be done that way. One mini-example of automation could be- setting up automated bill payments for your electricity, telephone, mobile, broadband, satellite TV, any magazine subscriptions, etc. It may take time once to set up those, but then, you never have to do it again for months and years.

So next time, whenever you are taking stock of the items earmark either of the four “D” or “A” on the item, make it a habit of doing it quicker, as this is going to be your tool to avoid any feeling of overwhelming due to work overload.

Thus, by minimizing the number of activities on your plate, you have a sense of liberation, and you can push the procrastination beast away from you.

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If you liked above , you’d also want to check my other articles below:

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