Get the Job Done Right: Focusing on One Task at a Time
October 4, 2007
So many times, we are so overwhelmed by the amount of things that need to be accomplished that we do not know where to start and we find ourselves running around in circles. We try to become super human by trying to have the perfect lifestyle and we take on too much. Then we wonder why we never finish tasks or really accomplish things to the best of our ability.
For some unknown reason, we seem to think that if we are doing three things at one time that we are really accomplishing things in record time. This is the time to step back and reassess. We need to learn how to FOCUS on the task at hand. One job plus one thought, equals one accomplishment that is well done. Pick out your number one priority task and stick with it until it is totally accomplished.
Focusing on what the job is, how you want to do it, what the expectations upon completion of the job are and how long it will take you to achieve it will get you a lot further. These little hints may help:
** Take the bigger jobs first while you are full of energy.
** Stick a small job in between two larger jobs.
** Focus on your final goal with each job.
** Make sure that you have all of the tools handy to complete the job.
** Do as many jobs as you can ‘finish’ in the amount of time that you have allotted.
** Don’t let your mind wonder to other things that need to be done, add them to your list of things to do and schedule them in.
** As your energy drains, take a break and re-energize. Even if that break is only for 10 minutes, it will give you new vitality.
By focusing on one task at a time and seeing it through to completion, you relieve stress on your mind and body. And you are able to take pride in a job well done. A few well done tasks will always feel much better than several half done ones. [LG]Get organized here![/LG]
This is great! Thanks Jan! I love posts like this… so often we think that tasks is so big but if broken down can be so manageable!
Look at a series of tasks like this.
If you need to get 7 things done and you look at those 7 things as a group of things it will take you exponentially longer to get all 5 done.
For this example lets say each task takes 1 week to complete (I know, it’s not just a ‘chore-task’, look at it more as a work-related task).
If we were to work on each task 1 day out of each week, we won’t finish ANY of our task during the first 6 weeks. Only on day 1 of the 7th week do we complete the first task. Sure, week 7 will put you on cloud 9 as you finish all those tasks back to back. The problem however is the lack of motivation during the first 6 weeks, which will consequentially delay your work and so you will not get as much done during the first 6 weeks.
The bottom line is to take tasks one by one, and not overwhelm yourself with tasks, projects, or whatever it may be.
Instead, during week 1, work only on task 1. When you’re done with it at the end of week 1, start on task 2 etc. Each task will be a little milestone which functions as a great motivator and a great sense of accomplishment.
Hope this helps someone understand the value of decluttering and focusing instead of doing many things at once (I used to be like that, working on 4 different website at a time, it would take me forever to get things done)