If you are like me, you have more things to do in one day than you can actually get done. But still we plan, schedule and prioritize, each day, doing our best to get it all done. We do a pretty good job of it, but some days we try to push it, going past the time when our mind says “step away”, “take a break”, or “call it a day”.
This time of the year I tend to push it a lot, and when I do, I get less done. When I go past the time my mind says “step away” tasks take longer to accomplish and I get frustrated and impatient. My coaching clients have the same problem, you just think you can get it done, and inevitably it takes longer because what you really need to do is take a break or call it a day.
Here is what my coaching clients and I are doing when our minds say “stop” but we try to persist even though we feel tired, frustrated or impatient .
- Step Away – get up from your desk and do something else for 15 minutes. After the 15 minutes see how you feel. If you feel the same as you did 15 minutes ago, call it a day. If you feel ready to take on the task, then do it.
- Try a New Format – If you are writing, try drawing out your plan. Sometimes simply going to a whiteboard and drawing out your tasks will help you see things differently, allowing you to complete the task.
- Sleep On It – Give your task to your subconscious and sleep on it. You will wake up with a fresh perspective and new ideas.
- Delegate It – Is the task at hand something you have to do or can someone else do it? I see entrepreneurs working on tasks that someone else could and should be doing.
- Evaluate It – Is the task a MUST for today? I was reviewing a To Do list the other day and at least half of the things listed as “MUST” were not.
So far, we have experienced progress with our To Dos by stopping when we feel we should and coming back to the task later.
What do you do to Increase Productivity
What do you do when you know you should stop but don’t? Do you have any tips that have worked for you? Let me know in the comments below or email me at smiller@mindwhirl.com
