What I've Learned #463: Quit Procrastinating and Get S#@t Done
03/20/2009 04:35 PM
Procrastination is a bitch and one reason why it
happens is because our time management skills are
sucking. A lot of guys I coach don’t know
about
GTD -- the Getting Things Done
system.
It’s definitely for geeks and people into
hyper-structured stuff. It might be for you.
But you really don’t need to adopt a big ass system.
If you just can’t seem to get shit done here’s a quick tip (If you really can’t get it done check this out):
Get Specific -- Take something like “learn how to cook” and break it down into specific, measurable tasks. Anytime you keep things in the grey area of uncertainty you give yourself a way to fudge. Make things black-and-white and you can make progress and build momentum.
For instance, “learn how to cook” becomes “learn how to cook spaghetti”.
Task 1: Go online and find recipe
Task 2: Get ingredients at store
Task 3: Set up time to prep
Task 4: Cook the damn thing
Task 5: Dine
Task 6: Say “Hell yeah”
Get the picture? Each task is specific and measurable. Did you complete it? If yes, you move on. Dig?
By When? -- I’ve found it really helpful to add a “by when” or “due date” and a guess-timation of how long it will take. This is helpful for tasks I’m not crazy about or will have a tendency to push.
If I can look at a specific task and see that I’ve got to knock it out by Friday at 2 and it should only take me 30 minutes, I’m more likely to just do it. It keeps my brain from making it more complex than it is.
Bonus -- Actually set that time aside on your calendar to do it. If you think it’ll take 30 minutes, block that out on your schedule and don’t let it slide. This way, it IS the priority and it will get done.
Bonus 2 -- Make yourself accountable to others. Telling someone else that you’re going to get something done by a certain time is very helpful. Tell a friend, your men’s group or a coach and have them check on you to make sure you followed through. Throw a little skin in the game and come up with a consequence for not following through ($20 to your rival team’s foundation, etc.)
Resources -- I use Things Desktop and Things Touch to keep my tasks organized. This frees up a ton of my mental space to be more present and creative.
Aloha!
But you really don’t need to adopt a big ass system.
If you just can’t seem to get shit done here’s a quick tip (If you really can’t get it done check this out):
Get Specific -- Take something like “learn how to cook” and break it down into specific, measurable tasks. Anytime you keep things in the grey area of uncertainty you give yourself a way to fudge. Make things black-and-white and you can make progress and build momentum.
For instance, “learn how to cook” becomes “learn how to cook spaghetti”.
Task 1: Go online and find recipe
Task 2: Get ingredients at store
Task 3: Set up time to prep
Task 4: Cook the damn thing
Task 5: Dine
Task 6: Say “Hell yeah”
Get the picture? Each task is specific and measurable. Did you complete it? If yes, you move on. Dig?
By When? -- I’ve found it really helpful to add a “by when” or “due date” and a guess-timation of how long it will take. This is helpful for tasks I’m not crazy about or will have a tendency to push.
If I can look at a specific task and see that I’ve got to knock it out by Friday at 2 and it should only take me 30 minutes, I’m more likely to just do it. It keeps my brain from making it more complex than it is.
Bonus -- Actually set that time aside on your calendar to do it. If you think it’ll take 30 minutes, block that out on your schedule and don’t let it slide. This way, it IS the priority and it will get done.
Bonus 2 -- Make yourself accountable to others. Telling someone else that you’re going to get something done by a certain time is very helpful. Tell a friend, your men’s group or a coach and have them check on you to make sure you followed through. Throw a little skin in the game and come up with a consequence for not following through ($20 to your rival team’s foundation, etc.)
Resources -- I use Things Desktop and Things Touch to keep my tasks organized. This frees up a ton of my mental space to be more present and creative.
Aloha!