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3 Tips to Overcome Overwhelm
December 18, 2013 - Uncategorized
Have you ever thought “I have so much to do, I don’t know where to start”? I know I have – and sometimes I still do. And this end-of-
year time is a perfect time to share these 3 tips.
Recently, I attended a meeting of one of my mastermind groups. This group is a collection of fellow business owners in various fields. Everyone brings their expertise and willingness to share. I led a breakout group on taxes and attended several others led by fellow members sharing their specialized knowledge.
My friend, Deanne Marie, led a session on overcoming overwhelm. She shared 3 powerful tips that are SO easy! Why couldn’t we think of these ourselves?
Of course the first challenge that comes to my mind is what some of my clients share with me. “Do I have to keep these papers? Do I have to put these papers in neat files? Can’t I just throw them all in a box and deal with them later in the year?” Sure, just don’t bring that shoebox to your tax appointment 😉
I learned early in life, never put off until tomorrow that which you can do today. But with SO much that needs to be done each day, some of those things that are better done NOW actually do get put off.
Here are the Three Terrific Tips from Deanne Marie that I call my favorites:
The 15 Minute Method
- This tool can be used any time
- Use this tool when you are putting off starting a task for whatever reason
- This tool will help you overcome inertia and let you take that valuable first step (knowing that it is only for 15 minutes)
- Set a timer for 15 minutes
- Commit to working until the timer goes off
- At the end of the 15 minutes, you can choose to continue working or move on to something else
- This tool can also work to limit the time spent surfing the web or doing social networking
- This tool is something you might use once or twice a month to make progress on one or several larger tasks
- Plan ahead to have the resources you need available before you start.
- For each of six to ten tasks, create one hour slots (45-50 minutes of work with 10-15 minute breaks, to get coffee or listen to voice messages from calls you ignored during the hour)
- Mix it up if you can – an hour at the desk, an hour on a task that has you moving around (if possible)
- This tool is also something you might use once or twice a month to make progress on several smaller tasks (like making appointments, returning phone calls, planning larger tasks)
- Plan ahead to have the resources you need available before you start.
- Divide the hour into 6 to 10 slots and time them appropriately
- If you are on the phone with someone who likes to chat, you can honestly say “I have to go, I am on a deadline.