GETTING STUFF DONE!
We all have those days of procrastination or finding displacement activities to distract us from a task at hand. So, let’s have a look at why we might be doing this and how we can get out of that lackadaisical funk!
Why do we lose focus?
There are many reasons why we might find ourselves losing focus. Here are some of the top reasons why...
- We don’t know where/how to start
- We feel overwhelmed
- We haven’t got that sense of urgency, which can help with focus
- We’re worried we’ll get it wrong or make a mistake.
All these above reasons are perfectly ok – we just need to recognise it and work out how we can move forward with the task(s) at hand.
Start small
If you don’t know where to start, or you are feeling overwhelmed, then start small or ask for help. There’s no shame or loss of pride in taking some advice from a colleague or your manager. If it means getting off to a good start on the task and not having to back-track, then it’s a conversation worth having.
URGENT!
If there’s no sense of urgency, or the deadline seems far into the future, then schedule returning to the task or project little and often. Maybe have a regular diarised time each week where your review progress and add to it. That way, as the deadline looms, you will be on top of the project and not get that last minute panic.
Worrying won’t solve it
Worry and anxiety can really get in the way. Not to mention that dreaded impostor syndrome. These are easier said than done to banish. But take your time, remember what you are good at and past projects you have successfully completed and build confidence from there. It’s also work consulting with your cheerleaders (aka family and friends) who will help to give you that mental boost of confidence. You are never alone, and people are always happy to help you get back on track.
Hopefully this blog has given you a couple of minutes of displacement activity and spurred you to go and carpe diem!
PS If you want to stimulate your brain outside of the workplace, check out the Philosopher-in-Residence blog – out fortnightly on Thursdays, courtesy of Make Me A Plan’s Principal Planner, Anna Pascoe. Browse the latest edition here: