Getting Busyness under Control

In a crazy busy working life, it often feels as though we just don’t have time to stop our doing.

The demands are intense. Clients, bosses, friends, family all demanding a slice of our time and energy, until it’s more than used up.

And it’s no good saying it’s simple and easy to change it. If that was the case you wouldn’t be in the position just described.

It’s also unsustainable, however motivated and committed you might be. Sooner or later inevitably the pressure will turn to stress. And then burnout.

So there is a great reason to figure out how to tame this beast or at least bring it to a sustainable level.

Rather than trying big steps, trying to commit to unachievable ideals, I suggest taking a series of small steps and taking it at a measured pace.

Paradoxically you will be more likely to succeed with this approach than with some big bold alternative.

So what can you, could you do? I suggest the following;

• At the start of the month. list the TWO key, critical, vital things you want to achieve by the end of the month. No more than two. And they can come from any area of your life, not just work.
• At the start of each week, review your diary (you do have and use one don’t you?) and allocate time in it to those two key, critical, vital things. This is your action time – when you do the activities that will ensure you eventually achieve the outcomes you have set
• At the start of each day, reconfirm your commitment to devote your energy to the activities you have planned and allocated to yourself
• At the end of each day, ask yourself to what extent you have moved forward to achieving the outcomes you set? Make any adjustments needed

As you get into the habit of focusing on your actions and allocating some of your time, you will find yourself naturally moving towards your goals. At the beginning it will feel odd to work this way. A change always is odd. But persevere and in time the reverse will be the case. It will feel odd not to work this way.

But much more effective!