I'm feeling a bit "tip-sy" today.
What's your life like right now? Thoroughly enjoying a relaxing beginning of the summer? Or perhaps you're overwhelmed and feel like your head is spinning? If you’re reading this, you might be like me. Chances are you’ve experienced this kind of frustration. The “never-ending to-do list”. Mom's, business owners, women of all walks of life, I'm talking to you. Just because it's summer doesn't mean that "to-do list" goes away.
I often feel like I'm juggling. Life, family, meal prep, business, and all sorts of other things. And to top it all off, I struggle with ADHD (or is it perimenopause?). I understand how overwhelming it can feel when your tasks pile up faster than you can tackle them (or your emails)! In fact I have been loaded with things to do lately as my daughter is getting married this Saturday! With all of the wedding hubbub, I absolutely have to stay organized or I'm literally going to lose my mind! So how am I doing it? Here are 5 amazing steps I've found that have helped keep the horse blinders on and my feet in motion to get it all done. Oh, and of course, a friend to do these tasks with always helps. I love body doubling (aka co-working).
1. Brain Dump
As you begin, you'll need a notebook, piece of paper, or go ahead and open your Notes on your phone. Now write. Write all the things that are swirling around in your mind. This means getting down every task, idea, and reminder that’s been nagging at you. Don’t worry about organizing it yet—just get it all out. Whew!! I'm sure your page is a mess, but you're on your way to a calmer mind.
2. Categorize
Now get another piece of paper. Once you’ve unloaded all the little things floating around in your brain, you can categorize those tasks. Here's the way I like to do it: match like with like! It'll be fun, she said. 🤣
Group similar tasks together—such as emails, errands, work projects, chores, random thoughts, and meal ideas. This is going to help you see patterns and make your list feel more manageable. It's like sorting the stuff in your junk drawer (I know you have one or two or three!) into neat little piles. Give yourself a pat on the back or send me a high five! Way to go for coming this far!
3. Prioritize Your Tasks
Next, grab yourself another blank piece of paper and get ready! For this step in organizing your thoughts, you're only going to focus on tasks. I want you to draw a simple grid with four quadrants. (And for nerds out there like me, it's called the Eisenhower Matrix.)
It could look a little something like this 👇:
Okay now that you've got that drawn, it's time to label each quadrant:
Urgent and Important: Tasks that need immediate attention.
Important but Not Urgent: Tasks that are significant but can wait.
Urgent but Not Important: Tasks that require attention but aren’t crucial.
Not Urgent and Not Important: Tasks that can be delegated or eliminated.
Now, take each of your tasks from your original paper and write them into one of these four sections. This will help you to see what truly needs to be focused on. It'll also show you what things really don't matter right now and what things you can delegate!
4. Break Down the Big Stuff
You're going to get into the nitty gritty now. Take a look at your quadrant and pick out one of your largest tasks. Those big ones can be ridiculously overwhelming, so now's the time to call me. 😁 (But seriously!)
Work backwards if you need to, and break your task down into small steps. Instead of “launch new product,” your list might include steps like “research competitors,” “outline product features,” and “design marketing materials.” What you're doing is creating a checklist to help you tackle this large task. You'll feel great as you check off each small step and it'll help keep you motivated!
5. Use Time Blocking
Okay this one's painful even for me, but it does truly help. I'm a systems gal, and this is really just plugging in those tasks that you put in your quadrant and adding them to be a part of your day, as a system. For example, when I get up in the morning I grab a steaming hot cup of joe and sit to read for a bit. I know I've got lunch to eat and supper to make, so I place my tasks into my day in a systematic way so I can begin making supper at 4:30 p.m. So, after my first cup of coffee, I'll probably sit at my computer and work on some designs or project for a client. Got to take a break, grab another java, and then get back at it. After lunch, I know I'd like to take a walk. Depending on the weather, I'd try to fit that into my day. Of course, there's the general household chores that scream at me until they're done, so on my way to put on a load of laundry I will empty the dishwasher, then throw in a load of clothes, come back to fill the dishwasher, and then head out for a walk. Making the "modern maid" system work for me, right!?
Here's the thing. Know when you are the most productive. Get the tougher tasks done during that time. But don't forget to take a break, and if you've got children at home or places to go, remember it's okay if you get a bit distracted. Allow for that time, then get back on track. Systemize your day and keep the scatterbrained feelings away!
6. Bonus Tip: Celebrate Your Wins 🎉
Don’t forget to celebrate your wins, no matter how small. Each task you complete is a huge step towards conquering overwhelm and bringing more calm into your life. You've done an amazing job, even if you were only able to write five things on your brain dump list before you had to run out the door. Give yourself some credit.
You've got this, and I'm cheering you on every step of the way!
Not ready or able to sort out your tasks alone? I can help you with that. If you're wanting to ditch that overwhelm and bring back some calm to your life, let's chat. Work one-on-one with me or join my weekly co-working group. I'd love to hear from you. 🌿✨
It's time to Flourish.
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