Introduction
Like many people I am an endless procrastinator if given the chance, so I am always on the lookout for new ways to help myself get things done.
I thought it would be useful to do some posts to share some of these tips.
I think most of us suffer from limited time and finite mental energy so anything that helps us to be more productive is valuable.
This is something that has been working very well for me:
Do One Thing on the List Every Day Without Fail
I keep a notepad with me at all times - nothing revolutionary or new there - I use it to record my "to do list" and I'm sure a lot of people do the same.
Here is the simple thing I have changed to make it more effective though:
I have made a deal with myself that I will make sure I do one thing (the easiest thing on the list) every day and I will not worry if I do nothing else.
This takes very little time or effort and here is the surprising thing: -
When I have overcome the hurdle of doing that one little thing, it actually makes doing some of the other tasks on the list seem much easier.
Often, I can then run through the rest of the list much more easily - sometimes I even complete the entire list on the same day.
Why Does this Work?
In my opinion it works because we create mental barriers that can exaggerate the work (and hence pain) involved in completing even minor tasks.
These barriers are unrealistic yet very powerful.
They are created because we are prone to various errors of thought which affect our perceptions of a situation.
These affect our behaviour and create procrastination which makes the situation appear worse.
The longer the list gets the harder it is to tackle it and we just keep putting it off because it seems more and more difficult to do!
This is one of the foundations of cognitive behaviourial theory in psychology (read more here).
When we commit to doing a single task without fail we force ourselves to test the reality of the task versus our skewed perception.
This breaks the illusory barriers in our way and can also help to shatter the barriers that stand in the way of the other tasks in the list.
In addition there is also an internal reward (pleasure) that comes from completing a task.
This can help to negate some of the pain of initiating the other tasks on the list which also makes them easier to do.
Another side benefit is that it seems to remove a lot of the cognitive effort that comes from thinking about whether we should or shouldn't do a particular task.
I think quite often we are not even conscious of the cognitive effort that wastes and removing it can paradoxically grant us greater mental energy.
Anyway I hope you found this little tip useful.
Let me know what you think. Have you used this method yourself?
References
- Morin, Amy. 2017. “10 Thinking Errors That Will Crush Your Mental Strength.” Psychology Today. Accessed July 3. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/what-mentally-strong-people-dont-do/201501/10-thinking-errors-will-crush-your-mental-strength.
Thank you for reading
I do the same thing. I keep a desktop to do list ordered from least to most intimidating (and a separate file for Steemit articles to write). If you do at least one thing a day, you create a rewarding mental feedback loop.
I agree.
Great help and advice. Boy, do I suffer from procrastination. And we do create so much "mental roadblocks" that hinder us from performing tasks we know needs to be done. Your tips will be helpful and yes, I will do one thing in the list for sure.
Cool - hopefully it will help.
Hey @thecryptofiend!
I believe in the "training of the mind" through repetition. Even the most arduous of tasks can become accepted facets of our daily life employing such strategies. It's all about disciplining the mind.
I can totally relate to your post with my blog. I'd do anything else "but" want to sit in front of the screen and chug out the next chapter of my book. Especially if I'm at a part that involves a lot of exposition or plot narrative.
But, if you're aware of the problem, then you can come up with the solution. Hence:
So true! Your outlook on productivity is just a state of mind. Control and hone that truism and your halfway to completing your objective.
Excellent post, sir! Thank you! :)
Thanks mate!
Great post; thank you for sharing! I think it is so easy to get sidetracked in our age of technology. I like to meditate and keep a gratitude journal and I haven't even been doing that anymore. I get overwhelmed if the to do list is long also. I like this idea of focusing on one thing. Thank you!
You're welcome!
Great tips. I have a simillar mindset and I always seem to be productive if I just focus on doing at least one thing.
Cool.
this is an excellent tip, @ thecryptofiend, and simple as most effective techniques are.
I have a friend who's stuck and over-whelmed - unable to do the simplest tasks. I've tried encouragement and sympathizing and was at my wit's end until I saw your post. It's direct and brilliant - very doable, and I've sent the link to this person and am hopeful It'll make a big difference. Thank you!
I think it is common to feel that way - particularly if you are depressed as well.
yes, exactly. Thanks :)
Great advice will work on it
Thanks!
I never thought of you as a procrastinator but thanks a lot for the tips!
We all are to some degree!
It's always good to be disciplined. Procrastination has always been a problem for me but i'm working on it.
.. Taken note of your tips. Thanks.
You're welcome.
"Anything that helps in getting things done is fantastic. " When You get the results, that feelings can't be compared to anything in the world , at that time you are at the top of the world.
I agree.
This is something I'm absolutely horrible at. I've been a horrible procrastinator my whole life. I'm not bad at managing money, but I'm terrible at managing time. I'm the kind of person who, if there really were 5 more hours in the day, I'd fill them up with needless crap and wish there were 5 more.
You're not alone. I suspect it gets worse once you have kids and a family - there just aren't enough hours in the day.
Oh it does. And that's when time management is the most important.
I sometimes do create a to-do-list but I still find it difficult to stick to them and be productive. The only way I get things done is if I know there is a going to be a sinister repercussion if I do not do it a certain task.
I'll have a got at it and it hopefully works.
With your suggestions, me only thinking I have to do one task may motivate me
Let's see
Yes let me know how you get on!
I agree with what you put, I do not multi task (unless I'm cooking a big meal) because if you do one task at a time you get it done right and probably therefore quicker than you would if you are doing multiple things, if you are immersed at doing your task and doing it well as you said you feel good about what you've done and you feel accomplished, great steem thank you!🌷🌷
Yeah .. procrastinating only increase the burden ... Completing some pending work surely clears your mind to give anything else your 100% .
Exactly.
I make to do lists all the time. Especially for the weekend when I have several tasks to do. They keep me focused on what needs to be done and when it's finished I can do fun stuff haha!
Yes it is certainly better than trying to keep the list entirely in your head!
For sure! My life is pretty busy so I forget things as well. So I have an app called 'Wunderlist' that syncs with my laptop and mobile so that I can easily put stuff in there to remind me, put tasks in and even a grocery list! Pretty handy!
Great:)
Goal oriented people definitely are more productive if they can track their progress! Good catch! I'm very interested in building the energy and thoughts to overcome anything, check me out to get another perspective.
I'm following you for more.
Thank you.
This will work good for men we can only concentrate on one thing at a time anyway. Lol
I think the idea that anyone is good at multitasking is just not true.
I don't know about that, I have seen the misses talking on the phone and typing like a machine all day.
That's not scientific though - if I remember correctly whenever people have been tested to see if they can do multiple tasks efficiently at once it almost always results in impaired performance compared to just doing a single task.
I see what your talking about, I guess the brain just skips backward and forward really quickly so it just looks like they are doing two things at the same time.
Yes I think you are right. I also seem to remember that constantly changing "mode" like that can exhaust your mind more quickly.
Is that why women are always saying their tired. Lol
This is interesting, the power of completing just one task from the list. I too make these lists and complete about 40% in a given day. I like lists but feel they sometimes bog me down, this article helps. Great and informative post as always.
Thanks and nice to see you are back!
Thank you for noticing I was sorta gone :)
Our brain is quite a junkie and rewards (dopamine) is all he would want. Do you have a specific schedule? Do you always start with that one thing you have to do?
Yes I try to do it first - if I can but it is not always possible.
Makes sense. Guess when you keep doing, the brain keeps telling ourselves that we can get it that. And it becomes a habit. Habits breeds consistency.
And to think I was thinking of much work I have to catch up on. I keep a to-do list but I do get overwhelmed because I try to do a one time big time thing. I'm going to have to cut down I suppose. Thanks for the tip :)
That's what I used to do and it used to mean I would just keep putting it off further down the line! It turns into a huge mountain that seems impossible.
Your avatar represents how I feel when I start - like I'm pushing a boulder up a mountain. Okay! I'm going to start using your tip today. Baby steps! crossing my fingers
Hopefully it will help you:)
Timely post for me - thanks @thecryptofiend
You're welcome!
Great tips, everyone can have a ''to-do'' list but very few people can manage to stick to it every single day because of procrastination and perhaps laziness.
Yes.
Thanks for the mind hacks, I have a high tentancy of procrastination so have a list of small tasks and taking on one at a time should work. I'm going to try it out.
Cool hope it works for you.
Procrastination is my greatest enemy right now that i have to get rid of, thanks for the tips.
You're welcome!
thanks for sharing..I have used the method before and it worked. I do procrastinate sometimes but find a way to justify myself. But procrastination cannot be embelished in any way, it's still procrastination! Thanks again for this piece @thecryptofiend
You're welcome!
RESTEEMED! Having a list of tasks and making sure that at least one is done, for me, early into the morning is exactly, what I've been paying more attention to and found it VERY empowering!
Thanks!
sure thing!
Quality article ! These advices are really useful for everybody. I find myself in a similar position all the time. I have troubles getting things done. I agree that in order to cure this problem, you have to make a quest in getting simple things done first. Like William Mcraven said: "if you want to change the world,start off by making your bed"
I do believe that this is very true. We all function on "patterns" as i like to call them and we have a lot of bad habbits. We build these bad patterns over time without realising and in time, it's very hard to break them. The same cand be applied to "good patterns". If you start doing simple things regulary you will build good habbits in time. I followed because this article was really well writen and i am waiting for more in the future. Thanks @thecryptofiend !
Thanks for your fantastic answer! I think you are absolutely right - in some way this is a step towards creating new patterns that are more productive.
I also loves making to do lists but I also list down things I accomplished everyday. Have you heard of Non-Zero Day? It's basically the same productivity tip but more geared towards depression. I wrote about it here: https://steemit.com/contest/@katsics/improve-the-daily-life-the-non-zero-day-movement
No I haven't heard of it. Thanks!
yeah good post there...lot things to get..keep it up writing bro...
Thank you!
This is exactly what I needed to read. I'm in the same boat as you, putting things off.
Thank you ofr taking the time to write this. Upvoted !!
You're welcome thanks:)
I like that! Many times i want to do WAY too much and it just stresses me out and i end up doing nothing !
I'll have to try to do at least one thing in the day!
Exactly - one thing is manageable and does not seem to be a big thing. Even if that is all you do, it is something and chips away at the list.
My one thing on my list is too....make a list :)
Lol - of course!
Also would help to divide a big task to small peices.
Do remember- an elephant could not be eaten in one moment, but everyone would have eaten whole elephant piece by piece
Yes absolutely.
Thank you for sharing this post! Great advice!
You're welcome!
Thank you i will work on that
Inspiering and SO something worth doing 😊
Thank u for sharing. Im starting today.
Upvoted and resteemed.
Thx for inspiering post
Thank you glad you liked it.
I really did 😊
Gracias por el consejo, muy productivo.
You're welcome!
I'm a to do list type of gal myself too.
Great tips, thank you for sharing!
Lovely day to you!⭐️
Thank you:)
You are welcome.
I am terrible for putting things off for later, Then when I do eventually get round to doing it the job has got much harder, If i had just done it there and then, I always regret it but still do it. Might have to try this Thank you :)
You're welcome.
I think that I am a perfectionist but due to some restraints that I am enduring, it eventually affects the end result @thecryptofiend
I think a lot of people who have perfectionist traits can find themselves crippled by it - I think there is a strong overlap with being OCD and perfectionism.
Great advice, even tho I do something a little bit different.
Since I work on all kind of goals in order to achieve all kind of things, I usually do my best to set my priorities and take care of one thing a month.
I do many things each day, but each month I write down on a list a thing I want to improve, or some work I want to do, and that will be my main objective for the next 30 days.
For example, if I write on an agenda that my objective for the next 30 days will be writing 200 new posts on Steemit, I will make sure I'll post at least 200 new posts on steemit in the next 30 days.
This way I make sure I have a certain goal while also giving myself enough time to take care of it and not be stressed. I do this because some days I can work really well, and I can easily write 10 posts for Steemit, while other days I can barely write one.
Anyway, great article, great tip, and I hope you have a nice day! :)
Yes in fact that is a really good habit to have:)
Your post title reminds me of the adage,
Carrying a note pad also allows you to jot down those ideas that come to you out of the blue while you're in the middle of some other task.
"I have made a deal with myself that I will make sure I do one thing (the easiest thing on the list) every day and I will not worry if I do nothing else."
Forgive yourself for not being perfect, all day, every day.
Sometimes you should just give yourself some credit for being perfect for a split second at a time.
Yes that is a great quote. Very well put.
I thought that sounded more dignified than Wayne Gretsky:
That's pretty cool too!
Your post was one of several along the same lines that has inspired the post I'm starting now.
"What Millennials Can Learn From Chitty Chitty Bang Bang"
Lol that sounds truly inspired - please send me the link when you are done!
https://steemit.com/motivation/@theblindsquirl/what-millennials-can-learn-from-chitty-chitty-bang-bang
Now I need a nap.
I used to have my to do list before I started working, however I always prioritize tasks interns of ugency. Probably the way you sort might help me to complete more tasks, as you might be motivated and encourages after you have done a easy one. Thank you for such a good reminder!
You're welcome. I think this applies more to things that do not have immediate priority.
Nice post and amazing tips definitely helpful for us thanks to share such a nice post. Waiting for your next post
Thank you:)
For me this post reinforces the difference between motivation and discipline. Motivation is how you feel and discipline is a habit. Motivation is limited discipline costs nothing, as a matter of fact if you break the routine you will feel anxious.
Use motivation to create habits and thus positive feedback loops. PRO TIP: when you make a TO DO list, put more things then you can do in a day - you will achieve more :)
Thanks I agree.
Excellent post. This post solidified for me why taking things one task at a time is best. The situation of having so many things to do actually makes the overall perception of the tasks seem harder, also known as analysis paralysis.
I read another great comparison of a lion and tamer. Everyone knows the lion can easily maul the tamer if he wanted to, but when the tamer holds a 4 legged chair against the lion, the lion feels there are 4 threats in front of him. Thus the lion ends up becoming paralyzed because he doesn't know which one to go after.
As human beings, we have great capability, but the buildup of things to do can change our perception on handling the task. Remember that we are the lion compared to our tasks! Thanks again for the post @TheCryptofiend.
That is a fantastic way to put it. I think we are often paralysed by seeing multiple things in front of us, just like the lion.
very nice post!!
Very helpful. I found myself just today muttering "just this one thing!" trying to focus my attention on one things on my long to do list.
Thanks glad you found it useful!
Thank you for sharing this with us. Upvoted.