First things first

Sometimes I feel like getting a lot of things done. Having piled up a lot of loose ends during the week, or just because I want to feel on top of things. Usually I make a list of all the things I want to do, written down on old fashoned paper so I can scratch them when they are done. That sense of satisfaction that provides is not the same on a digital check list in my opinion.

Me wouldn't be me if I didn't want to check off all the boxes in the most efficient way, so I think about the order in which to best handle the tasks at hand and then it spirals out of control. I mean, I want to do the laundry, but then I should mop the floor first so I can include the mop in the washing and before that I need to vacuum and before that empty the litter box and before that getting new grit for it and ... well, I guess you get the point. So instead of starting, I stare at the list and don't do a thing. The tasks itself are not hard or very time consuming, but having to do them all in a certain order, or at least I feel like I should because I want to be efficient, can cause me to freeze.

Depending on my mood I can either switch and start doing or stay where I am and do random other stuff that has no priority at all or is just a distraction, like playing Rummikub on my phone. I mean, it is one of the best games ever and it is very good brain training, but that is not what I wanted to achieve that day. Recently I read a book on this topic of getting things done from Lianne Keemink and she describes the same process I am going through every now and then. Her advise when you have this cloud of tasks hanging over your head? Just pick one and start, don't be bothered by the order, because at least it gets you moving and gets you out of paralyzing mode and you might end up in a flow of action and getting things done.

The more I get to know myself, the more I realise when I get stuck or start Rummikub because I don't want to do the other stuff although I do know I want to have it done. When I catch myself starting the latter, I am not enjoying it as much because there is a little voice in the back of my mind nagging me that I should be doing something else instead. So even playing a game, reading a book or watching something, becomes overshadowed by this negative voice.

One other thing I can do is question my behaviour and try to figure out why I don't want to get started. Needless to say, that this usually ends in a back and forth internal discussion that is doomed to continue forever if I don't put a stop to it. Rarely, it turns out that it is something I find scary to do or I am afraid of what the consequences are. When you ask a favour for example and you get a no. There is no hope left, so better not ask so I can imagine it will all turn out well. In the case the task is something I don't know yet, like figuring out how Instagram works, I force myself to spend a certain amount of time on it and usually this helps to get me started and I can easily continue. When it comes to my 'first things first' task list, I just need to tell myself to get the ball rolling. A deadline can help me to get moving too, which could also be a tea date with a friend later in the afternoon. It works as a reward as well, so it has a double function :)

How do you motivate yourself to get things done?

With love,

Anne