I’m sure we’ve all had times when we’ve stared in awe and wondered, perhaps out loud, how anyone can fit in as much as they do. While we’re still thinking about tonight’s dinner menu, they may have hit the gym, organized the grocery store, made several important calls, volunteered at a local charity, and completed some important work.
How do they do so much?
– To be organized is the key to getting things done. Without organization, things can get too random, dipping in and out of tasks with too little focus or planning. Lists can be an efficient way to introduce order and method, allowing you to order things by degree of urgency.
– Some things are too big or complicated to tackle in one go. Input or a third party contribution may be required, so being efficient is about moving things around quickly so that each person can do their part. Keep an eye on what’s going on and where the individual tasks are.
– Delegate it is a valuable tool in a busy life. Being precious and insisting on doing everything yourself may seem like an important position to protect, but not everything should be jealously guarded. Let others help, share the story, and maybe come up with new and even better ideas. Motivates everyone when they are included as part of the team.
– Don’t wait for everything to be perfect before you start. There is no need to practice and run through every possible scenario or set of circumstances in advance. Often things come together well enough once you get started. Allow your mindset to be flexible and receptive to different possibilities and enjoy where it takes you, unless it is one of those times when following very specific criteria is essential.
– Double. Some social arrangements could, under normal circumstances, potentially be combined. Going out to eat, see a show or concert and catch up with friends can successfully maximize your time and create almost a party atmosphere. Likewise, business networking combined with a game of golf bridges two areas of life, just like exercising or enjoying a hobby with family or friends.
– Hire help. Certain routine or mundane tasks like ironing, cleaning and gardening may be worth outsourcing. It may be worth paying good money to free up your time for other things. Likewise, tasks outside of your area of expertise can be better done by someone else, rather than having to spend hours agonizing over your accounts, administration, or design work.
– Learn to say ‘no’ appropriately. When we work for ourselves or are new to a place, anxious to fit in and be accepted, it can be tempting to say ‘yes’ and agree with everything. Sometimes we need to review what we have already committed to, or we can go crazy, trying to fit everything and everyone.
– Take regular breaks and recharge. A twenty-minute break gives you plenty of time to eat a healthy snack, hydrate, maybe get some fresh air. People often find that they later return to work with a clearer mind and a renewed enthusiasm for the work at hand.
– Remember to give yourself credit for each achievement. Instead of systematically working through your list, pause to appreciate each stage of the journey, each task completed.
And sometimes it can be relevant to ask why you do so much, why you allow your time to be so busy. Some people are constantly busy because they need to be in control and they hate passing work on to others for fear that they might be left out of the loop, it may allow others to be seen to do better work or have their mistakes and flaws discovered.
FOMO, the fear of missing out, having something to prove, trying to be indispensable, not wanting to drop your kidneys, and filling every second with meaningful activity can all create their own stress.
But then there are those people who are itching to try everything on the menu, they can’t wait to try every option on offer. Without wanting to dampen your enthusiasm too much, it’s also important to take time to rest, savor, rehearse, and make the best decisions for you. Enjoy doing one thing at a time. You can always come back another day and try a different delicacy.