|
7 Things that can help us feel more productive
1. Create a habit around anything you want do to regularly.
It might take a little while (21 days apparently) to establish the habit, during which time it can feel like an extra effort but once fixed in your routine, these actions become easy and automatic, like brushing your teeth! Think about linking your habit to a trigger that is already set in your day (eg getting up, getting back, mealtimes, children's bed times).
2. Create limits around actions
Whether you are time-boxing (eg only do it for 15 minutes), limiting the quantity in some way (just doing 5 of something), or setting yourself an artificial deadline (see how much I can do before X hapens), limiting our action can be just the trick to get us going and we often focus more. We may or may not continue after our limit is up - but at least we have got started.
3. Energise yourself and your environment
Whether you are at home or at work, we all benefit from an injection of energy. Where does yours come from? Personally, I like fresh air in my lungs and through my home and office, and can usually tackle anything after a walk round the block. Take regular breaks, whatever you're doing.
4. Picture the end product
There are some jobs which we all do which we find mind-numbingly boring. If we focus on the process of doing the work, we are unlikely to feel excited and motivated. If we focus on the end result, we may well find it easier to motivate ourselves. You can get children to do the same "think how cool your room will look when it's all tidy!";
5. Monitor your progress
Keep looking at how far you've come. Look for the changes you've made or what you've learnt. You often remind your children of this - why not yourself?
6. Procrastination is not all bad!
Some of your procrastination may not be so bad after all. Notice what you're putting off, and think about why. Perhaps you just think you "ought to" do something. Check that ought to out! Do you want to, choose to, need to? Life is too short for ought tos. If it is a have to that you still can't get excited about, what would excite you in doing it? Remember how you used to give the kids a choice - do they want to go to the bathroom singing and dancing, or marching like a soldier? Well, do you want to do that dull stuff with some loud music on, or a glass of wine in your hand - you get the picture!
Sometimes procrastination gives us the chance to work out how to do our action. We may know what we need to do but not feel right about the how, especially when it is a tricky action.
and finally
7. Just do it - or just Don't do it
When you work out the time and energy that we soak up in thinking about or worrying about our actions we sometimes wonder why we haven't just got on and done them! You know you'll feel so much better with it "out of the way", so why not do it now! Go on, get it off your to do list! Take your big deep breath and dive right in.
Or make a positive decision NOT to do it at all - and take the action required to put that in place. | 
