What to do When there are Too Many Things to Get Done
My To-Do list for today is longer than my arm. I am swamped with work and have so many deadlines to chase. And it is making me all panicky! I have been up since wee hours of the morning and haven’t accomplished anything of importance. I am finding it really hard to focus on one thing and am not even able to prioritize. And this is when I have a list of things to do right in front of me.
One moment, I want to do X task and I am abandoning it the next moment to look at data for a client presentation. And then there are constant beeps from my phone about the End of Season Sales SMSs, Retweet messages, Likes and Comments on a post from Facebook, emails, whatsapp messages and all this cannot be ignored, right! As I type this, the buzzer of my washing machine has gone off, which means that I need to rush to take off the wash load and put it out for drying before the Sun God goes and plays hide and seek with the Rain God! I am constantly looking at the watch, as the house help has not turned up as yet and it is way past her regular time. If she does not turn up and if I end up doing her work too, I will be seriously derailed from the work timelines.
And then, I have to write this post too, as I am co-hosting #MondayMusings with Corinne, for the first time. This post should have been up at midnight last night, but the grey cells and the fingers refused to coordinate and hence, a blank document stared at me for a long time, till I gave up and decided to sleep over it literally and figuratively!
What to do when there are too many things to be done and nothing is getting accomplished? This question is ringing in my head for a while now!
I am amazed that an otherwise organised me, believe me, I am pretty disciplined regarding my work , is struggling to get tasks ticked off from my To-Do list today! I am realizing that I have not done any productive work today. I am just killing time. I don’t know if this is one of those days or I am doing something wrong.
And then I came across, this infographic. It has 7 pointers that destroy productivity. From these 7 pointers, I am guilty of doing 5 things except for point no. 2 and 3.
These are simple things, and I am aware of all these time wasters, but still till I got nudged and shaken by this infographic, I couldn’t bring myself to unplug from the social media, and mute the distractions from phone and stop being a multi-tasking diva.
Image Courtesy : Source
Aha! Avoiding these simple time wasters made me complete this post in record fifteen minutes.
As you chew and digest these productivity killers, I am off to annihilate the tasks in my list!
You all have a productive and satisfying week ahead!
What do you do when there are too many things to get done? Share your tips and experience!
Join Corinne and me by writing a #MondayMusings post on your blog. Write a post sharing your thoughts on a subject of your choice. Make it as personal as possible. Use the hashtag #MondayMusings and then add your link to the linky below. Do remember to visit the other blogs linked here and begin by reading the #MondayMusings on Write Tribe and Everyday Gyaan. We would love to read your thoughts.
August 17, 2015 3:29 pm|
When the things that are supposed to entertain us and serve us take over our life and end up distracting us, productivity will be ruined, no doubt. Of late, I found myself in such a scene. So I am sticking to a timetable now. Planning my day on the night before. And yeah, I am limiting my to-dos to 5 at a time. By accepting that I can’t do everything that I want to do all at once, I am doing myself a huge favor. 🙂
Lovely infographics, Shilpa. I was not able to click on the picture though. I had to right click at the source like and click on open from there. Did you change your blog’s theme?
August 20, 2015 11:04 am|
That’s fantastic, Vinitha! It’s great that your plan is working for you!
My blog template was giving me problems, so I changed it, but thankfully the issue is sorted and I am back to my old template 🙂
August 17, 2015 3:37 pm|
Nice infographic. When I have too many things to do, and I feel stressed about it, I stop doing anything, take a long walk or a short nap, and then I’ll be back at my work. Works for me 🙂
Destination Infinity
August 20, 2015 11:06 am|
Thanks Rajesh. Yes, that’s a great strategy to relax and calm your jangled nerves and then attack work with gusto. Thanks for sharing 🙂
August 17, 2015 4:26 pm|
Don’t put so much pressure on yourself. Perfectionism leads no where. Sometimes all we need is a good cup of tea (or the beverage of our choice) and to sit back knowing that the world will go on without us! 🙂
The infographic is cute!
August 20, 2015 11:09 am|
I know, we have such high expectations from ourselves and believe in doing too many things at the same time. We must learn to let go and yes, world can and will go on without us! Oh, tea is my elixir! 🙂 Thanks Corinne! 🙂
August 17, 2015 4:53 pm|
I saw the beginning of your post and it sounded just like my day today and I had to come down here and read the whole of it. H was unwell and home today so that made things worse. I’m guilty of all of thise specially 2, 4, 5,6,7. Finally I gave up trying to write and decided to complete all the mindless chores – the ones that don’t need thinking. At least I got something done.
August 20, 2015 11:10 am|
Aah! We all have such days! Glad that you changed your strategy and got some work done! Hope H is fit and fine by now. Take care, T 🙂
August 17, 2015 5:35 pm|
Can relate to the post so well! Been there, Shilpa and I know how you feel, but trust me, when the list of things-to-do gets really long, prioritising hugely helps! Go for a walk and come back to finish the ones that are on the very top. The rest can wait. We women are always guilty of multitasking and then stressing over why we have everything (I know, I used to do that!)
August 20, 2015 11:12 am|
Aah! When are we going to take things easy! Multi-tasking has become our second name. Glad that you are doing great on that front. Thanks for sharing your tips, Esha 🙂
August 17, 2015 6:27 pm|
As I was reading the post, I was smiling and thinking, yeah – even I have such days. Relax Shilpa! Then coming over to that infographic – awesome one. Well, I never kill time, time kills me many times 🙂
A great Monday Musings post and glad you are hosting today with Corinne!
btw – was it my net connection? I felt that the layout was changed and now I am back to seeing the old one!
August 20, 2015 11:14 am|
Aah! Wish we had more hours or more hands. But since that’s not possible, getting our act together and taking it easy should be the way forward! No, your net connection is perfect! I had issues at my end! 😀
August 17, 2015 6:42 pm|
I diffraction them all!
God, this is do timely, it reads like my week , no month….
Thank you for sharing. It is a lifesaver.
🙂
August 20, 2015 11:15 am|
Oh! You have your hands full, Inderpreet! But you are doing great! Dont forget to take a nice break after the Tornado is over! You deserve and need it 🙂
August 17, 2015 7:07 pm|
Nice infographic. When I have too many things on my list I start to prioritize. I see which of the things I could postpone for the next time and things that need to be done. If I feel stressed out. I take a break by reading a book or watching some. I also see things that I can multitask together without comprising on them and club them together.
August 20, 2015 11:16 am|
A great way to get things done, Harini! Thanks for sharing your experience 🙂
August 17, 2015 7:10 pm|
You know Shilpa I’m going to avoid everything that I should as mentioned in this info-graphic and try and write my Monday Musings post at a go! How does that sound?
And yes take it easy, sometimes the organised too need to be dis-organised and cut oneself some slack 🙂
August 20, 2015 11:17 am|
I think, writing at one go works the bestest!
Yes, we are all humans after all. Thanks for your kind words, Nabanita 😀
August 17, 2015 7:49 pm|
Bulls-eye in 15 minutes 🙂
Informative info-graphic.
We are all guilty of wasting our time. Murphy’s law & such laws work & ruin our plans!
Though ‘ye dil maange more’, a small to-do list will be effective 🙂
August 20, 2015 11:19 am|
Thanks Anita! Agree completely, a small manageable list it should be. 🙂
August 18, 2015 4:56 am|
I usually plan ahead of time so I don’t get stressed with deadlines. But when I have too many things on my plate, I choose the ones which have the highest priority and push the rest to another day.
August 20, 2015 11:20 am|
That’s the best and responsible way of getting work done. Thanks for sharing, A 🙂
August 18, 2015 5:20 pm|
That infographic is cool.
And bad internet makes for a very bad day. Combine it with a maid-no-show and it’s the start of one of your worst nightmares. Everything just goes down the hill from there!
Well, good to see your pretty template again. That white thing didn’t suit you at all! 😉
August 20, 2015 11:22 am|
Oh, bad internet = Super bad day! And I dread such days! Thank God, the maid turned up, so that was a saving grace! I know, I am so much in love with this theme, so had to revert back to it as soon as the issues got sorted 🙂
August 18, 2015 6:13 pm|
Absolutely loved the infographics. I think I should print it and put it on my wall as I find myself fumbling through long list of To-do’s. Ohh that terrible feeling of not crossing out an action!!
August 20, 2015 11:23 am|
Oh yes, the feeling of not ticking a thing on the list is terrible. Feel so inadequate! 😛
August 19, 2015 12:33 am|
I hope your maid finally came! 🙂
I think most of us relate to this! My major distraction now is my house and Pinterest! I find so many good ideas that I can implement in my house decor, but I’m just completely distracted by one idea over another and end up doing nothing!!
August 20, 2015 11:29 am|
Yes, she did! Thank God!
Oh, Pinterest can eat away your time, BIG time!! Even I have spent so many hours on looking at quotes, DIY ideas, cakes, decor images on Pinterest! Hope you have shortlisted some great ideas for your home decor, Roshni! 🙂
August 19, 2015 1:20 pm|
Loved this post shilpa ! and agree with you… I too feel that I am getting no where, sometimes responding to deadlines, sessions and housework and the list goes on.. .. and yes I have been struggling with 2, 4, & 6…still learning, thanks for the beautiful infographic.. just to the point.
August 20, 2015 11:31 am|
We all are in the same boat and we all have these days! Thankfully such days are not too many! Thanks Genevive 🙂
August 20, 2015 9:30 am|
Ok, this is exactly the kind of day I am having today, and I am guilty of most things on this list. But most importantly I need to tune out social media, stop multi-tasking, and have a reasonable To-Do list. My current To-Do has 32 items. 😛
August 20, 2015 11:34 am|
32!! OMG!! Your to-do list is longer than your day, Shantala!!
Yes, social media is a big time sucker!
Have a great day and hope you are able to accomplish all the tasks in your list! 🙂
August 20, 2015 11:09 am|
This is today for me. I am working on two deadlines. Two sets of teams are following up. I did one thing – net is banished. But I liked your title and strolled in. I also decided no FB/GMAIL/Whatsapp/WP and whatever today. Re-prioritised my list. Hope I should be sailing smoothly by tomorrow. Thanks for this list.
August 20, 2015 11:36 am|
That’s the way it should be, Lata! Great strategy and good luck to you as you meet all your deadlines! 🙂
August 21, 2015 12:32 am|
The amount of time we literally waste these days is rapidly increasing. We never know how much these notifications can disturb us. I’ve turned off all notification on my phone, so unless I look for it I dont receive anything. Normally when I have so many things to do, I either look athe the priority or the deadlines when they have to be shared and work accordingly. But even beyond that, sometimes things go our of hand.
August 23, 2015 6:58 am|
I gave up on to do lists a long time ago. I always had a most important task to do that wasn’t on the list and that derailed it. Not having a list has prevented a lot of tension and headache for me. Going with the flow is more my style and strangely I get a lot more done. The only time I have a list with me is when I go grocery shopping.
August 24, 2015 9:50 am|
This is one the most helpful posts I have ever read! I cannot thank you enough for this Shilpa…it helped me achieve what I thought would never be done. I read this one last week, but decide to put off commenting till I had accomplished my goals. Done and Dusted now!!
August 24, 2015 4:11 pm|
OH! I totally resonate this feelings. Being at a new place have made me completely forget my To-do list and August end is already here! *Searches the list, but finds it nowhere*