One Simple Trick To Getting Things Done

This little thing I do, I’ve found, gets me doing and accomplishing more things, than before I started doing it.

And it’s so simple, I wonder why I haven’t thought about it.

But it sets you up mentally, emotionally, and even physically, to achieve, and get things done.

What’s one simple trick to getting things done?

 

Put it in your calendar

It’s that simple.

The act alone of putting it in your calendar, at a specified date and time, and thinking about what to do, increases the chances of you actually doing it, and of getting more things done.

If you stay committed to the time, and to the task at hand, then more so you can get more things done, even when distractions and last-minute interruptions happen.

It’s one thing to get clear on your why, and why getting specific things done is important.  It’s another thing to do something about it, and set up reminders and structure so that you can actually get it done.

 

Reminders

Even for small simple tasks that I need to get done, I set reminders on my calendar (or schedule, if that’s what you call it).

So messages that need to get answered, but deferred, I put a reminder on my calendar.  Important details and preparation time for events and work that I need to present or do, I put in my calendar.

It’s such a simple thing, but we don’t take it seriously because we feel we will ignore our calendar, or we think it too tedious to take time to put everything down.

But, then again, this is what separates the top performers from the mediocre.  You have to be willing to do today what other won’t, so you can do tomorrow what others can’t.

Even if it’s as simple as putting in reminders on your calendar.

 

The tool we take for granted

And with the many options for calendars, planners, and schedules, both analog and digital, there is no excuse to use a tool to help you become more productive, and get what matters most to you, done.

Make it work for you.  Not just a simple to do list, but as a tool to get you back on track.

Life is a whirlwind.  The demands of the everyday will pull at you, and try to stop you from getting at where you want to go, and what you want to do.  Life isn’t as easy.

But life rewards those who can stay focused, on track, and committed to moving forward closer to their goals and dreams.

And yet, far too many of us, me included, find ourselves drifting, unable to take control, and set direction.

A calendar is a tool to help us take control of our use of the one resource that’s valuable and non-replaceable for us – our time.

 

Make it work for you

I have a calendaring system that is unique to me.  I have my own shortcuts, and codes, which mean different things relevant to the work that I do.

I also prefer to use my phone, and google calendar, and have those synced in with each other.  It saves me the hassle of having to transfer over to another system, (as I did when I had a paper planner), and automatically backs up my schedule just in case something happens on my phone.

I also share my calendar with my wife, and those closest to me, so they can also have a quick glance at my schedule, and it makes it easier to coordinate events and whatnot.

The tools are there, and there’s no excuse to not using them to help you in any way possible.  It just takes a bit of time and effort, and commitment, to set up your system, but once you have it, and it becomes a habit, you find yourself getting more done with less time, and effort.

 

Make it a habit

Because a simple trick is attractive.  It’s something easy to do that can get us a result that we want.

But rarely are there ever silver bullets.  To make sustainable, huge, quantum-leap changes takes commitment and consistency.

Even to the smallest of things.  Start out so small you can’t fail, and make it a habit.

It’s ok if you miss reminders at the start.  Just keep working at them.

Until you find yourself getting more, and more done.

And having more, and more time.

Time for what matters most to you.

 

How do you use your calendar/planner?  Please share in the comments below!