Going From To-Do to Done
Do you feel the only way to be more productive is to work harder?
Do you ever feel guilty about doing something for yourself when you know there are emails to be answered and dishes to be done?
Do you ever feel like you were busy, but at the end of the day, you realize you didn’t get anything done on your actual to-do list?
Well you're not alone and I’m sure you could add a few more scenarios on how you wish you could be more productive during the day.
If you live with ADHD, you know this fight.
You face distractions, trouble getting started, and procrastination every day. The good news is, you can win this fight!
Here are 3 productivity tips to go from to-do to done:
1) Plan Your Day
At the beginning of your day, take 10-15 minutes to plan it out. Review your calendar for upcoming appointments and then check your to-do list. I suggest not working off of this list because for most of you it’s too long. You can’t possibly get everything done in one day. Choose one to three tasks for your daily checklist. Remember, no more than three, and if this a new strategy for you, choose only one. Choose wisely and be very clear about what it is that you will accomplish by the end of the day. If you do more, great, but at least you know the top priority is taken care of. Planning gives you direction and will help you stay more focused throughout the day.
2) Use a Mind Map
Need a little help breaking your projects down and figuring out what your one task should be for the day, try mind mapping. This is a creative way of getting your thoughts out of your head and onto paper. There are several online apps, but going back to the basics with just a piece of paper and a pen works just fine! As your start, the brain or center of your mind map will be your project and then you can start branching out the different tasks that need to be done from that center. You can also use mind mapping to plan out your day if you like to use that kind of visual.
3) Work in Sprints
If you have ADHD, you will get distracted even when you do your best to eliminate distractions. You may have turned of email or text notifications, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t thinking about what's coming in. Plus to think you will be able to sit and work on the same project for hours at a time just isn’t realistic and can sound pretty dreadful. Working in sprints means you are working for short periods of time and then allowing yourself to have a break. Repeat this throughout your day, you will find yourself more productive and less distracted.
Thank you for your time and attention...
Take Care,
Nikki
