Like you, I’m an over-achiever.
Always taking on more than I probably should. Wanting to do my best, because that’s just how I’m wired.
But when you’re juggling multiple projects, tasks and to-do’s, it can feel like nothing is getting done as well as you wish it could.
This can leave you feeling overwhelmed before the day even begins.
And don’t get me started on how much time is wasted in analysis paralysis – simply trying to figure out what to focus on next over the course of the day.
Or worse, trying to juggle it all at one time, feeling like no matter how hard you work, you’re falling further behind.
Can you relate?
If so, please know there are ways to take control.
But before I dive into strategies on how to manage your load, I have to preface this conversation with the idea of not taking on too much in the first place.
No matter how good of a juggler you are, taking on too much at one time will lead to anxiety and overwhelm. Which means you won’t do anything great, you’ll live in stress and you won’t be happy.
Not. Fun.
Please, for the sake of your sanity, stop saying “yes” to everything.
Instead, practice saying “I’ll have to check my calendar and get back to you.” And then…do what you say.
Check your calendar, assess your priorities and intentionally decide when to say yes and when to say, “I’d love to help with that but have a lot of other priorities on my plate right now. Could we circle back on this in a week or two?” (Or whatever response allows you to take control for your situation).
You have to take control of your time or no one else will.
Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way…onto 3 effective tips for successful juggling.
#1: Make a list with three columns
Label the columns “projects”, “time” and “due date”. Write down all of the projects you have going on right now, how many hours each one will take and the due date for that project. Be sure to break down big projects into separate tasks on the list. For example, don’t write: Create website. Break it down into: outline pages, research photography, write home page copy and create contact me page.
#2: Create a time estimate.
This is part of the tip above but needs to be reinforced. Not estimating time to complete your work is one of the most costly mistakes I see ambitious people make. A to-do list is great but only half as valuable as a to-do list with time estimates. If you don’t know (or estimate) how long a task will take, you will always underestimate or overestimate and will struggle with planning. Be generous when you’re calculating how long it will take you to finish a project. Make your best guess and then multiply the total by 1.2 to add a 20% cushion. Most tasks take longer than you think it will. Be realistic.
#3: Block out time on your calendar to work on your tasks.
This is how you start moving on projects. As you block small periods of time for each project, you focus on that and that alone. You need time chunks long enough that you believe you’ll make real progress, but short enough that your brain doesn’t view it as a huge thing. This will give you enough concentrated time to get into the groove and build momentum, but also feel confident there’s a time set for you to make progress on your next project.
Your juggling success is contingent on these three steps working hand-in-hand.
- Identify the task
- Estimate the time
- Block it to your schedule
Anytime I feel overwhelmed about everything to get done, I go through this exercise.
Also, spending ten minutes doing this every Sunday evening is an awesome way to plan the week.
Remember, if your time feels out of control it’s because somehow you’ve lost control.
If you don’t have a real plan for your time, a process for prioritizing your time or a partner holding you accountable, I would love to help you through coaching. Join me on a complimentary, no obligation phone call right here. No one should have to figure this all out on their own.
Here’s to getting more of the right things done!
Xo,
Mridu
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