Do you really get a lot done, or do you just look busy?
Are you a Busy Bee?
Being a mumpreneur means you may be working at home around your children.
There's no pressure from colleagues or bosses to get things done and no weekly performance reports to keep you on your toes.
This means that you have to motivate yourself to get your daily tasks done. But do you ever find that you’ve been working all day and don’t seem to have made even the tiniest of dents in your to-do list?
We can fill our whole work day with busyness but that doesn’t necessarily mean we’ve been productive.
I could push paper around all day with the best of them until I discovered some very simple ways of keeping myself focused. The results are amazing and people keep asking me how I get so much accomplished.
Here are my 7 steps to getting things done:
1. Think about what you want to accomplish
2. Set a reward for yourself (this could be a snack, a coffee break, a wander round the garden) this will keep you motivated and inspired.
3. Shut out any distractions – switch on the answer machine, facebook and twitter
4. Start small with short periods of time (like 30-45 mins)
5. Focus on only that activity
6. Keep going until you achieve it
7. Celebrate with your reward - then you can set your next priority.
Try them out today and see how much more you actually achieve, it's quite astonishing.
They're not hard or difficult (I like that) and if you'd like more free tips on getting things done then why not listen in to my productivity coach Helen's free training call this week. She keeps me laser focused. Click here for the details.
Oh Heather, I love the reward at the end! I must say though, I love making to-do lists and seeing each item being checked off – very satisfying 🙂
A girl after my own heart LOL.
I too love to tick things off a list – it is SO satisfying.
I’ve taken to setting up my reward so I can see it and that makes me even more motivated.
Often my reward is to check on my social media and blog comments – so this comment is being written in my ‘well done, good girl’ time 😉
And I love to push myself by seeing if I can do something in less time than I’ve done it before.
Must be very funny to watch me work. I will not be distracted LOL
Right! I’m off to get the next thing ticked off the list for today – WooHoo!! xx
Great suggestions and practical steps to both motivate and discipline. Well written and clear.
Keep up the good writing!
Love and Blessings,
Sharon
Thanks Sharon,
And I know you are the queen of productivity.
I love watching you push yourself – it’s been an inspiration since I’ve met you.
Keep shining lovely lady.
Heather xx
I found with my work I set myself deadlines by phoning my clients a few days before I’ve finished making their soft furnishings and tell them it will be ready in 3 days. I now have no other choice but to work until its done.
Wow! That’s a great way to motivate yourself Gina. WooHoo!!
You had me giggling out loud, Heather, when you said …
“I could push paper around all day with the best of them.” LOL! Truth be told, there are some mighty good pencil pushers, too! 🙂
I’m with Nicola — the “rewards” are the BEST part.
Straightforward and wonderful advice!
Melanie
xoxo
Hee, hee – I bet you had a vision of me procrastinating away!
I agree – the rewards are the best part.
Thanks lovely lady
Heather xx
Heather, I love this post. Although I’m not a mom, I run a business and a household. It can be easy to get distracted at times. I’m a big believer in rewards, as well as doing small bits of work. I used to try to work all day long and then, fit in my fun. I find if I take a break mid-way and then, go workout, shower, practice guitar, etc., I feel much better with much less fatigue. Thanks for sharing these ideas. Great reminders!
Lisa,
I love your ideas.
I too, love to break things down into do-able chunks and I love taking breaks LOL 😉
Thanks Lisa
xx
I love your simple tips for staying focused and getting things done. Most of the time, I push forward and accomplish what I need to do, but I definitely like the idea of a reward for when I’m feeling stuck on something. Your 7-step process is really great for fitting in with different personalities, too, I think. Lists and other time management techniques don’t always work for everyone. But I think that everyone can decide on a task, devote a certain period of time to working on it and then design a reward that fits with who they are (whatever is fun or enjoyable for them). This makes it more likely that it’ll work for people.
Leanne,
You’re spot on there.
The more enjoyable we make things, the more likely we are to do them.
And if they’re not too much fun, we can make the reward for doing them fun.
Yay!
Thanks lovely
Heather xx
makes a lot of sense. If you are used to short spurts, make short goals and rewards. great.
Thanks Nancy, just love to keep things simple 😉
Hx
I love this post and all the comments too! Well said Heather!! The things that have made the biggest impact on my growth have been the single focus idea and to stay with it until I achieve it!! I used to start many different projects at one time, which is exciting (if you like that ADD chaos of it all!), but I didn’t finish a lot of the things I started, or I did, but it took so long I was a bit bored by the end of the project. Now with a priority focus and the determination to see it through, I am moving my business forward much quicker and I feel more in control!! Then the fun stuff.. rewards!! Woohoo!!
xoxox
Helen,
I love, love, love those rewards!!!
That’s what keeps me going LOL – as well as the thought that I’m achieving my dreams 😉
I, like you, find that the more projects I have on the go, the more unfocused I become. I can multi-task with the best, but I feel things really get done properly if I totally focus on them one at a time.
This is something I’ve had to learn and you’ve helped me so much.
And now I’m teaching this wisdom to my mumpreneur coaching clients and they’re having the same great results.
Yay!
Hxx
Thank you lovely lady