On a recent walk with my visiting son, I asked him if he considers himself a “get it done” kind of person. It was a precursor to writing this blog. This is the same son who self-identifies as “lazy” if you read last month’s blog, “I Was So Wrong About Laziness…Mostly”. As anticipated, his reply was “no”. He stated he only does what he absolutely has to do, bare minimum effort, when he feels like it, unless it’s urgent. Not at all the way my brain works, so I curiously plied him for more information. I was interested to know when he has a long to-do list, personally or professionally, what it’s like for him? What’s his reaction when multiple urgent assignments hit simultaneously on top of the normal deadlines for those languishing to-dos? He proffered the bare minimum, “I deal with it.”
That was the end of that conversation. And, so not me. My brain is hyper-reactive to overwhelm. I avoid it at all costs. I keep my lists as minimal as possible. I don’t like the weight of things awaiting my attention. That’s a total distraction. I relish the satisfaction sensation of crossing completions off my list. Boom, done. Apparently, he didn’t inherit that trait. No judgment whether that’s good or bad, just different. There are times I’d like to be more laissez-faire. Whenever I try, my internal warning systems remind me that decisions have consequences down the road. Yep, I’ll just get it done now. That probably classifies me as a “Get it Done” type of person.
Are you surrounded by domestic avalanches? Always digging your way out of yet another pile? Setting things aside for a better time, a more energetic moment, divine inspiration? Or are you a “Get it Done” person? Do you jump in, take action, move on to the next thing? Not sure? Before you sell yourself short, in all likelihood you do get things done. Maybe not as easily or a fast as others, but just the fact that you get out of bed most days means you accomplished that. What is a “Get it Done” type of person? What’s it take? It’s not as hard as you might think. I’d say it’s easier than excavating yourself out from beneath the deluge.
Get it Done Type
The Get it Done Type
In this context, here’s how I’m defining a “Get it Done” kind of person, based on the ambitions of my clients along with a bit of self-reflection.
- Tasks rarely stagnate on your lists unless awaiting others or the finances.
- You’re a go-to person on the job, for volunteer activities, and among your friends.
- Your house is tidy, laundry piles are rare, dirty dishes are in the dishwasher, cleaned dishes are put away, paper piles are temporary or non-existent, surfaces are uncluttered, groceries are routinely purchased, self-care is attended to on some level.
- Your professional assignments are delivered on time.
- Basically checklists are checked. You’re mainly on top of your game unless life intervenes. Change in life circumstances such as a baby, move, divorce, illness, injury, new job, parental care puts everyday tasks on hold until your head is above water once again. High energy, super organized people navigate expertly through life challenges. Please know they’re the exception. Don’t beat yourself up for not doing it all, particularly when times are tough. BTW, that was a self-reminder too.
- Prioritizing confusion
- Uncertainty where to begin
- Not sure how to get tasks done
- Projects feel too big or too stressful
- Difficulty planning
- Finding time or adhering to schedules
- Lack of support when assistance is required
- Financial constraints
- Sensory overwhelm
- Low or no motivation
- Distractibility
- Perfectionism
Did I miss your Achilles’ heel? Awareness of the things that trip us up provides a gateway to solutions. The gateway isn’t the destination. The awareness itself isn’t going to dissolve the blockades. Without identifying what’s getting in your way, it’s more difficult to devise a roadmap for making inroads then embarking on the drive. That will require action on your part or getting others on board to support your efforts.
How do you identify what’s getting in your way? Observe. Ask others what they’ve noticed. Being so close to our own situation creates a myopia. Zoom out of the weeds for greater context to conquer the challenges.
Breaking Down the Challenges
- Prioritizing
If your time is consumed by lots of little tasks while important stuff remains undone, that could indicate trouble with prioritizing. If you’re a list person, try creating a list of all the things that need to happen or that you’d like to get done. When I say list, that doesn’t have to be linear. Use a white board to brain dump, mind-map or doodle your thoughts. Then circle or highlight the most important or urgent things.
How do you prioritize? After you’ve listed all the hanging things, reflect on your criteria for prioritizing. Base decisions on urgency, upcoming deadlines, reducing stress, availability, ease, impact, gratification, or a combination of any of these. Use criteria that makes the most sense to you or the expectations of others such as your employer or event organizers if you’re volunteering time or services. When you feel like you're spinning, getting it all out of your brain anchors into concreteness with less chance of forgetting.
- Uncertainty where to begin
Use prioritization to guide you to where to begin. If that doesn’t provide an answer, say if it’s clearing your desk, then you have the freedom to choose. Flipping a coin is a choice. Or select the quickest or easiest win or the greatest impact/satisfaction. Every piece of paper removed, each item that belongs elsewhere transported to its proper location is a win. There is no wrong answer, there may be delays, you might not finish within the desired timeframe; however, acknowledge your inroads. Progress is progress.
- Not sure how to get tasks done
If you don’t know how to do something, if there are no hazards involved, allow yourself to experiment. Or ask someone more proficient for their guidance. Keep in mind, their way may not sync with your way. Give any changes time to assimilate or try something new if it still doesn’t jive with your natural tendencies.
- Projects feel too big or too stressful
When projects feel too big or too stressful, break them down into bite-size pieces to prevent your brain exploding or injuring yourself. If you’re doing a bathroom remodel, the entire job isn’t completed in one hour or even one day. The process has logical steps including getting the experts on board for design, construction, electrical, and plumbing. Not everyone is equipped to do all that themselves. The same with major and even minor decluttering jobs. Step by step. If looking at a whole room sends your blood pressure spiking and muscles tensing, imagine wearing a set of horse blinders to zero in on one small area at a time. If you have to, cup your hands around your face near your eyes to mimic side blinders. Ignore the rest until it’s time to pick the next stop.
- Difficulty planning
If you have difficulty planning, then don’t. Use the steps mentioned above to wing it, experimenting as you go. If that isn’t feasible, seek a logical thinker to help you sort out how to go from A to Z. If linear processing drives you nuts, then it’s usually ok to take the backroads, it might just take longer. Often, finding any entry point is enough to get the wheels churning.
- Finding time or adhering to schedules
Conscientiously setting aside time and sticking to schedules within our busy lives is complicated. Even I intend to get to certain things as part of a commitment to myself or routine, it doesn’t always happen. Life gets in the way. If you find that life is always getting in the way, revisit the section on prioritizing. How important is it for you to get certain things done? If undone tasks are disharmonizing your lifestyle or others in your home, place those higher on the priority list. How do you fit them in? As you’re about to embark on the next thing you do, weigh that in your mind against the other task. If you’re about to watch tv or hop on social media, throw in a load of laundry first if everyone is out of clean underwear. Use commercial breaks or set a timer to remove the wash load and toss into the dryer. Do the same for when the cycle ends. As dinner is cooking, grab some rags to wipe down the counter tops or scrub your bathroom vanity. Find the inlets to chip away at the list when big chunks of time are not feasible.
- Lack of support when assistance is required
What do you do when you don’t have physical or emotional support to lend a hand in your home? Those who live alone or reside with unhelpful family members or roommates, yep this can be tricky especially if finances don’t accommodate hiring help. I wouldn’t rule out family counseling for a neutral way of communicating the need for everyone to accept responsibility as well as to guide you toward a more healthy way of delegating the workload off your plate. Ask friends or neighbors for an assist when you need an extra set of hands for lifting or an extra pair of eyes for evaluating a situation. If the budget supports, enlist a handyperson, organizer, or trade professional.
- Financial Constraints
Financial constraints dampen efforts to get projects done that are beyond our scope or capability. Prioritize the projects that have to get done such as a plumbing leak, then allocate your budget to support those projects. A bank loan is an option when your account has dried up. If you need assistance with budgeting more effectively, certified daily money managers could be well worth the investment to get you on track and stay on track.
- Sensory Overwhelm
If you suffer from sensory overwhelm, as many of my clients do, that causes you to shut down completely, you will benefit from minimalism. Less visual clutter, less on your to-do list, less budget gobblers, less noise. You probably knew that already.
How do you deal with the overwhelm that’s already there? If you can’t face it alone, grab someone to help you or at least body-double. Have them in the room, allow their presence to get you over the hump. Choose someone who is non-judgmental and won’t distract you from working. Bounce ideas and questions off them as you go. A neutral perspective may help calm your nerves. Also, revisit the section on if the project looks or feels too big and stressful for extra tips. Whittle it all down to where your senses aren’t triggered continually. Celebrate every small win instead of focusing on how much there is still to go.
- Low or No Motivation
If low to no motivation causes stuckness, I invite you to scan through 9 Steps to Get Motivated…When You’re Not. If motivation is not your thing, like my son, then reflect upon whether it’s ok to live by your own rules and navigate the consequences. If that’s not working for you, be curious about what’s not working and explore if small adjustments are plausible while still honoring who you are.
- Distractibility
Distractibility often interferes with starting and moving through projects. Deliberate, frequent breaks for nourishment, stretching, breathing, movement help to offset the lure of distractions such as social media or email checking. Keep those out of reach until a dedicated time to avoid getting sucked in. I recommend don’t even check them on mini breaks as you might not return. For distractions such as kids interrupting, phones ringing, use your discretion. Post a sign such as “mommy time, only disturb in emergencies” may help or enlist your kids to assist with your project such as run bags and light-weight boxes to disposal bins or transport toys to appropriate destinations. Their contribution can save you time and energy.
- Perfectionism
Were you surprised to see perfectionism on this list? Don’t perfectionists have perfect houses and no to-do lists? Nope. I’ve worked with numerous self-admitted perfectionists self-described low-level hoarding situations. How’s that possible? If they can’t do it perfectly, they don’t do it at all. You can imagine how a duality situation like that creates stress for a perfectionist. If perfectionism is causing you to stall out, experiment with good enough. I know, that’s a huge ask. Try viewing it like this. Get your cluttered desk to a good enough state, then each time you return to your desk, you can tweak it until it feels better and better. You’ll make headway in a manageable way.
Getting it Done
Try some or all of these steps if you’re seeking to become a “Get it Done” person. You know where to find me if you still can’t score a touchdown. My phone consults are free. It’s ok to keep being you, and value the way you do things if that works for you. None of us are perfect. We all benefit from tweaks here and there to make our lives easier and sail more smoothly.
