Want to know the secret to getting more done?
Stop doing more.
What I mean is more than likely you aren’t getting more done because you’re trying to get too much done. The truth is we can only focus on one thing at a time. The art of multitasking is actually a biological myth. Your brain can only focus on one thing at a time. You may be able to switch back and forth (somewhat) quickly between different tasks, but you can’t focus on two things at once. Just try to focus on an object on the left side of the room and the right side of the room at once…YOU CAN’T! You may be able to see things in your peripheral vision, but you can’t actually focus on it. It’s because your conscious mind can’t compute two things simultaneously. Your mind can only select one thing at a time. Sure, you can switch gears fast and focus back and forth, but every time you do it your brain has to use energy to come back into focus. Now times that by an infinite amount when you are working on tasks. As you switch gears to focus on another “thing” your conscious mind has to go from the “room” in your brain that it was working in, walk down the hall, open another room, and start to pull books off the shelf of stored ideas, memories, and experiences. The more you switch rooms in a day, the slower it’s getting things done.
So, the solution is to choose your tasks VERY wisely….here is the secret to getting more done…
1) Choose WHAT To Work On
I did not say whats to work on…I said what…singular. You need to prioritize what you are going to work on and stay with what until it is finished…or at least what you wanted to finish is actually finished. Stop allowing yourself to work on whats and start narrowing your focus to work on what. You can choose to switch what it is, but don’t keep going back and forth with what to another what, back to the original what, and then another what, thinking that you are getting a lot done…you aren’t. At least you aren’t being completely efficient with what you could have gotten done if you had only focused on one what.
2) Choose WHAT To Work On When You’re Working On What
Have a game plan for what it is you want to accomplish when you are working on whatever task you have chosen to focus on. And don’t try to get everything done when you are working on what unless it is possible. For example, if your what is an event you are planning, there are probably many moving parts to plan out and work on. Don’t try to do it all simultaneously. Choose to focus on one part of the what until you get what needed to get done. If you need to work on the food portion of the event, stay with it until you work through it, don’t switch gears and start working on the guest lists because you remembered who needs to be there while you were trying to figure out the main course. If a person pops into your mind, just make a quick note and move on, don’t allow it to make you switch to the guest list just because a person popped into your mind. Stay with what you are trying to solve within the what you have chosen to work on.
3) Choose What To Work On When You’re ABLE To Focus On What You’re Working On
Carve out sacred time to work on what you need to work on. This causes you to be very intentional about your schedule and the time you need to work on what. You can’t work on what if you are not able to truly focus. You need to be at your best to work on what. Don’t sandwich working on what if you have other whats you haven’t decompressed from, or other whats you have coming up that are clouding your mind. When you work on what is just as important as choosing what to work on. If your energy is zapped and your focus is in jeopardy, it will take you longer to get it done. Another secret to getting more done is to make sure you are bringing your best self to what you are working on. Here are some things to think about…
- What time of day are you at your best?
- When do you feel the most energized?
- What is something you do that gets you into a great thinking mode?
- Are you working on what while being too famished or too stuffed? (Either one effects your energy level)
- Are you planning your schedule to make sure you have sufficient time to work on what?
The secret to getting more done is to stop doing too much and focus on one thing at a time and knock it out of the park my friends!
Side note: Noone in the history of the world used the word what as many times as I did in this article…you’re welcome!
