Give Yourself A Break and Accomplish The Impossible!
Give Yourself A Break!
How many times do you push off a big or time consuming project because you don’t have enough time or energy to get it all done at once? Often, just thinking about a big task in its entirety can feel overwhelming. Big tasks usually make us feel uncomfortable because we know they’re way too difficult or time consuming to fit into our life. Don’t give up. Give yourself a Break!
Until you can press a button and serenely watch your ‘To Do’ list tasks complete themselves, you may wish to use this simple strategy to break out of your mess and accomplish the impossible.
The strategy is to simply break your big time-consuming tasks down into smaller steps called work packages.
Start by creating your Work Package list. On a piece of paper, list each of the steps needed to complete the job. It helps to see yourself happily working through and completing each work package as you’re composing the list.
Next, take a few moments to decide how much time it will take you to complete each step (work package). Your work packages should be small, easy, and require minimal effort to complete. If a step can be logically subdivided even further or takes more than 20 minutes to accomplish, it needs to be divided into smaller steps.
Breaking the work into small work packages that will take only 5 to 15 minutes can change your entire perception of a time-consuming task. Plus, it’s way easier to slip small 5 to 15 minutes chores into your day.
Even serial procrastinators will be motivated to complete tasks when they take only 5 to 15 minutes. Each small work package seems easy because there’s a clear end in sight and you know you can complete it quickly. This simple strategy works because our procrastinating brains don’t see subdividing the task as doing the task itself. We also feel a sense of accomplishment and wellbeing when we complete work challenges. Creating the list:
- Makes you feel better because you’ve got a clear list of what needs to be done
- Allows you to see how much time each step will take to complete
- Gives you control over when you choose to work on each step
That’s why it’s easier to get started. Now you too can use this supportive strategy to trick your brain into doing what needs to be done.
You’ll actually want to start each work package because you’re looking at just one work package at a time. Congratulations! You’ve just given yourself a break by converting a big time-consuming mess into one of those little easy-to-do things that you don’t mind doing.
Remember, the next time you’re faced with a big time-consuming job, give yourself a break. Break out of your mess and accomplish the impossible by breaking big time-consuming tasks into 5 to 15 minute work packages that are fast to accomplish, easy to do and when combined, produce the outcome you’re looking for.
