Get Things Done Without Stress

It is possible to get things done without too much stress. Of course, there are hurdles to be overcome. We often have so much on our minds that it is difficult to figure out where to start. There is also the challenge of switching between different kinds of activities. We need to drive to get some things done, and work on the computer to get other things done. Often, the to-do list can become too long and arduous. To address such challenges, one should clear the mind and let go of unimportant things.

Organizing Your Needs

 * 1) Choose which tools you want to help you stay organized. There are thousands of tools, gadgets, and apps out there to help you stay on task. You should only choose a few of them or else you might get overwhelmed. Try to work out which tools will help you the most.
 * 2) *If you always carry a phone or tablet, you may want to go digital. Digital tools include phone reminders, apps on your phone or tablet, calendars on your computer, and scheduling programs.
 * 3) *Some people work best with a physical planner. You can write in your tasks every day. There are some planners that are small enough to fit into a purse or brief case.
 * 4) *Try not to have too many planners. You do not want to forget where you wrote something.
 * 5) *Try using the tool for at least a week or two. If you don't like it, you can try to find a better one. If you do like it, commit to using just that tool.
 * 6) Do a five minute brain download. Write down all the things that you need to do. This will help relieve some anxiety. Rather than having to rehearse the things we need to do in the back of our mind, look at them on paper. You can begin to trust the process of making a to-do list, instead of bottling up your anxiety about what needs to get done. [[Image:Get Things Done Without Stress Step 1 Version 2.jpg|center]]
 * 7) *Circle the things that look especially important and make a plan for them.
 * 8) *Separate out the things that seem less important. Don’t worry about these things for now.
 * 9) *Try making an Eisenhower Matrix. Draw two boxes on top and two on bottom. Label one column "Urgent" and one "Less Urgent." Then on the side, label one row "Important" and the other "Less important." Organize your tasks under the relevant box. Is it important but less urgent? Or is it urgent and important?
 * 10) Capture your daily thoughts. Use a notebook or your phone to record your daily thoughts about what you need to get done. Using the thoughts you have written down, make a to-do list.[[Image:Get Things Done Without Stress Step 2 Version 2.jpg|center]]
 * 11) *You can use a voice recorder on your phone to record thoughts. For instance, record thoughts while waiting between meetings or at the subway station. It can be relaxing to work on your to-do list during these in between times.
 * 12) Invest in a good day planner. You should buy a day planner that meets your needs. This could be an application on your computer or a pen and paper day planner. [[Image:Get Things Done Without Stress Step 9.jpg|center]]
 * 13) *There is something special about an old school, pen and paper planner. Check out the new styles for this season.
 * 14) *Scheduling applications like iCal offer the ease of integrating your meetings across devices.

Scheduling and Prioritizing

 * 1) Use the reverse calendar method. Figure out the final date for your project. Then, decide the optimal date for finishing the project. The optimal date should include some extra time ahead of the final date. Schedule tasks so that you can reach your optimal date. If you reach your optimal date, you can relax and do something you enjoy. For instance, you might give yourself time to read a new novel or take a small vacation. [[Image:Get Things Done Without Stress Step 10.jpg|center]]
 * 2) Set reminders on your phone for due dates. You can use an alarm on your phone or set reminders using your planner app. Set these reminders not only for the day that something is due for the days leading up to that date.
 * 3) *For example, a week before a major project is due, you may want to set a reminder like, "Remember to complete analysis by next Tuesday."
 * 4) *You may also want to set reminders for the smaller goals you want to complete. For example, set a reminder to write 500 words a day.
 * 5) Schedule blocks of time for the most important tasks. If you have a difficult task, make sure you give yourself a block of time each week to work on it. It helps to limit these blocks of time, so that there is a sense of urgency. [[Image:Get Things Done Without Stress Step 11.jpg|center]]
 * 6) *If you have an important job, try giving yourself one day to get it done. Imagine you are going on vacation the next day, and do everything you can to get it done. Don’t worry about being perfect. Delegate what you cannot do yourself.
 * 7) Do small tasks at once. If you have something on your list that will take less than two minutes, just do it. [[Image:Get Things Done Without Stress Step 12.jpg|center]]
 * 8) *Avoid focusing excessively on getting the small things done. If you are just focused on clearing your email inbox, you may forget to tackle the big jobs. Although it is helpful to get the little things out of the way, don't forget to make time for your big jobs.
 * 9) Wake up early and get stuff done! If you need more time to get things done, try waking up a bit earlier every day. Listen to the early morning bird calls, and ease into your work day.[[Image:Get Things Done Without Stress Step 13.jpg|center]]
 * 10) Finish the week with a tidy Friday. Review your to-do list and finish the things you never got done earlier in the week. Friday afternoon is a good time to send emails you never sent, and clean up your desk. [[Image:Get Things Done Without Stress Step 14.jpg|center]]

Tackling Your To-Do's

 * 1) Review your to-do list every morning. At breakfast, look over what you need to do that day and think about how you will tackle it. Which things on your to-do list are urgent, and which items can wait? Rank your to-do list by level of importance. If you feel overwhelmed by your list, take a deep breath and relax.[[Image:Get Things Done Without Stress Step 3 Version 2.jpg|center]]
 * 2) *Try underlining just a few of most important things on your to-do list.
 * 3) Focus on your to-do list for today. If you have a master list of all the things you need to do, pull out only those things that you need to do today. It is helpful to focus on 1-3 of your most important tasks. Try to focus on the most important things early in the day. If you leave the most important tasks till late in the day, you may not have time. You will feel better if you get the big stuff done early. [[Image:Get Things Done Without Stress Step 4 Version 2.jpg|center]]
 * 4) Organize your to-do list by activity. If you need to do some things in the car, list all those things under one category. If you have a bunch of things to do on your computer, you can make a category called computer work. This way you can save time by getting similar things done all at once. [[Image:Get Things Done Without Stress Step 5.jpg|center]]
 * 5) *If you have a bunch of work that is waiting on someone else, you can have a category called waiting. When things on this list become active again, you can move them back onto your regular to-do list.
 * 6) Do the things on your list. Relax, take a deep breath, and do the things on your list. Prioritize the activities as you move down your list. Try to follow the rankings you have created and do things by type of activity. [[Image:Get Things Done Without Stress Step 6.jpg|center]]
 * 7) *For instance, start with all of your chores that involve driving. Circle those things on your list, and complete them.
 * 8) Delegate work to others in your workplace. By delegating work, you will have more time to focus on your most important tasks. You should focus on doing the work only you can perform. Delegate work that you know others can perform faster.[[Image:Get Things Done Without Stress Step 17.jpg|center]]
 * 9) *For instance, if you are not a computer person, you might want to delegate social media work.
 * 10) *Delegate responsibility alongside the task itself. Give your employee the responsibility they need to get the job done effectively.
 * 11) *Give praise for a job well done. If they do the job well, you should give public praise.
 * 12) *Choose the right person for the job, rather than the person with the most time. Remember to delegate work to those who are the best fit. This means hiring the right people for the job.
 * 13) Avoid multitasking. Trying to work fast while multitasking actually leads to weaker productivity. You will just get distracted by all the shifts between tasks. [[Image:Get Things Done Without Stress Step 7.jpg|center]]
 * 14) Make a won’t do list. This list should include all the things that you know are not important or are distracting. By including these things on a list, you will remember to not get distracted by them. [[Image:Get Things Done Without Stress Step 18.jpg|center]]

Letting Go of the Unimportant Stuff

 * 1) Be realistic about your time. Don’t stress yourself out by trying to fit a twelve hour work day into eight hours. Instead, rank the most important things you need to get done in your day and let go of the rest.
 * 2) Limit your to-do list. If your list expands beyond your three most important tasks for the day, try to cut it down. [[Image:Get Things Done Without Stress Step 15.jpg|center]]
 * 3) Figure out what is less important on your list. Make sure you note what is less important on your to-do list and focus on it less. If there are a number of items ranked low, save these tasks for a time that is less busy.[[Image:Get Things Done Without Stress Step 16.jpg|center]]
 * 4) Create a sealed off work zone. Switch off your phone, log out of email for a period, and focus on the work in front of you. By avoiding interruptions, you will be able to focus and get things done. [[Image:Get Things Done Without Stress Step 8.jpg|center]]

Related wikiHows

 * Stop Getting Distracted when Trying to Get Things Done
 * Procrastinate and Still Get Everything Done
 * Have a Productive Day

Sources and Citations

 * Wired Magazine - Original source of this article. Shared with permission.