It’s easy to get caught up in all of the things that need to be done–or rather, seem like they need to be done. When there is a lot out in front of us, we can begin to feel like there’s no way to get it all done. And we’re probably right; there isn’t a way to get it all done–at least not now.
There are 2 key questions that we can ask ourselves when we continue to feel the weight of a bunch of particular things to get done:
- Do I really need to do this?
- Does this thing need to be done now?
The first question actually has 2 interpretations that can be even more helpful. First, do you need to be the one to do the thing, or can it be done better, more efficiently, or sooner by someone else? And you don’t need to be someone’s boss to delegate. You can simply ask for help or advice and end up getting something mostly done by someone else.
The second interpretation of the first question asks whether something needs to be done at all. And though it may seem like everything that’s weighing on us needs to be done, you’d be surprised how many times we’re basically just acting like productivity hoarders. We grow some kind of weird attachment to tasks or projects, even when we never do them and can’t explain logically why it’s important they get done. Don’t be afraid to simply dump things. It can be liberating.
The second question is probably the most helpful in easing the pressure. Most of our feelings of overwhelm come from our mind’s inability to distinguish between things that need to get done ASAP vs. things that can wait a bit. To our mind, if they’re not done already, they all need to get done at the same time. But that’s where the S3 comes in handy. A simple relative schedule that lays out tasks over the next few weeks can help you feel much better about what’s on your plate. It’s also a gateway to more effective prioritizing.