I don’t know about you, but I often get overwhelmed with all that I have going on. Most of you know I’m constantly juggling multiple projects, ideas, books, blog posts, etc. It can get easy to look at it all and freeze with overwhelming fear because there’s too many things to do. There’s a new chapter to write, there’s a product to research, there’s an email to write (or 50), there’s a phone call to make, there’s an idea to sketch, and on and on and on it goes.
Here’s how I get a lot of stuff done: Take the next step.
Don’t think about the finish line. Don’t think about all the steps you need to take. Think about the next step you need to take. Then do that.
Imagine every step has been scripted for you You’re job is to scan down the list, find the the next step, and take that one. Do that enough and you’ll get a lot done.
But I don’t know what the next step is?
If this is the case, you need to spend some time sketching out a plan. Taking this time up front will eventually save you a ton of time in the end.
Breaking down huge projects into steps helps me feel overwhelmed less and in control more. If the completed project is step 100, sketch out what it would look like at step 10, 20, 30, 40…until 100. Then, start at step 1 and start working towards step 10.
Practical Example
If you’re trying to write a book, don’t think about the “book”, focus on the chapter or a section in a chapter. Your goal should not be to write a book, it should be to write a chapter. Don’t know what the chapter is about? Then you need to spend the time to sketch it out. Then, when you sit down to write, you’ll feel less overwhelmed and more in charge of where you’re going.
What are the projects you’re working on?
What steps are you taking this week?
Leave a Reply