Overwhelmed and Distracted?

Are you frustrated that the things you want or need to get done aren’t getting done? Do you find that your to do list keeps growing, but rarely shrinking? Are you overwhelmed with that ever growing list to the point that you hide from it, doing little things that probably could wait?

Especially during this time of year, I find that people (myself included) tend to be more overwhelmed and more prone to give in to distractions. With the holidays, so many extras get piled on top of our normal schedules, it’s easy to get lost in the hoopla. I definitely prefer pinning awesome Christmas crafts to Pinterest over doing dishes (I mean, who wouldn’t?), but when those kind of distractions take away from living abundantly, something needs to change.

Have you ever found yourself in any of the following situations?

• The final test is in two days and you really need to study, but you find yourself spending hours on Facebook and pinning awesome ideas to Pinterest instead.
• Your boss has given you a deadline for having that presentation ready, and that date is rapidly approaching. The presentation subject is quite overwhelming, so you busy yourself with checking e-mail and working on other tasks that aren’t time sensitive.
• You really need to vacuum your carpet. Since the last time you vacuumed, your pets have deposited enough fur for a sweater. But since vacuuming is one of your absolute least favorite things to do, your bathrooms are sparkling clean by the end of the day.

If any of those seemed to push your buttons, check out my three Get Things Done tips that I put into practice when I start getting overwhelmed with the to do list that I’ve allowed to build up.

Get Things Done – Tips to Creating a Productive Abundant Life

Just do it – Pick the task that is most time sensitive and tackle it head first. Sometimes I find that it’s best to tackle the harder/most undesirable projects first, so you can get them over and done and not let them bog you down anymore

Say no to distractions – This one is the hardest for me. Once you’ve set your mind to the task you’re determined to accomplish little things will undoubtedly creep up and try to knock you off track. When you find yourself getting sucked into Pinterest, Facebook or have been reading every piece of paper you find when you’re trying to clean a room, recognize that you’re veering off track and correct yourself. It’s not easy to get away from the distractions, especially if the thing that is stealing your attention is more interesting than the task at hand. At the end of the day, however, productivity vs. giving in to the distractions it’s totally worth it.

Break larger tasks down into manageable smaller pieces. – If the task is to clean the living room but it’s overwhelming because that’s too broad, break it down into manageable pieces and focus on one at a time. For example:
1. Pick up the trash
2. Take items that don’t belong in the living room and put them where they do belong (but don’t get sucked into cleaning that other room while you’re there! Stay focused on the living room)
3. Put the pillows back on the couch
4. Vacuum
5. Dust

BONUS: Don’t beat yourself up! – If you do find yourself in a situation where you have allowed yourself to be overcome by distractions for a long period of time don’t let yourself sabotage the potential in the rest of the day. Take a deep breath and just do it. Also, we aren’t meant to do this life alone. If you need support, find an accountability partner or a coach to give you that care and loving push when you need it.