How to get things done in a very busy world

Let us start by acknowledging that we are juggling many things in our lives. Being able to make progress is something that motivates me to get things done. The principles that I will share below have helped me take care of my six-month-old baby while working full-time.
 
In this blog post, I will share the five principles that help me accomplish important things.
 
#1: Commit to completing your tasks
I strongly believe that getting things done starts with your mindset. Really wanting to do something is the first step to success. In addition, if you are going to accomplish great things, you will need to commit to act. When we hold ourselves accountable to take action, we are more likely to progress on things that matter to us.
 
Questions to consider

• What is your mindset towards getting things done?
• Do you hold yourself accountable to take action?

 
#2: Prepare ahead of time and have a routine
In my experience, preparation is one of my secret strategies to getting things done. If you know a significant life event is about to happen, getting ready for it will help you ensure that you get things done. Knowing that I have the things that I need to complete a task makes it much more manageable. Implementing a routine where you do things repeatedly also helps you be more efficient.

Questions to consider

• What preparation tasks will help you complete your top tasks?
• What new routines do you want to implement to help you get things done?

 
#3: Track your progress
Knowing that you are making progress is an integral part of getting things done. When I get swamped and feel like I am not making progress, I go back and look at the tasks that I have completed. Tracking my tasks provides me with a place to look when I start getting discouraged about making progress. About a year ago, I started writing down what I accomplished over the weekend, including resting and having fun. This helps give me a sense of satisfaction when I think about how I am spending my time.
 
Questions to consider

• How are you tracking your progress?
• How will you celebrate the progress that you are making?

 
#4: Delegate tasks to others
Assigning tasks to others or outsourcing is something that I have been learning to do recently. Sometimes, to make progress, you have to assign tasks to someone else or ask for help. The outcome is what matters, not necessarily who gets it done. For example, I used to put pressure on myself to do all the household chores myself and now I have learned to ask for or hire help. I had to overcome the sense that I was failing because I was not doing everything on my own. Also, I now realize that my time is valuable, and the investment in things that save me time is priceless.
 
Questions to consider

• What tasks can you delegate to others?
• Who can you delegate tasks to or hire?

 
#5: Being kind to yourself
As we navigate everyday life, there will be things that either take us much longer to do or that we don't get to do at all. It is important to be gracious to yourself and not beat yourself up. Coming to terms with the realities of what we can do is sometimes extremely difficult to do. I recently went through a stressful period and realized that I was putting myself under a lot of pressure. Now, when I catch myself trying to be perfect in everything, I remind myself to be kind to myself.
 
Questions to consider

• In what areas have you been putting yourself under pressure?
• How are you going to be kind to yourself moving forward?

 
Final Thoughts
We are all working hard and doing a lot. Now is an excellent time for us to ensure we are doing things that are important to us.
 
Time for Reflection
What helps you get things done? 
What is one principle that you want to start applying to get things done?
How are you going to celebrate the progress you are making?