Being an entrepreneur can be overwhelming. There’s so much to do, and, in the end, you’re responsible for EVERYTHING.
If you’re anything like me, being overwhelmed can often lead to procrastination. I have so much to do that I’ll just end up doing none of it. I tell myself, I’ll just do it tomorrow. Or I’ll be more motivated this weekend.
I assure you that I’m lying to myself.
Time is not the magical cure for too much to do. Tomorrow I will invariably just have more things to do on top of the things that I didn’t do yesterday.
To help keep myself from drowning in a tidal wave of responsibilities, I’ve developed some tips and tricks that help me to get over this self-damaging mindset. Some you may have heard before, hopefully most are new.
When you’re overwhelmed, here are 6 tips to get you motivated and lighten up that ever growing to-do list.
Start small
Have you ever heard the advice that the best place to start when cleaning your house it to make the bed? It’s good advice.
Often the hardest part is just getting started. Starting with something simple and quick helps to get something crossed off your list, thus making you feel accomplished. Feeling accomplished almost always leads to accomplishing more, then even more. What’s the opposite of a vicious cycle? This is that.
Do something that makes you money
I think this one is pretty self explanatory. When you have too much to do, you might as well do the thing that will immediately give financial results.
I have always found that putting some money in my pocket is a great motivator. What this task is depends on you, your business, and your industry. For some, it may be processing invoices. For others, answering emails from prospects. Whatever the case is for you, know the recurring tasks that directly result in more money in your account, then do that first.
Priority Lists
As an entrepreneur, you have to wear a lot of hats. Marketing, IT, accounting, purchasing, the list just goes on and on.
Since you have to be all these positions to your business, you need to know which items have to be done first. I’m probably a little biased (I am a bookkeeper, after all), but accounting tasks should be near the top of any priority list. You don’t have much of a business if you don’t have money coming in from invoices, or if you don’t pay your vendors.
Knowing which items are red-hot and which can probably wait another few days is a great way to organize your thoughts and change that to-do list to a to-done list.
Tackle the biggest monster first
I know I said above that starting small is a good way to get rolling, but sometimes it’s not the right path for that day.
If you have one task that dwarfs all the rest, then you will likely find you’re a lot more motivated to get the rest done once that particular dragon is slain.
Whether you’ve got a big project for a client or need to update your virtual security, getting that task off your to-do list can suddenly make everything else seem a lot more manageable.
Planners/Calendars/Task Management apps
Do you ever have so much to do that you don’t even know WHAT you have to do? It can be really easy for something to fall through the cracks only for you to bolt awake in the middle of the night months later in a panic when you suddenly remember again.
Having all your ducks neatly lined up in a row can make it so much easier to pick a task for the day/week and get it done. I find that knowing what every day looks like and when I can accomplish what task helps me to get more done in less time.
**DISCLAIMER**
It can be really easy to spend a lot of time setting up your Planner/Calendar/Task Management app without ever getting to the actual tasks at hand (see next tip for details). Don’t get bogged down with layouts or other extraneous activities. Make it work, get your stuff done, then make it pretty in your spare time.
Avoid Busy Work
There are two very distinct types of activities. The first are the tasks that get you somewhere. Stuff that you need to do and helps move you forward towards your goals.
Then there’s busy work.
Busy work is so tempting and often incredibly deceptive. Most of the time, I don’t even realize I’m trapped in busy work until I lift my head and see that nothing is really getting done. I’ve wasted hours with nothing to show for it.
Busy work is the kind that makes you feel like you’re accomplishing something, but once it's done, you realize that you’ve done nothing of any value and you’re still overwhelmed.
Focus on the tasks that are important and necessary. Save the busy work for when you’re bored with nothing to do, AKA never.
These 6 tricks are how I keep myself motivated even when faced with task fatigue. Which tip, or combination of tips, I use typically depends on the day. My level of natural motivation can fluctuate pretty wildly, as I’m sure it does for everyone.
Know the signs that you’re getting overwhelmed and learn the ways that work for you to get past it. You’ve got way too much to do to waste another moment panicking over how much you have to do.
Are you overwhelmed by your bookkeeping? Contact me today to see how a virtual bookkeeper can help you regain peace of mind.