Written by Gaynor Rigby

In it, not on it

It’s worryingly easy to lose yourself in the out-of-the-blue tasks that are thrown at you on a daily basis. One minute you have a set strategy and to-do list for April, the next minute it’s nearly June and you’ve barely scratched the surface. 

Follow these top tips to sail towards your goals instead of drowning in your workload:

Reset 

Stop, close the door and pause. Sometimes it pays dividends to simply take a break, a deep breath and consider what isn’t working. When there’s a lot going on, it can be difficult to see the wood for the trees. Taking a step back can allow you to focus. 

Reflect 

Once you’ve managed to catch your breath, start thinking about where your problems lie. Where are you spending your time? Why are you unable to focus? Push yourself to consider the reasons you’ve fallen off track. 

Refocus 

This is the most important part of the process. Create a plan detailing what you’re going to change. Do you need to block out some time to work on certain projects? Does anybody else need to be involved? Consider the barriers in your way and decide what needs to be addressed and in what order. 

Re-evaluate

Schedule time in to re-evaluate whether or not your plan is working and you're still on course. Check what’s worked and what hasn’t, ask yourself why and make changes accordingly.

It’s important to take time to stop, look and listen every once in a while. This can help you see your workload with a bird’s eye view, allowing yourself to identify any gaps you might have missed.

So, stop, take a breath and step up to the plate!