My Secret Weapon Against Stress
As a small business owner, I often come into the office and see that I have a million things that need to get done today. Then, just when I think I have a handle on the million things, I am hit with surprises and urgent tasks that need to be done BEFORE I get to my real to-do list.
Sometimes, I can roll with it and stay calm, cool, and collected. But other times, it stresses me out and can even leave me paralyzed.
I have a system that takes me from overwhelmed to calm and in control. I've been using this approach for a while now. I can't remember if I invented or borrowed it from someone else, but it works for me.
When you feel overwhelmed with tasks, try this:
STEP 1:
Clean and Organize your Workspace.
When you feel overwhelmed and stressed, stop and look at your workspace. It is probably a disorganized mess. They say a cluttered desk means a cluttered mind. So start by cleaning and organizing your desk and surrounding areas. This step alone will make you feel a bit better.
STEP 2:
Do a Brain Dump - Business & Personal.
Grab an 8.5 x 11 notepad and create two columns – Business and Personal.
Now comes the brain dump. List everything on your mind, especially the things causing you stress or worry. Things like deadlines, worries, commitments, nagging errands – anything occupying your mental space goes on the list.
You are not doing any prioritizing at this point, just a brain dump. Put the business things on the business side and the personal things on the personal side.
STEP 3:
Add all of your digital sources.
Go to your computer and review all digital to-do lists, email inboxes, etc. Then, add any outstanding tasks or concerns to one of the columns on your notepad.By the way, you are not looking to take everything from every to-do list you have and put them on your list - just the things that are causing you angst.
STEP 4:
Prioritize and Conquer.
There is something magical about getting all that clutter out of your head and on paper.Now that you have a complete picture, it's time to prioritize. Look at your lists and select the things causing you the most distress. Pick just 6 things to focus on today. The six things can be from your business column or your personal column.This system will help you feel calmer and more confident knowing you’re focused on the right things. Remind yourself to relax. You’ve got everything under control, and you’re working on the most important tasks
Conclusion
By the way, this isn’t a comprehensive goal-setting system. It’s more like a quick fix, a tool you can use to help you regain your footing when you're feeling overwhelmed. Let me know if it works for you!
