Are you wondering how to get things done?  At Direction Financial Management our tag line is “plan for what matters.”  I work with clients to define life goals and structure their finances around these life goals.  In this blog post I want to share with you how to “focus on what matters” to get things done in your day-to-day life.  This topic is an inspiration from Charlie Gilkey of Productive Flourishing, an innovative company that is geared towards helping individuals and entrepreneurs get organized, take action and get things done .  We all have projects and tasks in our personal and professional lives which remain in an unfinished state because we feel “stuck” on what to do next.  Projects flow through a series of stages – initial creation of an idea, planning the project, doing the project, shepharding the project and following through.  We all have strengths and weaknesses that help us and hinder us through the stages of progress. How do you we make it through all stages when we feel “stuck” so that we can get things done?

Why Do We Get “Stuck?”

• We need more clarity or perspective on the project itself
• We need more clarity on the next step in the project

How Do We Move Beyond “Stuck?”

• To get more clarity or perspective on the project, ask yourself (1) What am I doing? (2) Why am I doing this? (3) Who am I trying to serve? (4) Where am I trying to go?  Reconnect with the meaning and purpose of your project.
• To get more clarity on the next step, write down the next step in verb format.  For example write the next blog, clean out the garage, pay the bills, reconcile my checkbook, or track my mileage.  Break it down further to identify the steps involved in each action step and document how to approach them.  You’ll find yourself moving forward.

Use Visual Tools

• Use a white board and illustrate your project and the steps
• Use a calendar or planner and place sticky notes on it to document the steps in the project
• Use an online tracking system
• Ask yourself “What do I see?” instead of “What do I think?” Name the future state.

Move into Action & Stay in Action

• Use your strengths and find help for your weaknesses.  If you have difficulty with numbers and the financial end, ask a friend or hire an advisor to help   If you need help with the creative side of things, find a friend or cohort to help create the vision and visuals you need to see things clearly.  You’ll become more efficient, and less stressed, by concentrating your efforts on the things you do best.  Leave the tasks you don’t like doing or are not qualified to do to someone who enjoys doing these tasks.
• Manage your energy flow.  Pay attention to how you work best during all times of the day.  Plan your day around your energy flow.  For example, if you have the most energy early in the morning and find that to be your creative and productive time, schedule your big projects early in the day.  If you have less energy in the afternoon plan to catch up on emails and other tasks that require less brain power during the afternoon.  Plan to sneak in a workout, or other physical activity, at a time you need to lift up your energy level and clear your mind.  Also pay attention to your energy level within a week’s time frame and plan around your highs and lows.
• Use the Pomodoro technique, or similar time management system, to make best use of a block of time.  Set a timer for a time period between 25 minutes and 90 minutes and work solely on the task at hand.  When the timer goes off take a small break (3-5 minutes) and continue on.

Our days are busy and filled with so many activities.  A true gift to ourselves and our families is finding the best use of our time so that we can enjoy the parts of life that bring us joy and happiness.  Uncluttering our minds of unfinished projects will allow us to move forward in our personal and professional lives.  By finishing the projects that matter we can feel excited, proud, renewed and energized.  For more tools and resources visit www.productiveflourishing.com.  Charlie Gilkey offers some free planners at www.productiveflourishing.com/free-planners.

What projects do you have to complete?  What resources and techniques are you using to get things done?    Please share in the comments below.