3 Steps To Being More Productive, Without Stressing Yourself Out

3 Steps To Being More Productive, Without Stressing Yourself OutIts no surprise that our attention spans are shrinking and our to-do lists are spiraling hideously out of control while we procrastinate, panic, and eventually curl up into a ball watching Netflix. This is the world we live in googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) We all want to be more productivethe kind of people who write (and actually work through) detailed to-do lists, skipping from project to project until weve conquered the mountain of our goals.1. Write it downThe most important first step is to get that giant, unmanageable list out of your brain. Make a physical to-do list. Even if you already have one. Divide it into large projects and small projects so you dont get freaked out every time you look at it thinking, AAAAH,I HAVENT DONE THAT GIANT SCARY THING. Keep the giant scary things separate from the I can do this in an hour things. That way you can start crossing thing s off immediately and build enough momentum to tackle the hard stuff once youve settled into work.2. Hunker down and do itThe second step is to actually show up and do the work. That means clearing your headspace and being present and mindful of your task. Think about the parameters of each one before you start in on it. That way youll choose tasks that match your current state of mind at any given moment, and increase your potential for success. Sick or sad or really distracted? Thats probably not a great day to start your biggest project. Save that project for a day when youre feeling confident and clear-headed.3. Prepare for distractionsThe final step is being able to handle the curve balls that will, inevitably, come your way. Build time and space into your work-time structure to handle the emergencies and extra assignmentsas they hit you. Budgeting for this will help you not to feel that you have lost anything when you blitz through these unexpected tasks. You can go back to yo ur existing list guilt-free.This doesnt mean youll never again get stressed out by the piles and piles of tasks you have to do, but these guidelines should give you a strategy at how to conquer those piles without the panic. The more you practice them, the less to-do list stress youll have.How to Overcome Your To-Do List Anxiety