Get Organized

In a recent post, I talked about how you can recognize signs that you’re taking on too many tasks at once. But once you figure out you’re in over your head, what do you do?

Some people are tempted to just keep working. They tell themselves, “Once I bust through this project, then I can back off a bit.”

I don’t know about you, but my to-do list never works that way. The moment I cross off one thing, I feel compelled to add two more.

But if you keep trying to bite off more than you can chew, you’re …

Today, we’re going to talk about some of the crazy stuff that happens when you’re overcommitted and working too hard to get through an impossible to-do list.

I’m not talking about burnout. Burnout is what happens when you allow stress to build to the point that you stop caring. You lose your motivation to work.

Instead, we’re going to dig deep into what happens before that, when you’re hyper-motivated, but your mania is starting to sabotage your efforts.

In the rush to be as productive as possible, it’s tempting to push yourself to your limits. You put in …

I don’t know about you, but I’m at my best in the morning. Yes, I’m still yawning, rubbing sleep out of my eyes and trying to clear my head.

But in some ways, that’s a good thing.

I haven’t yet started mulling over all the problems and complications in my life. My mind is a clean slate, and that means I can focus on my work. I usually get more done in the first couple hours of my workday than I do the rest of the day, much of it before I even eat breakfast!

So I try to …

Tell me if this sounds familiar.

It’s 8:00 a.m.

Monday morning.

You arrive at the office and notice you have a bunch of emails and voicemails waiting for you.

Great. More fires to put out.

You look at your physical inbox and notice several unfamiliar folders sitting in it. At best, each one represents a new action item you need to address for someone.

At worst, a new project.

Then, just as you’re about to roll up your sleeves and dig in, a coworker drops by. He wants to tell you about his evening. Unfortunately, a 60-second summary isn’t on …

Ever wonder where all your time went?

Ever shut down your computer or closed your laptop at the end of the day and thought to yourself, “Good grief! I didn’t accomplish nearly as much as I had hoped to!”

I’m guessing the answer is yes. If it’s any consolation, you’re in good company. Most people aren’t able to accurately account for their time. They let it slip through their fingers.

That’s unfortunate. Wasted time means less time to do what you really want. It also means less income and more stress. That’s no way to live life, especially when it’s …

$100,000.

That’s what being an info-junkie cost me. If I’m being honest, it probably cost me a lot more.

If you’re on my email list, you already know the story. (If you’re not on my list, fill in your name and email address over on the right to get the good stuff!)

I’m willing to bet that you’re a junkie too. You collect a mountain of information and read every detail before you take action.

On the one hand, that level of preparation improves the quality and thoroughness of your output. If you’re writing a book on golf and …