How to Get More Done

To get more done change is required. 

Begin by determining your priorities then work toward accomplishing them.

I think about when I wanted to write a book. 

Years went by before it was finally published.  What was the problem?  Why did it take so long?

After all, it wasn't like I didn't want to write a book.  I did, but I found out how quickly life can get in the way.

And if it wasn't life, I found myself struggling to get the motivation I needed to do the dang thing.

It wasn't until I acknowledged that life happens. Life didn't stop because I wanted to write a book.  I had to learn how to press through the obstacles.

I had to realize that "want" and "desire" gets nothing done. 

​To get more done I had to change what I was doing.  So I did.

Change begins with a decision.

To get more done you have to decide if it is something you really want. 

If it's not present, you won't get it done, it's just that simple.

I had to "decide" whether I wanted to make the changes needed to get my  book published.

If I did, then I had to make adjustments to make it happen.  And, to make adjustments I had to change my current behaviors and adopt new ones.

Here are four things I did to get more done:

1. Become Aware.  Your decision to get more done will require effort.

Every new behavior.

Every new change begins with awareness. 

Become aware of your current habits. 

What habits do you want to change?  What is stopping you from moving forward?

If you want to write more consistently, study what you are doing right now.

Use a weekly schedule to track where your time and efforts are going. 

Do this for 3-5 days. 

2. Restructure Current Habits. When you restructure your current habits for new ones, plan for distractions.

I don't know about you, but whenever I set out to do something impactful distractions appear.  Current habits will often engage in a battle with the new changes you want to make. 

Don't give in. 

The struggle to restructure old behaviors for new ones will determine if you are willing to push through to completion.

After 3-5 days look at your weekly schedule and highlight any patterns in your habits.

Habit patterns are behaviors done over and over automatically, without effort or thought. 

For example, you set the alarm clock to get up earlier to write.  When the clock rings you immediately hit the snooze button and go back to sleep, if you do this repeatedly, it becomes a habit pattern.   

To prevent getting overwhelmed restructure one or two habits until you have attained the level of success you desire.

New habits won't happen overnight you have to work diligently to make them happen.

3. Create a Schedule.  Be realistic when creating a schedule. 

Your schedule should work for you, no against you.

I often do my best work in the morning, but you may find that afternoons or late nights work for you.   

Create a schedule that works for you and avoid doing what someone else does, especially if you know it goes against what you are trying to accomplish. 

To get more done create a schedule that will allow you to get it done.

4. Actively Apply Your New Habits.  This is where focus and determination join hands. 

​This is where you must discipline yourself to be vigilant against controllable obstacles (e.g., surfing the Internet, watching movies or TV, talking on the phone, etc.) 

This is where you must determine to stay the course. 

This is where you must write without editing, revising, or proofreading.  This is where you push procrastination and perfectionism out the way because your end goal is to get it done. 

Organizing, editing, revising, and proofreading can come in the second phase, or passed on to an editor. 

Your main goal is to guard scheduled time and do the thing you set your heart to accomplish.

So, if you want to get more done, become aware of your current habits, restructure current behaviors, create a schedule that supports your new habits, then actively apply your new behaviors until you reach your end goal.

Now, let's go get more done!