Why You Fall Behind
What's really keeping you from getting things done?
There have been many moments in my life where I just can’t seem to get anything done. I’ll lose momentum and struggle to figure out how to get back on track. I know I’m not the only one that feels this way, so I wanted to share some thoughts on why you might be falling behind and some best practices on what to do about it.
Motivation
Waiting for motivation to come to you is the most common trap a person can fall into while working. You keep putting a project off saying you’ll start tomorrow and before you know it, your deadline is hours away and you scramble to deliver something passable. When you wait for motivation, you run the risk of falling behind even more and when you fall behind even more, you feel even more unmotivated because now you’re just playing catch up.
What do you do then? Just do the work. There’s never going to be a perfect time to start working, so start as soon as you can. I know this sounds like terrible advice but think back to when you were your most productive self. You got into a flow and you built more and more momentum as the day went on, fueled by your desire to finish what you started. Motivation isn’t something you start with, it’s something that comes after you’ve started.
Planning
A second common trap people fall into is that they spend too much time planning out their day. They wake up, fill out their task list, add a bunch of stuff to their calendar, and find themselves overwhelmed by all the things they need to get done by the end of the day. I’ve done this way too many times and it’s a hard habit to get rid of because you feel like it’s time well spent. But it isn’t until you’ve finished your day that you realize you didn’t accomplish anything meaningful.
Instead of doing this, think about the top 3 things that you need to do today that will make a difference in your life if you finish them. Completing these 3 tasks move the needle and get you one step closer to your goal. Keep them clear and simple. When you’ve done this, break your day down using small chunks instead of minutes and fit those 3 tasks into your schedule. If this doesn’t seem like enough, consider that it’s more effective to do the right things than everything. Focus and execute on tasks that truly make a difference before taking on less significant tasks.
Habits
Bad habits are a big reason why people fail to hit their milestones. When we don’t see instant results, we become discouraged and fall back onto what we’re used to. Focusing on the results we’re currently seeing rather than the trajectory our positive actions are eventually leading us to is what keeps us from developing good habits.
What people fail to realize in the moment is that all the small tasks you complete add up. Over time, these actions steer you in the right direction and transform your overall behaviors. Developing productive habits isn’t easy, but it’s worth the investment. The most important note to keep in mind is to build habits that will help you turn into the person you aspire to be. Every action you take is a step towards proving you are that person.
Working from home this year, away from our usual routines and work environments, has made it difficult for many people, including myself, from making the best choices when it comes to staying productive. But I hope these insights give you some ideas on how you can create meaningful changes in your life.
Resources of the Week
Atomic Habits - Here’s a summary of James Clear’s novel on building habits
Marketing Fellowship - A marketing fellowship by non-profit marketing agency Media Cause
Internships of the Week
Netflix -Â Software Engineer InternÂ
Ancestry - Marketing Designer InternÂ
Kapor Capital -Â Summer Fellows
thredUP -Â New Ventures Intern
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