Each of us is juggling various roles and tasks in our personal and professional lives. Our to do list keeps growing and there is always so much to do. We try to do it all, but sometimes it feels like we are not achieving anything at all. Not only do we end up making slow progress but we tend to go around in circles and lose focus. This can lead to feeling overwhelmed, stressed and burnt out which in turn leads to procrastination and demotivation.
As a mum and entrepreneur, I am no stranger to procrastination. Some weeks are great and go exactly as I would have liked. But some weeks are full of ups and downs. And no matter how much one plans, one can never predict what challenges may come up.
To keep me from getting overwhelmed or demotivated and focused on my bigger goal I had to come up with a system where I could reevaluate my goals and action steps, refocus them and then press reset before I could finally resume.
So now, at the end of every week, (or sometimes even midweek) I take some time to do just that. I do this by asking myself some questions as listed below:
#1 - Reevaluate
Some of the questions that I ask myself are:
How many things was I able to achieve on my to-do list?
How realistic is the goal I set for myself this week?
What did I do well?
What could I have done better?
What work did I enjoy doing the most?
What did I learn this week?
What am I grateful for this week?
#2 - Refocus
Some of the questions that I ask myself here are:
Did I make progress? How realistic was the action plan for the week?
Where/how do I need to re-prioritise my goals?
What distractions or challenges do I need to overcome?
What do I need to stop doing and what do I need to do more of?
How can I stay motivated?
How can I stop overthinking?
What negative thoughts or self-sabotaging habits do I need to overcome?
What can I do to keep myself accountable?
"You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending". - C. S. Lewis.
#3 - Reset
I use the weekend to completely switch off and press the reset button.
I take a break & spend time with my family/friends and do what I enjoy.
On Sunday evenings, I take some time to think of the week ahead and how I would like to feel by the end of it. I have also learnt to let go of any negativity or bad thing that happened the previous week. I then spend a few minutes creating a routine and planning for the week ahead. I think of how I would like to start and end every day next week. I ensure I have built in some buffers and time for myself. I also ensure that I build in time to exercise my body and mind as it helps me stay focused and motivated.
#4 - Resume
It is back to work and routine on Monday with renewed energy and learning.
I remind myself that I have done my bit to prepare for the week ahead. But I do not have control over all situations. All I can do is commit to doing my best and facing any hurdles along the way with a positive outlook. I leave the rest to the universe. I trust that whatever happens will be for the best in the long run. I also try and make time to celebrate the wins and learn from the mistakes or losses.
And then repeat.
Depending on the situation, the questions I ask may change a bit every week, but this system has really helped me stay focused. It has helped me keep the overwhelm in check. Try it out for yourself in your work or personal life and let me know if it helps your overall productivity.
So remember to Reevaluate, Refocus, Reset and Resume.
I help my clients become more productive, stay motivated, get clarity on their career path, grow in their chosen careers, and balance work and personal life. If you need support in any of these areas, contact me by clicking here https://www.coachsanjuktamitra.com/contact or email me on coachsanjukta.mitra@gmail.com
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