How to Kick Butt on a Busy Day

Last week, I listened to a Podcast by Brendon Burchard about avoiding overwhelm. We all know the feeling of overwhelm – when your plate is alarmingly full and the list of things to do seem endless. He offered a few tips, and here are the ones that stood out to me.

Be smart enough to recognize the difference between overwhelm and burnout. 

If you are CONSISTENTLY overwhelmed, you’re closer to burnout. If your attitude changes from positive to negative, you’re closer to burnout. Feeling overwhelmed is okay once in a while. Burnout means something needs to change.

Start your day organized. Make sure you have a plan for the day and you do your best to stick to it.

There are hundreds of popular thought leaders out there who can help you identify the way that will work best for you to stay organized. My technique is to build blocks of time into my Outlook calendar and make sure they’re phrased so that I’m achieving specific results, not just doing work.

Transition well. 

The ability to transition from task to task quickly and effectively will help you get more done in a shorter amount of time and keep you focused.

What works for Brendon is a 15 minute meditation. 

What works for me is a quick 5-10 minute walk down to the mailbox (we have a really long driveway). I take my dog and leave my phone. I become aware of my surroundings, breathe some fresh air, and when I come back to my desk I feel ready to leave behind what I was previously working on and tackle the next challenge.

Next time your plate feels full, be mindful of the techniques that you have available to you to help you get through a busy day.

Got any tips that work for you?