Get more done

Like me, you probably have days where there are so many things to do you are not sure where to start. You get organised, make a list, start at the top and by the end of the day you have done most of it.

Well done! Satisfied? Probably not!

Doing something well doesn’t mean neglecting something else, or doing less. Nor does it mean doing things slower.

Getting things done is not half as satisfying as doing things well. This is because we get personal satisfaction from giving something all our attention, doing it to the best of our abilities, being absorbed in it while we are doing it, and looking back with pride at a job well done.

You might say “Fine, but I have no time to work like that.”

Well, you do. Try it and see.

Doing something well doesn’t mean neglecting something else, or doing less. It doesn’t necessarily mean doing things slower, either. Doing things well is a state of mind where we give our full, focused attention to the task in hand.

Start by deciding that you want to give full value in everything you do. From brushing your teeth in the morning, appreciating the journey to work, planning what to eat in the evening. Only do a task when you can give it your undivided attention. That means every conversation, every email, each purchase you make and all your chores.

Clear a little space, do the chosen activity, whatever it is, complete it, appreciate it for a moment, note that you have now finished it, and move on to the next task. And make sure you allow yourself time to breath.

If you find this idea daunting and you start giving yourself excuses as to why this wouldn’t work for you, consider this. Those excuses are symptoms.

They are symptoms because they indicate that something other than you is deciding how you do things. It’s OK for someone else (like the boss), deciding WHAT we do, but it’s not OK for them to decide HOW we do it.

Try it. Do one thing as if you want to give maximum value. Do the best job you can, however small the task. Then move on to the next. Let me know how you get on.


Mindfulness is the antidote to our highly-charged lifestyles. In order to keep on keeping up, we also need to take time for ourselves, to rest, recover and renew our energies. Get more done so you end it feeling satisfied.

Learn to manage yourself, and the pressure, more productively with my online course Mindfulness In Life and Work.It will show you how to make mindfulness practice part of your daily routines. As you get more done it becomes a fulfilling pastime.

Go to the Course

 

I’m a psychologist, coach, and therapist. All my work is aimed at enabling people to improve personal aspects of their lives and work.

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