Did You Clear Your Dishes?

 

Yes… you heard me correctly, and no this is not your mother speaking.  Tell me…what was the last thing you did yesterday when you quit working?  Seriously, take a moment to reflect.  Did you finish a major project, and with a huge sigh of relief turn off the lights and close the office door?  Did you finish working with a client and rush home to tend to your evening tasks of making dinner or doing laundry?

In other words, how do you end your work day?  Did you end it consciously?  Because if you didn’t, you left grimy dishes on the table.  And you know what happens when you leave dishes on the table overnight don’t you?  Of course you do! You wake up to find that – no, the little elves did not clean them they are still there, just more difficult to clean.

A Secret That Will Increase Your Productivity

Do you sometimes feel burdened when you start your new day? Do your tasks feel jumbled in your head and overwhelming?   And then the inevitable happens -- the phone rings,  and before you know it, you’re frantically racing around putting out fires.  Meanwhile, feeling increasingly stressed because your important tasks haven’t been taken care of.  So you hurriedly scribble down a to-do list.  But because you’re preoccupied you can’t think clearly.

I’m going to let you in on a simple secret that can improve your productivity.  I call it “clearing the grimy dishes.”  In other words,  What unclean dishes do you need to tend to in your business before you leave for the day?  I’ll give you a hint: the most effective dish clearing task is to write a “to-do list” for the next day.  We’re all familiar with this concept, right?  But, do you do it? And do you do it consistently?

If you were to write out a “to-do list” at the end of your work day you gain instant satisfaction and relief in knowing that what you didn’t accomplish today will be taken care of tomorrow.  It also allows you to subconsciously mull over certain tasks.  Sometimes a more creative solution will come to you overnight.  And the extra time allows you to prioritize your tasks. 

Simple Steps for Creating a To Do List

1. Prioritize  First, write down the things that need to be done.  Then prioritize and rank your tasks.   Put a number beside each task with  #1 being the most important.  Accomplish your tasks in that order. 

2. Do the most dreaded task first  Often we put off the task that we dread the most.  However, if you accomplish it first, you will feel energized and have more energy to accomplish your other tasks.

3.  Write a New List Daily  Instead of recycling the same list, write a new list each day.  This will give you a clean slate each morning.  Write down any tasks that you didn’t accomplish from the previous day and additional tasks that you hope to achieve that day.

What Else Needs to be Tended to Before You Close Shop for the Day?

Besides writing a to-do list what are some other simple ways to clear your dishes?  Maybe its straightening up your desk or filing papers.  You’d be surprised, these simple tasks can make a huge difference in your productivity and freeing up mental clutter. 

Keep it Simple

Be careful not to overload yourself with a multitude of tasks to accomplish before you  quit work for the day.  Keep it simple.  Writing your list should take less than 10 minutes.  And it should take you less than 20 minutes total to accomplish any other “end of the day tasks.”

Clearing the Dishes, Clears Your Mind

Now you can wake up in the morning and feel motivated and organized.  You’ll know exactly what to focus on and no longer waste time on non-priority projects.  If you find yourself faced with a surprise task you’ll know exactly which project to dive into once you deal with your crisis.  Not only will you be more productive, but you’ll feel more relaxed and in control.  

I guess Mom really knew what she was talking about after all!

About the Author

Leslie Cunningham is a Certified Professional Life Coach with over 17 years of experience as a service professional. She works with entrepreneurs who are ready to turn their lifestyle and financial stress into inspired action to create more time, money and ease. To learn more about her coaching services and for more tips like these visit her site at www.springwindcoaching.com

© 2006 Leslie D. Cunningham

Spring Wind Coaching  |  7781 Nez Perce Dr.  |  Bozeman, MT 59715  |  Phone 406-586-5561

www.springwindcoaching.com