Want to know the secret to getting more done?

Stop doing more.

What I mean by that is more than likely you aren’t getting more done because you are trying to get too much done at once. The truth is we can only focus on one thing at a time. The art of multitasking is actually a biological myth. Your brain can only focus on one thing at a time. You may be able to switch back and forth quickly between different things, but you can’t focus on two things at once. Just try to focus on an object on the left side of the room and the right side of the room at once…YOU CAN’T! You may be able to see things in your periphial vision, but you can’t actually focus on it. It’s because your brain can’t compute two things simultaneously. Your brain can only select one thing at at time. Sure, you can switch gears fast and focus back and forth, but every time you do it your brain has to use energy to come back into focus. Now times that by an infinite amount when you are working on tasks. As you switch gears to focus on another “thing” your conscious mind has to go from the “room” it was working in, walk down the hall, open another room, and start to pull books off the shelf of stored ideas, memories, and experiences. The more you switch rooms in a day the slower it is getting more done.

So the solution is to choose your tasks VERY wisely….here is the secret to getting more done…

1) Choose WHAT To Work On

I did not say whats to work on…I said what…singular. You need to prioritize what you are going to work on and stay with what until it is finished…or at least what you wanted to finish is finished. Stop allowing yourself to work on whats and start narrowing your focus to what. You can choose to switch what it is, but don’t keep going back and forth with what to another what, back to the original what, and then another what thinking that you are getting a lot done…you aren’t. At least you aren’t being completely efficient with what you could have got done if you had only focused on one what.

2) Choose WHAT To Work On When You’re Working On What

Have a game plan for what it is you want to accomplish when you are working on whatever task you have chosen to focus on. And don’t try to get everything done when you are working on what unless it is possible. For example if your WHAT is an event you are planning there are probably many moving parts to plan out and work on. Don’t try to do it all simultaniously. Choose to focus on one part of the what until you get what needed to get done. If you need to work on the food portion of the event, stay with it until you work through it, don’t switch gears and start working on the guests lists because you remembered so and so who needs to be there while you were trying to figure out the main course. If that person pops in your mind, just make a quick note and move on, don’t allow it to make you switch to the guest list just because a person popped into your mind. Stay with the what you are trying to solve within the what you have chosen to work on.

3) Choose What To Work On When You’re ABLE To Focus On What You’re Working On

Carve out sacred time to work on what you need to work on. This causes you to be very intentional about your schedule and the time you need to work on what. You can’t work on what if you are not able to. By being able to, I mean when you are at your best to work on it. Don’t sandwich working on what if you have other whats you haven’t decompressed from, or other whats you have coming up that are clouding your mind. When you work on what is just as important as choosing what to work on. If your energy is zapped and your focus is in jeopardy it will take you longer to get it done. Another secret to getting more done is to make sure you are bringing your best self to what you are working on. Here are some things to think about…

• What time of day are you at your best?
• When do you feel the most energized?
• What is something you do that gets you into a great thinking zone?
• Are you working on what without being too famished or too stuffed? (Either one effects your energy level)
• Are you planning your schedule to make sure you are working on what?

The secret to getting more done is to stop doing too much and focus on one thing at a time and knock it out of the park my friends!