How To Get Things Done Without Trying Too Hard
Yesterday I completed reading the book “Getting things done without trying too hard” by Richard Templar.
I found this to be an extremely useful book that gives an idea about how to keep on top of everything, multitasking and having a routine.
In this post I share my favourite parts of the book as a summary.
Many of us lead busy lives filled with commitments and deadlines. We are continuously busy and the work sometimes doesn’t seem to get done. Some of us have great systems in place to manage while others end up missing deadlines or being late for meetings and even reaching stages of loss of interest and may end up giving up on their goals.
1- You can and you can’t
“Getting things done really is all in the mind, and once you realise that you have the same raw materials as everyone else - a brain, a pair of hands and so on - you’ll realise that once you acquire the skills you can match anyone for getting things done effortlessly.”
In the end, we are all the same and you are no different from anyone else. We all know colleagues, family members or friends who are very busy but still manage to fit everything into their 24 hours and still have time to rest and relax.
Once you put your mind to it and believe that this is achievable, you will start seeing a change in your attitude and behaviour to get things done.
2- Make time
“The first thing you need to do is know how to make time.
To begin with, look for things that could be done quicker.
Delegate”.
In the book Templar explains that if you want to clear a chunk of time for a specific reason, his favourite technique is to imagine that some form of crisis has occurred. He gives an example asking that if a power cut occurred and you cannot use your computer for 24 hours, how would you cope?
Somehow, if something is essential, we always find the time to get it done.
3- Have a routine
“When you’re really busy, the more of a routine you have, the easier your life becomes. Having minimal routines is great when you’re a student, or once you retire, but if you have a busy life it’s a luxury you can’t afford.
The more routine you build into your life, the less effort it will take to keep things on track.”
4- Don’t panic
“Sometimes, the workload seems overwhelming. You don’t know where to start and the scale of it all is just plain terrifying. If looking at the big picture is too scary, don’t look at it.
You can only do one thing at a time. “
This right here is quite relevant, especially for students or those of us who are preparing for exams. There is a lot to deal with sometimes and deadlines can end up piling up. There are days or weeks where you have no deadlines at all and sometimes you can have 3 or more deadlines in the same week.
For the days where you have a lot to deal with, breath things into smaller chunks and smaller lists that you can slowly tick off. This way you are less likely to be overwhelmed by the big picture and are focused on getting smaller things done.
“Start with something that’s urgent, and then work your way through it. Deal with the wall brick by brick. Don’t think about the scale of it, and just plug away, bit by bit, until you feel you’re making headway. “
5- Think positive
“If you are dealing with a mountain of work, you’ll get through it far quicker if you’re in a positive frame of mind.
So focus on the things you’ve achieved so far, not on the ones still on your list. “
6- Know when the good times are
“Everybody has their own most productive time of day.
You need to know when you’re at your best so you can play to your strengths.
Make sure you don’t waste this part of the day, but spend it doing the things you most need to get done. “
7- Set yourself limits
“No matter what you do for a living, there are different things you need to spend your time on. “
I know many people who spend their lives on one thing only. If they are a student then everything they do is student-related or if they are a doctor then they let that field of work control the rest of their life and everything they do is medicine-related.
Remember that this is your career but it does not make up 100% of you. You should also give time for family, for friends, hobbies and anything else that you enjoy doing. Try to branch out and explore new things, this will make your life.a whole lot more interesting than it currently is.
“Set yourself start and stop times. These have to be realistic because this isn’t going to work unless you stick to them.
Only you know what timetable will work for you, but if you don’t build in start and stop times, you won’t get anything done.”
8- Invest now, save later
“Train yourself never to think, “If only I’d done that…” without questioning what you can do now to make sure it doesn’t happen again. “
Whatever you do in your daily life, if there is anything that isn’t working for you or if you feel yourself needing some minimal improvements on how you manage some parts of your time, then train yourself to come up with a solution to avoid being in the same spot again.
Are you always late for class of feeling too tired during class? Are you always running behind on work or start late studying for exams? Do you feel uninspired or unmotivated?
Now that you have identified some aspects that you need to improve, what are you going to do about it?
9- Keep a notebook
Keeping a notebook and making this into a habit can take a few days but it will save you quite a lot of stress and brain fatigue if you write down things that distract you. For example, if you are studying and a thought comes across your mind, just write it down in your notebook and check it only when you are free. This way you avoid this distraction that make hinder your focus and affect your reading.
“The solution here is to keep a notebook and pen about your person at all times. Just jot down everything you need to remember. It clears your mind wonderfully. Once it is down on paper you no longer have to retain it inside your head. “
10- Get the best out of people
“If people around you are enthusiastic and willing, not only will they be more likely to help with your workload, they’ll also try harder to avoid adding to it.
It’s important to be able to get people on side if you’re going to work smarter and make your life more relaxed.
Once you’ve worked out what motivates a particular person, you can offer them the right incentive to work for you.
Once you know what drives someone, you can exchange what they want for what you want. “
11- Clear some downtime
“Your to-do list is great for organising all the things you have to do. But what about all the not-doing you want to fit into your life? “
“Make sure you give yourself blocks of time off from working through the list. “
12- Plan your life
“Plan for the long term. Then have a plan for the year ahead.
With a plan you can see how you need to work towards it.
You should have a slightly more detailed plan for the next 3 months and a more detailed one for this month.”
13- Know what makes a difference
“Everything you do should make a worthwhile difference, otherwise you’re just wasting your time. In an ideal world these things might be great, but you’re pushed for time and you need to make sure that everything you spend your time one deserves your attention. “
14- Don’t read things you don’t need to *
“Start by checking the contents page. Which bits do you really need to read?”
* This doesn’t include reading for pleasure
15- Don’t give up
“Everyone can get more done if they decide to make it happen. Stick with it and you’ll find that not only are you achieving far more , you’re also making less effort and your life is more relaxed. “
