Overwhelmed and procrastinating: how to get started

We've all been there and I certainly still have moments in which I procrastinate, and have many moments of feeling overwhelmed in my job as a teacher, but the good news it that it's just takes a few quick to implement strategies to set you on the right track. Now by no means am I an expert, absolutely not, but I have learnt a few things along the way and I'm hoping this will help you too.

. Brain dump .

It's far from a technical term, but get a piece of paper and just write down all the things that are loose in your mind. You can start to categorise them into similar type tasks and start to think about what is urgent (the Eisenhower grid). From this you should have a clear sense of what you need to get done that day and what can wait. And for that, if you're someone that gets particularly anxious about when they'll get done (totally me), then just write them under column headings for the days of the week, a.k.a. to-do lists written well beforehand.

. Get started with small things .

There's a David Allen rule I remember reading in his book 'Getting Things Done' that always stuck with me. It's the 2 minute rule. If something takes 2 minutes or less, just do it. I love this rule because instantly, in the space of 15-20 minutes, you have accomplished so many little things that you've probably been putting off and immediately feel energised to tackle something bigger. And make sure to cross them off your master to-do list from your brain dump session.

. Keep the pace .

Now talking about big things... perhaps the reason for feeling overwhelmed or for procrastinating stems from a specific task that seems daunting. The key here is to break it down into manageable chunks that you can achieve on a daily basis. And if you're struggling on a daily basis, then break it down further into realistic time frames. For example,

overwhelming task number 1 - write a 6,000 word essay; daily break down: write 500 words; hourly break down: 10-11am - read a few abstracts, 11-12pm - write the first paragraph, etc. Figure out what works for you to get you started and to keep you going.

. Fresh air .

Chances are that if you're overwhelmed and have been putting off getting things done, you've probably been staring at it for hours or keeping yourself busy with other things that might be mind numbing. So just take a step outside and get some fresh air. Go for a walk in your local park, go to the local shop, get yourself a little coffee, or even better, go get some exercise done. It's important to allow yourself a change in scenery, especially when it makes you feel invigorated. It doesn't need to take too long, just enough to bring you a new perspective.

. Eat and water .

And lastly, take care of the basics. Make sure you've eaten some good food and had plenty of water to keep hydrated. I've skipped this part a few times and I ended up running out of steam when the wave of productivity finally hit me, often having headaches and completely crashing. Plus, food can be such a treat - eat it mindfully, beautifully and wholesomely.

I hope that's helped give you some encouragement and motivation to get started, so now go, get started! You've got this!

If you have other useful tips, share them below.

Sofia