If you are having trouble concentrating, as is common when going through sever change, try setting a goal.  For example, work 45 minutes, then take a 15 minute break, then work another 45 minutes, and so on.  Or, set a time frame for certain activities: “I will go to the gym at 6:30 each morning, at least 3 days per week” or “I will work on my writing at least 2 hours per day,” or “I will work on this project M-F from 10AM-2PM each day,” etc.  Make your goals realistic so as not to discourage yourself and make them appropriate to the project, and something that will assist in achieving your goals.

Another tip is to list, before going to bed, the three most important things to accompish the next day, and then do them.

Another example:

I used to have a large bulletin board in my office, and each project was a column, visually.  I would break down each project into sets of activities, and use a medium point magic marker to write on a 3X5″ file card for each activity set.  I would thumbtack them into columns, with the bottom file card the first activity set that had to be done.  Because the writing was in a medium-sized marker, I could see it across the room from my desk.

As I accomplished each activity set, I could remove the card, thus the lists (columns of cards) became shorter as I progressed through a project. 

I would set goals for myself as to how many cards I would want to remove each week or each day.

Category: JoNel's Blog