5 Ways to Maximum Achievement

If you’re like most people, the end of the day usually has the same conclusion. You think back through your day, and recap what it is that you did that day, hopefully on achievement. For some, this could be very discouraging, especially if you’ve landed in a job you’re not thrilled about. Regardless of your role, that end of the day “review” process is the same for almost all of us. Usually recited back through the frustrating pace of the evening traffic, we think back through our time spent in the office that day. Some write down to-do’s and checklists or use apps to track their tasks, and others just dwell on the items of the day that come to mind. Does this daily routine leave you feeling accomplished and proud? Or does it leave you flat and frustrated – feeling like a failure? Or, maybe you don’t care at all, and your job is just something you need to do regardless of the outcome?

All too often, the commute home recants dozens of “activities” we can recall doing, but somehow, we can’t recall the final result – the achievement itself. It’s as if we labored in vain for hours only to not finish what we started. And what’s worse, it’s not just one task we didn’t complete, but several. Unfinished tasks greet us the next morning as we struggle through that first cup of office coffee. Oh, and it doesn’t stop there, an entire day of “new” to-do’s gets pilled on top of yesterday’s leftovers, like awful cafeteria food. Blending together in a nauseating pile of…”wait, what am I eating anyways?”

We all know what happens next, after continuing this awful behavior for days, or weeks on end, we eventually start to slam right up against those deadlines for the tasks from two Wednesdays ago. And, inevitably we need to literally spend an entire day, or dare I say after-work, evenings and weekends, shoveling through our mound of “busy work.” It’s never enjoyable either, that’s the thing. The sense of achievement eludes us at this point, and the feeling of desperation is only slightly mitigated as we finally knock off that nagging item.

Achievement has profound impact in our lives. That feeling of accomplishing goals and completing tasks gives us a certain energy. It’s invigorating and almost contagious. It lingers and spreads into other areas of our lives, and gives a new outlook on things. A happier, more satisfied outlook. Rather than the doldrums of disappointment or frustration at how much “work” we have to do, we get the thrill of the achievement. Randomly accomplishing tasks at the 11^th hour, or the chaotic bustling through your to-do list is not fun. There is no reprieve or enjoyment at the end – unless it’s the enjoyment of survival…until the next time, of course.

There are ways to kick the habit of course, and it’s not just in patch or gum form. Get this – it’s genuine, real-life reconditioning of your behavior. I know right…so old-fashioned! It’s not a quick-fix, per se, but it could be. Here are a couple ideas:

• Use tools to help – Apps like Wunderlist keep you on track with what you should be working on. Set reminders, due dates, and subtasks. And of course, enable the notifications; otherwise, it’s only as good as your desire to check. Evernote is a no-brainer in this area as well.
• Block your calendar – This may seem like a huge faux pa, and just wait till your coworkers hear that you’ve blocked out your calendar to “do work” – how dare you! Seriously though. Find that block of time where you are the most productive, and reserve it for yourself. Don’t get distracted during that time, and just hammer through the tasks you need to get done. It will open up your day like you wouldn’t believe.
• Create better email habits – Email can be like that obnoxious friend or family member that only calls when they need to tell you something, and less often for meaningful conversation. Email is essential for work functionality, and isn’t going away anytime soon (although Slack is amazing), but it is an interrupter of the n-th degree! Email pulls you away from that task at hand, and puts you another individual’s timeline. Most email can wait a few hours, and nearly all coworkers should respect the fact that you’re working on other important projects, and you will give theirs the exact same care once you’re finished. Staring at your inbox and replying within mere minutes is ridiculously unproductive. The start-stop-start-stop all day long while you quit your current work to check your email is literally killing your time management.
• Prioritize – This is a uber-intuitive of course, but critical. The top priority tasks should get the best part of your day – period. You should never let these projects linger, as they will only become more dreaded as the deadlines draw closer. Spend that “blocked” time on your calendar on high-priority items that are going to take more time, and save the smaller portions of time between calls and meetings for the menial, easier tasks.
• Just get it done – I’ve always been a fan of direct feedback. This is pretty cut and dry. Sometimes you need to stop explaining and rationalizing why something is taking so long, or how it is difficult to “find the time” to do it. Stop thinking and justifying and just get it done. In most (nearly all) circumstances you will finish and be amazed at what took you so long.

Get out there and make some changes. Don’t let your work eat you alive!