Laziness and a sudden drop in enthusiasm make our tasks neglected and keeps pilling up.
Having so many tasks to do can be overwhelming and stressful. Why is that? quoted from Kompas, According to Sharon Melnick, PhD, lecturer at Harvard Medical School, this is because the part of your brain that has the capacity to solve problems is only able to carry out seven processes at the same time.
When you keep thinking that you have more than that number of tasks to do, your thoughts and sources of attention will be diverted from the more emotional “problem-solving” part of the brain.
This part of the brain puts you in an alert position, allowing you to take things personally, obsessing over situations that make you upset or angry. The brain constricts your ability to think of effective solutions and keeps you thinking about solutions that don’t work out.
The biggest challenge actually comes from yourself. The following 4 tips may be able to help you to improve yourself to be more motivated and enthusiastic about doing your assignments!
Find the ‘Why’
One of the causes of piling up tasks that make us not in the mood to just glance at it is that we make too many excuses for procrastinating on doing it.
For example, it will take a lot of time to organize it, not understand how to do it, confusion about where to start, too busy with other work, too lazy, and other reasons.
It is important to recognize the reasons why we procrastinate so that we can find a solution. To much time needed to organize the task cannot be used as an excuse to work on it later. Because new tasks will definitely come to you. Likewise, the reason for not understanding what to do, you can ask a friend or teacher directly instead of just waiting quietly.
Try “Little by Little Trick”
Don’t see all the work as a collection of tasks to be completed, because that is simply not possible. If you’re working on a project, create compartments, and divide the project into small groups. No need to stress about the end result; You only feel the need to worry about the little things that you have to deal with right now.
Write down everything that “running” in your head
So you don’t have to store it in short-term memory. From the list of tasks, select a few things that you consider a priority, then rearrange the list into things that must be done now, later, and so on. Put reminder notes on your schedule, so you don’t do things that aren’t a priority for the day. Remember, once you complete the seven tasks, you are no longer using your “problem-solving” brain. This means that you are no longer acting emotionally and putting yourself in a state of stress.
Follow the “five-minute” rule.
That means don’t put off doing something that can be done in five minutes. For example, replying to an e-mail asking you to confirm attendance at a meeting. You know better which jobs can be completed in a short time right? Do it as soon as you remember.
Make a schedule for yourself.
Do your daily tasks at certain times, and additional tasks from your boss or others who need your help, at other times. At this stage you do have to be a little firm with other “parties” who want to take advantage of your power, saying that you have to do your main task first.
Remember your motivation
Motivation plays a very big role for someone to move and do something. For example, when we are hungry, we will look for food. Sounds trivial indeed, but hunger without realizing it is also one of the motivations for us to move.
Remember your initial motivation when you entered school or college. One of them would want to make loved ones happy, upgrade themselves to have the knowledge, and other motivations. Remember that motivation, and make it a tool or mover like when we are hungry.
Delegate
Maybe you have a subordinate that you don’t think is experienced enough, so you’re worried that he’ll mess up the job. Trust him to do it, and do a later evaluation of his abilities. He may not understand the tasks yet, but if you keep delaying delegating tasks, you will never be helped by him.
Don’t talk about work at lunch, or when you get home. Let the busyness that you will face tomorrow, be something to think about tomorrow. Enjoy your relaxing time with your husband or children at home to release your stress.
Convince yourself
Believe that you will be able to complete the work one by one. An open mind will also allow you to carry out tasks in a calm and controlled manner.
Consequences of procrastination
Think about the consequences if we keep procrastinating. What are the consequences? Stress. We will feel stressed because the existing tasks have not been done, there have been new tasks that can be more difficult and more complicated than before.
Worst case scenario, the deadline given for completion
Action
now it’s time to take action. Even though we have thought about and agreed to the three points above, if we don’t move, all will be in vain.
The most important thing to do is move. do it. If you don’t understand, ask. If you are confused about where to start, don’t make the reason the instructions given are unclear, try to find out.
Tasks that are completed prematurely will have an impact on us, a kind of a relief because we have succeeded. No one else is enjoying the results.
