Mindset Shift to Tackle the Real Beast of Getting Things Done
(cover image: a man in front of a whiteboard taking on cell phone, the word written in black marketer, productivity that is checked off with a red marker)
Hi Everyone!
Suppose you are like me, who struggles daily to deal with the absolute beast of getting things done. For example, in the last few weeks, I had to learn some new tasks, especially video making, using ScreenPal and Wondershare Fimora software. It became so overwhelming. Instead, I dropped it and focused solely on writing on my website blog posts. I will share why I did that at the end of this post.
There is so much to do and so little time.
I became fully aware of that beast called FEAR that leads to PROCRASNATION! This feeling of being overwhelmed by the never-ending tasks on your to-do list? Do you find yourself procrastinating and struggling to get things done? You're not alone. I, too, struggle with this, so tackling tasks can often feel like it is hard to conquer that beast.
Understanding The Root Cause: Fear and Procrastination
Did you ever put off tasks until the last minute, only to feel overwhelmed and stressed? Be honest with yourself. I shout out an astounding YES. I admit it. It's a struggle. I can vouch that you are not alone in this plight.
The root of this behavior often stems from fear and procrastination - two formidable foes I found out the hard way can hold you and me back from reaching our full potential. Fear of failure or success can be paralyzing.
That is why the procrastination happens. I'm not kidding here.
It's natural human response to want to avoid the discomfort of stepping outside of our comfort zone. The fear and procrastination beast creeps in as a defense mechanism, shielding me and possibly you from facing your fears head-on.
Absolute Beast of Getting Things Done: How Do We Solve This?
1. ParthaB recommended the Pomodoro Technique: He taught us this in many of his WA blog posts. He is deftly skilled at applying this technique. I often wonder how Partha finds all the time to do all that when I feel like my time is running out. It is this technique that he sticks to it.
The technique involves selecting a task and setting a timer for 15-25 minutes. Focus solely on that task until the timer goes off, then take a ten-minute break. Repeat the process until the job is complete. Doing that requires a shift in mindset to concentrate solely on the task and get it done. It's not easy, but the technique does work. Breaking larger tasks into smaller ones can help to reduce overwhelming feelings. By staying focused on the task, fear and procrastination dissipate.
2. Understanding the root cause of that beast: Once that understanding happens, we can change our ways and use the Pomodoro technique. I kept thinking, "Ah, man, that's too hard; I don't know how to do this," I griped about it just like I did when I was a kid learning math. It was my cynical mindset. I set myself up for failure before I even began to learn a new task.
Embracing Discomfort and Challenging Ourselves
Embracing discomfort is like diving into the deep end of a pool – it's daunting at first but exhilarating once you take the plunge. When we challenge ourselves, we push past our limits and discover what we're truly capable of. Stepping out of our comfort zone forces us to grow and adapt, leading to personal development and newfound confidence. Instead of shying away from challenges, embrace them head-on with a mindset geared towards growth.
We must remember that the discomfort is temporary; the rewards of overcoming obstacles are long-lasting. By facing your fears and tackling complex tasks, you pave the way for success and achievement in all areas of your life. I found that to be true but hard to do. The thing is, do it, get it done! Get that beast off of your mind. Use the Pormordo technique, and keep it simple as that.
So, next time you feel hesitant or afraid to step outside your comfort zone, remember that greatness lies beyond those uncomfortable moments. Embrace the discomfort as a sign that you are on the right path toward growth and self-improvement. That is what we need to be reminded of daily when working on productivity.
Final Thoughts
To wrap up, I learned that it is better to conquer that beast by staying focused on one thing. That one thing that stirs up your passion. My passion is writing. Learning how to do YouTube and all these other tasks seems overwhelming. Why? Because it takes me away from my writing.
The more I am away from it, the more I resent "wasting my time" trying to learn how to use software to make videos. I made the videos. But guess what? I kept putting it off to put it on YouTube. I just focused on writing my website blog post first. Get all those articles up then thereafter I can focus on YouTube.
Productivity is a powerful tool for achieving goals. Your Hubs tasks bar helps track progress, mark milestones, and boost your mindset. Start small, challenge yourself, embrace discomfort, and overcome procrastination to tackle any challenges using the Pormordo technique. It works! Believe in yourself and unleash your potential to achieve greatness!
-BrendaMZ
PS: Have you used the Pomodoro Technique to help you conquer the best of fear and procrastination?
Recent Comments
56
Hi Brenda
I can’t deal with the Pomodoro technique.
I am more productive on a flexible time schedule. It feels a lot more comfortable mixing things up throughout the day, and then moving onto something else as things get boring.
Not knowing what I’ll be doing next or for how long makes my day a lot more interesting.
When I’m not playing guitar I always have music on while I work, or watch a movie in a window on top of the Block Editor.
We all do things a little differently. 😎
Rock On! 🥁
Frank 🤘🎸
Another awesome post Brenda. The ego is hardwired to keep us safe, and that keeps us in the present and prevents us from growing. That I know from my psychology background. However from my personal background of watching people for 70 years. The greatest fear of all is fear of death.
However in my humble opinion, Fear of fear itself is the second biggest fear we all face. I like to sit with my fear when it rears its ugly head ( which it does in many guises)
I then take the fear of ................... and say that is the fear sit with it. Then I ask the question, why are you fearful. You will get an answer, but it is often a million miles from the truth and this is very often a story we are telling ourselves.
Keep on asking the why and by about the fifth answer you may be starting to uncover what it is you are frightened of. I still keep asking why until there are no more answers left. This is a process that can take days.
Once you finally get to the root of your fear it is so much easier to deal with because you aren't telling yourself any stories, it is just the authentic you speaking
The Pomodoro works for me. I am fully aware of the psychology of the ego talks. You are right about that. Thanks for the tip on how to sit with the fear. You are right. It is that cynical ego mindset.
Fear is intense, but it can be conquered. Many writers have done that. I know this famous saying, "You have nothing to fear but fear itself." Franklin D Roosevelt wrote that. He was USA 32nd President who served four terms of his presidency during WW 2.
It indeed does take some time to overcome. I feel that Pomodoro is helpful for me. It forces me to focus on the task and get it done. My blog posts on my website are growing. ParthaB taught me four years ago about writing because of that Pomodoro technique. I started small writing for five to ten minutes.
That is the purpose of the Pomodoro technique
It forces me to focus on the task and get it done. My blog posts on my website are growing. ParthaB taught me four years ago about writing because of that Pomodoro technique. I started small writing for five to ten minutes.
Many psychology studies have confirmed that humans dont concentrate well after half an hour without a break.
However, there is as Partha has written a caveat, don't do anything to really distract you from the task, otherwise you can't get back into it.
I love Frankin D and Eleanor. Both two highly motivated individuals. That is what I am trying to say albeit clumsily. Fear of Fear is a great fear.
I started using the Pomodoro technique when it was first published I think in the early eighties but I cant remember exactly when
So many people go through this. Great to hear the technique works well for you. Whatever it takes to get it done is the way to go.
Susan
Hi Susan, yes, you are right about that. A lot of people go through this. I found the Pomodoro technique more effective for me otherwise I will never get things done.
It's all about just doing what you can, when you can Brenda!
Don't sweat things too much my friend and find the all important balance!!
👍😊
Nick, you have an excellent point about that. Balance is not in my vocabulary. LOL Right, the famous saying, "dont sweat the small stuff."
We should never sweat anything my friend, but.... BALANCE should always be in everyone's vocabulary!!!
👍😁
See more comments
Excellent post Brenda, and boy can I relate! I still haven't gotten into doing videos yet, (thanks for the resources, btw) but believe I have good reasons for not doing so yet, (other than just my fears, that is, which aren't good reasons).
I am starting to feel a greater level of confidence in working on my website and adding valuable content on a regular basis. I really slacked off on this when my screen sales were going through the initial stage of introduction and as a result I forgot much of what I'd learned from not using it regularly, and have had to relearn many things. But repetition helps it stick, and I'm seeing positive results on my website stats again.
It truly sounds like we're going through very similar struggles and on similar levels of progression on our respective journeys. My niche really has a need for videos and I have a desire to do it. Part of my problem has been with my devices causing me problems. But those should be a thing of the past, as I'm getting a new, high-performance desktop computer next week, (I'm writing this on my laptop right now) so I'm really excited to have those elements of my procrastination resolved.
Anyway, thanks again Brenda for this great post and for sharing what you're going through. As I read, I couldn't help to relate to your struggles, especially since mine so closely mirror yours!
Best wishes on your ongoing journey!
Kevin
Hi Kevin, that is excellent news that you are getting a new desktop soon. You can hear, speak, and sit in front of a camera and talk, right? Well, I can't do that. I could sit and use ASL in front of the camera. But then there will be no sounds.
People will not understand me. I have to edit the written transcript, add the subtitle captioning, and possibly add the music in the background or use AI voiceover like I did with Eleven Labs. I had to find ways to accommodate these two adversaries. I found a way to do it.
Like Jon Morrow, another blogger at smartblogger dot com, says he's a quad paraplegic; the only thing he has is his voice. He can talk and hear, but he can't type on his computer. He uses a voice dictation software for that. He has reiterated that he found a way to make money online despite being a quad. He depends on caregivers and assistants to help him. He sells his products. I never bought them, but I did like reading his stories.
Unlike Jon (he has severe limitations, he is just is unstoppable) there are some things I can physically do. I can type. I can write. I do have my Harley electric heavy-duty wheelchair, and yes, I depend on others at my Deaf and DeafBlind Assisted Living to help me with my care as I have MS, plus I am Deaf.
I agree that we should not let these "adversaries" be a hindrance. The struggle is real. I am glad to learn I am not the only one who feels this way.
Or should I say my feeling of "lack of confidence" in my abilities to do YouTube? I made the videos, they are so time consuming, taking me several days at the most. I miss out on writing six blog posts because of it. I abandoned it and focused on what I do best: writing on my website blogs like your experience with your website posts. To think that, five years ago, I was uncomfortable doing that. ParthaB encouraged me.
Fear is powerful. The idea of showing my face on camera is not comfortable. But it's ironic; I can enjoy being on Zoom for the services and chat with my Deaf friends and family on video phone and Facetime. That's comfortable because I know them.
What is not comfortable is talking to a camera when there is no live person on the other side. I just did the video without me on the camera, my face off, just voiceover and the captioning. Early in the video, I explained that I am Deaf and use AI voiceover from Eleven Labs. I believe in being transparent.
Eventually, I will have to overcome and learn how to sit and ASL sign to the camera (signing to the wall, pretending there is an audience on the other side). There will be Deaf viewers delighted to watch my video, but not me, urgh!
Not now, I say. Tomorrow, I say the same thing, not now. Do it tomorrow, and I want to do blogging. My website content is thin. Now, my goal is to try to get up to 50 posts. I've been doing three blog posts per day on my website. I need to keep going to arrive at that goal.
The Pomomordo technique is effective for me for writing three posts a day.
Thanks for sharing your experience with me. I appreciate it. 😀
Indeed, your struggles are very real and much more challenging than mine. I admire and commend your efforts. I, too, am trying to get up to at least 50 articles on my website, (I'm not even to 20 yet). But just yesterday Google informed me that my site "hit a record" with 40 clicks in 28 days, so I figure that's good news!
Keep on keeping on, you're doing great!
Yes, I saw your post and commented on it. I haven't checked mine yet. I am staying focused like you in writing more articles.