Getting Things Done, Even if 30 Projects are Pending
So you’re drawn up your daily checklist and are shocked. I need to do all this!?!
Congratulations, your procrastination, lack of attention to detail, or laziness are coming back to haunt you. Or fate has dealt you a disaster or emergency. Now you despair, wondering how you’ll get everything done.
First things first, realize that it’s time to dig yourself out of the hole. Start working. Yes, you have so much to do. But nothing will change if you continue cursing the day you were born.
Next, with such a full schedule, stop accepting new projects. It makes no sense to add to the load. It’s now time to clear the backlog.
Where do you focus your efforts? Consider which projects you should accomplish first. Is task A due before task B? Will client X give you hell for delays? Can you negotiate an extension with client Y? It will take time to figure this out, but the short-term delay will lead to long-term benefit.
Prepare yourself, for getting out of this bind requires sacrifice. Say goodbye to friends, family, and sleep. At least for the time being.
In short, it’s all about getting your priorities straight. Finish what needs to be finished first, and work your way from there. Don’t stop until everything’s done. Come to think of it, being conscious of what’s really important will always serve you well. In your freelance career and life.
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POSTED IN: Great Advice, Ways to Work Faster
9 opinions for Getting Things Done, Even if 30 Projects are Pending
homebiznotes.com - Are You Overwhelmed By All the “To Do’s” in Your Home Business?
Feb 26, 2007 at 8:07 pm
[...] Rico Mossesgeld, blogger at b5media’s Contract Worker has an interesting post addressing this situation, “Getting Things Done, Even if 30 Projects Are Pending.” Check Rico’s post if you’d like some suggestions on how to “dig yourself out of the hole” and set your priorities. [...]
Contract Worker - Vacationing Worry-Free
Mar 5, 2007 at 4:55 am
[...] In short, the key to enjoying vacations as a freelancer means a willingness to get things done at any cost, and considering the break as part of your plans. The point is to set things up so that you won’t have to worry about any unfinished business as you savor some grilled fish, sip some Mango juice, and live without a care in the world. [...]
Contract Worker - Are You Protecting Your Weekends at All Costs?
Mar 8, 2007 at 3:53 am
[...] It doesn’t matter if you believe in the four day work week or not. What’s important is that every week of your life should have a rest period. Must have a rest period. Perhaps the only valid exception is when you’re scrambling to meet those looming deadlines. But that shouldn’t be regular occurrence in the first place. [...]
Contract Worker - When an Ego Boost is Genuinely Inspirational
Mar 22, 2007 at 1:02 am
[...] bad days, when it doesn’t look like I’ll finish everything before the deadline, it’s so easy to drop everything, travel to a nice beach, and forget about all my [...]
What Makes One Project More Urgent Than the Other
Jun 2, 2007 at 10:57 pm
[...] workers will have to get their priorities straight. Especially if they find themselves with a lot of stuff to do. The question is, how do you determine which projects are more important than others? If you break [...]
The Benefits of Getting Enough Sleep
Jun 11, 2007 at 8:00 am
[...] course, you sometimes have to burn the midnight oil to finish projects. But this doesn’t always happen, and there’s no point in adding [...]
Freelancers Can Take a Break Anytime They Want
Jul 17, 2007 at 8:05 am
[...] anyone making a living, such as freelancers and contract workers, seemingly insurmountable backlogs and never-ending to-do lists are a fact of life. Still, constantly staying on top of everything can [...]
Finish the Hard or Easy Stuff First?
Jul 16, 2008 at 7:14 am
[...] To be clear though, my prioritization procedure is pretty clear. As Shane wrote, do the money-making stuff first. On top of that, I focus on what needs to be done as soon as possible. [...]
Getting Into the Productive Groove: Just How do you do it?
Aug 15, 2008 at 10:32 am
[...] progress has been made towards it. It’s a bit disconcerting to acknowledge that you’ve dug yourself into a productive hole, but luckily it always pushes me to simply [...]
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