Bust The Busy Work and The BSOs (Bright Shiny Objects) By Sheila Hawkins

There’s a big difference between being busy and being productive. Every day people are busy with irrelevant things. Things that don’t directly line up with their big picture. Sometimes the busy work comes into play because you’d rather procrastinate than do the task at hand. The things that keep you busy and unproductive are the unnecessary meetings and the irrelevant tasks. They keep you from the things that you really should be giving your time to.

Then there are those time sucking BSOs (Bright shiny objects) that are notorious for leading you astray every day, all day. You know how it is…you’re working on something and then you get a thought about something else that needs to be done, or an awesome idea that you just have to bring to life and you take that detour. You follow the thought or that idea and before you know it an hour or more has gone by and you haven’t done a thing when it comes to the task you originally started with.

How do you eliminate the busy work and the BSOs?

1. For starters, eliminate the busy work by getting focused on your priorities. Let go of the rest by delegating it or deleting it altogether.
2. The key here is to move away from the things that don’t matter by creating a personalized productivity system that will get you through your days.
3. Create new habits like regular planning that will help you move away from putting out fires and constantly dealing with crises. I mean, who wants to put up with that?

If you’re guilty of letting those BSOs lead you in an entirely different direction, grab a note book or pad of paper that you can keep on your desk or work table. Make sure it’s portable so it can go with you on those days you work from your local coffee shop. The next time a BSO strikes, resist chasing it down and jot it down instead. Take a quick moment to write down the thoughts you’re having or the other things that come to mind that have to be done. Do the same with the ideas that come to you which should only take you a quick minute or two. Then cross of the items you’ve transferred and get back to what you were doing.

At the end of each day, or at least a few times a week go to your notes and pull the additional to-do items from your notes and into a fitting spot in your calendar or to-do list. Take those great ideas and add blocks of time to work on them and bring them to life. Each time you come back to your notebook you’ll be able to tell where to start so you won’t lose anything and you’ll maintain your focus which will help you get things done.

Contact Info:

Sheila Hawkins

Personal Productivity Alchemist

Third Eye Group, Inc. info@thirdeyegroup.net 313.475.0212 www.thirdeyegroup.net

Check this article out on HOW TO STOP BEING BUSY.