You have a mountain of work to do. How can you get it all done?

The age old checklist is a great tool. Just writing the individual tasks down can often calm the nerves as the totality of the list can be less intimidating once it is written down. As tasks get done, it creates a sense of satisfaction and reward as they get crossed off of the list. I use the A, B, C method (credit to Brian Tracy) where tasks are written down, then labeled A B or C. A is highest priority. No other tasks get started until A tasks are complete. B tasks are next after the A's are less urgent. C tasks are "nice to do" tasks that get done when A and B tasks are done and there is free time.

When facing a mountain of work, it's crucial to prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance. Break down the workload into smaller, manageable chunks and create a schedule or to-do list to organize your efforts. Utilize time management techniques like the Pomodoro method to stay focused and maintain productivity. Don't hesitate to delegate tasks if possible, and don't forget to take short breaks to avoid burnout. Stay flexible and be willing to adjust your plan as needed to adapt to changing circumstances. Remember, progress, no matter how small, is still progress. Keep moving forward, one step at a time, and celebrate your achievements along the way.

How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Chunking projects down into smaller tasks and then prioritizing and executing utilizing the list method I mentioned above has worked extremely well for me over the years.

There is often a fear that stems from lack of control which keeps people from delegating. Be sure the ones you enlist on your team are capable of completing the tasks on time and at the level of quality necessary. Communicate often so you can monitor progress but not micromanage. Be sure to praise progress along the way!

Procrastination and distraction are productivity killers. Every morning I try to "eat the frog", which is my ugliest task for the day. I attack it first thing in the morning and get it done. This could be a difficult conversation, challenging analysis, or a slog through data. Getting it done while I am fresh allows me to devote significant energy to it and I feel great once its done. I build in reward systems throughout the day. If I accomplish a task, I get a cup of coffee or a sweet treat. Sounds simple, but we are simple creatures fundamentally. The idea is to imprint in the mind that accomplishing things brings a reward.

I have found that extremity expands capacity (Ed Mylett quote). Sometimes balance goes out the window and you just need to grind it out. In these cases I find myself projecting myself into the future, looking back at these moments, and recalling how good it felt to complete the project. I envision the celebration at the end, I visualize the outcomes I anticipate. This helps me summon the energy necessary to see the project through to completion. Afterwards, my bandwidth seems to permanently expand and similar projects/periods of work seem easy.