Sunday 19 April 2015

6 Simple Steps To Get Shit Done

6 Simple Steps To Get Shit Done
Unless I grow an extra set of arms or someone invents the cloning machine I am pretty much only getting work done at my own pace - which is significantly slow (ATM). As my final deadline is approaching I find myself at the worst state of mind with keeping my motivation up to top notch. Sometimes even thinking about the lack of time I have left can be very overwhelming to me that I end up wasting time being anxious and have a brain flooded with worry/nerves. Recently I have been trying out new ways to keep motivated which believe it or not have really made a difference so I've decided to share them with you all!

1. Break, Break And Then Maybe Break Again
The number of times I get so worked up over having an endless list of things to do that I think a break will make me waste time. Breaks are great ways to keep our brains from feeling stressed, tired or even bored of doing the same thing. If you read my Dissertation Advice The Tutors Don't tell you post (here) you will see I even mentioned take plenty of breaks away from the keyboard and the same applies to anything. If you spend a lot of your time in front of a screen doing work maybe consider stepping outside for a break with a cuppa or even go in the bath or a walk, do something refreshing that gets you out of your workspace. You will have a much more refreshed, clear mindset when you come back to work.

2. Spring Clean Your Work Space
I do a lot of my work at home because it takes an hour and a half just to get to uni, therefore, it is easier on my days off to just work here, therefore my desk area has got to be clean and tidy. As soon as spring arrived I gave my bedroom a spring cleaning where I started de-cluttering my shelves, added some daffodils on my desk, added some motivational postcards to my wall and changed up areas. This was so refreshing to do and definitely made my workspace feel more spacious as well as tidy. I think it is really important to keep your work area spacious and change it up every now and then to keep your brain refreshed and avoid the boredom of things.

3. Keep Things Short & Sweet
I constantly write countless amounts of lists and I think it is important to maybe have 2 or 3 notebooks to keep yourself organised. One notebook could be for uni projects or school stuff, one could be blogging ideas and others could be general things like shopping lists, things to remember etc. I like to keep everything spacious in my mind, therefore, jotting down different categories of things to do in one notebook can become messy and unorganised which resorts to me not wanting to complete them all. I also think it is important to keep your lists short and sweet, don't pile yourself massive things to do I actually write daily lists which for example could look like this: make hair appointment, reply to emails, text driving instructor, blog my favourites, finish my logo design for uni, try Laura Mercier blusher...something like this is what my daily to-do lists would be. Nothing overly wordy or a countless amount of things to get done. Keep it short and sweet or your brain may explode!

4. Get a Routine (and change it every now and then!)
Having a routine is a good way to get motivated and organised with what needs to be done whether that's going to sleep earlier, waking up earlier or even just setting yourself times of the day when to do whatever needs to be done. This changes for me quite frequently which is why I've included the 'and change it every now and then' because I do think changing a routine up every few weeks can keep your brain focused and not bored - just think of it like a workout routine eventually things start to change to keep it interesting. Some days I go to bed earlier, some days I wake up earlier, some days I work during the day and some at night and this changes all the time which stops me stressing out or thinking 'ugh got to get this done this afternoon'. Keep things from becoming mundane.

5. Turn Off, Delete, Disconnect
I can most definitely admit that I find it hard to simply work on something and not wonder onto Twitter or Instagram. Recently when I am trying to work on something important I will turn my phone off or leave it out of reach. I think having Wi-Fi can sometimes be a bit enticing to focus on work when social media is only a click away. If you don't need to use Wi-Fi when working then maybe it would be worth turning it off. If like me you are constantly on your phone maybe turn it off, disconnect from Wi-Fi or even remove the app until you are finished working. It sounds preposterous but if you have a deadline emerging it may be worth savouring those 10 Instagram minutes on your project.

6. Give a Damn
If you have things that need to get done that you don't really care about then it's very likely that you will put off doing it or put a small percent of effort into it. Actually give a damn about what it is that you need to do and think about why you need to do it. I know at times I sometimes get that 'I don't care' attitude over the simplest of things, we all do because we can't love everything that needs done. When I do have this attitude I reassure myself why I am doing it and what will I achieve from this and I think that is a good mind set to have to stay positive.

What are your simple steps to get shit done??
SHARE:

52 comments

  1. Haha I love the title of this post! All really good points, it's so important to take breaks I think, and have a tidy work space :) xx
    www.surelychar.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Just thought to get right to the point haha. Yeah I constantly take breaks when I tackle any project they always refresh my brain! xx

      Delete
  2. Love this! So useful thankyou!
    xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. you're welcome! glad you found it useful!

      K ♥

      Delete
  3. When I was at uni I would use a google chrome extension that would enable me to block facebook, youtube and twitter for whatever period of time I wanted. I found that really took away the temptation! x

    Lottie-xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah that is a good tip to have! Technology always helps us but can always distract us

      K ♥

      Delete
  4. All of this especially the turning of tech! I keep saying that I'm going to chill and get work done, but then I have my phone next to me and I keep looking at it!

    Prompts by Dee

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do this as well technology is very distracting!

      K ♥

      Delete
  5. There's so many amazing tips here, I definitely think I need to get a routine and stick to it!
    Jodie xo // JodieLoue

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm always spend more time making lists than actually getting work done. You have some great tips!

    Abi xo | Wanderlust Daydreaming

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love writing lists I get a bit carried away with them!

      K ♥

      Delete
  7. Really great tips - totally agree with making your workspace a nice space to study - it makes it much more motivating! x
    http://cocoamay.blogspot.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know I think if it's messy my mind would be focusing elsewhere and it would be distracting too!

      K ♥

      Delete
  8. great tips, i love that you' are very honest. your blog design is super cute
    x,Abril
    The Color Palette

    ReplyDelete
  9. Such great tips! I've started turning my phone onto Do Not Disturb when I'm trying to get things done because otherwise I'm so easily distracted by social media..
    Madeleine, The Daily Mark

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. it is very distracting isn't it! I was at one stage going on Instagram every 15/20 minutes because I couldn't focus on work

      K ♥

      Delete
  10. Great tips! I can't do anything without my notebooks and diary!

    Laura | laurakathren.blogspot.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
  11. Love this! Putting my phone down is vital for me to get shit done otherwise I just spend my time flicking through Instagram wishing I was Kylie Jenner :') I think you just need to have the right mentality too - if you think you won't get it done, you probably won't.

    Beth x

    Bethany Georgina

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. haha it is very distracting especially Instagram! Yeah definitely if you care about it enough you will get it done, always think about the finish

      K ♥

      Delete
  12. Great post! I'm especially an advocate of number 3 - if you write an impossibly huge list it can be so demotivating when you haven't achieved it all by the end of the day!

    Sinéad xo ♥ fabuleuse, toujours ♥

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know I sometimes go days of not being able to tick anything off my list because there's so much to do!

      K ♥

      Delete
  13. Great tips! I've recently removed the Bloglovin app from my phone and productivity has increased immensely! x

    NINEGRANDSTUDENT: A Student Lifestyle Blog

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aw well done glad it helped, Instagram or Twitter is my downfall on my phone!

      K ♥

      Delete
  14. Great post, really like the idea of the tips! Will definitely be taking some on board myself!

    Jodie xo

    www.cheshirelanelove.blogspot.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
  15. This is such a useful post! Great tips!

    Serena / www.ramblingsofanotherunistudent.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Definitely guilty of not spring cleaning! Gonna get to it now.

    eastofsiam.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Great tips! This is exactly what i need right now!

    Clare | www.clare-without-an-i.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. glad you found it useful, I know I think it was the perfect time to blog about it with everyone having exams and stuff to do

      K ♥

      Delete
  18. really enjoyed this!

    www.wonderlandclothing.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. I really enjoyed this post, such great tips!

    - Darcy Victoria
    xox

    ReplyDelete
  20. Loved this post, Katie. Such great tips! I follow most of these myself and find that in days that I don't, my productivity definitely takes a dip into the negative levels of getting shit done. I especially love the last time. Caring about stuff is actually, probably, the most important way to get things done for me.

    little miss fii || Fii x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Fii glad you enjoyed it! Yeah I completely agree I always think about what am I getting out of this as sometimes in a degree you tend to forget!

      K ♥

      Delete
  21. This is really fab! And definitely what I needed to read - currently on a serious procrastination hype. Also, I totally agree with having a tidy space to work in. Nothing stresses me out than a messy room whilst trying to work! Glad I came across your blog - it's so pretty :))

    http://gbeautyblog.blogspot.fr/?m=1

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad you found it useful hope it helped! Oh my goodness it is the worst isn't it?! It drives me crazy when my room gets turned into a tip. Thanks lovely :)

      K ♥

      Delete
  22. I've recently just started to wake up earlier in the morning which allows me to have a proper breakfast, clean up my space a bit and to go on the laptop for a couple of minutes. Honestly, this has made me a happier person and I get excited to do things and to get work done!

    www.essibell.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Waking up early is such a good way to get productive, I was thinking about writing a post on how to get productive in the mornings actually - good thinking!

      K ♥

      Delete
  23. Really great points! I can definitely relate to the motivating work space. Soo important!

    www.lacylatest.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Swapping and changing bits on my desk keeps it looking up to date I found that when I kept it the same I got bored, its a tiny thing but makes a difference

      K ♥

      Delete
  24. Good tips. 5 is probably the most important one, but it's also the one we struggle with most. It's so tempting to just go like "5 minutes on twitter, I promise," but all of a sudden you're stuck!

    xx Izzy | Qthee

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah I've been in that situation plenty of times, I think it should of been my number 1 tip!

      K ♥

      Delete
  25. This is fab! I'm going to do this so shit can be done lol. Thanks.
    I find having a routine highly beneficial, definitely.

    Sarah x

    ReplyDelete

Instagram

Blogger templates by pipdig