1. Do a free jot brain dump.
When you're so stuck in a monotonous routine; it's time to do a serious regroup (while going easy on yourself). Take a piece of paper and a pen, go to a quiet place, and free jot for 10 minutes. Make lists. Mind map. Free associate ideas. Rant. Write down whatever comes to mind to get your juices flowing.
2. Block out distractions and set a timer.
When you feel yourself in a solid block of procrastination around a task and you're letting yourself get carried away by distractions; procure a kitchen timer, set it for 10 minutes, and work until the beep. Then, take a break. If you give yourself an easy deadline (it's only 10 minutes!) and make it a race with the clock, you'll unfreeze your brain and break through your blocks.
3. Master the art of the qualified yes.
Don't be a yes-man or woman by default. Instead of automatically saying yes, qualify it; ask for more information like the deadline or requirements. See if it's something that can be put off till a later date or done by someone more available or better-suited.
4. Book a meeting with yourself.
If your head is spinning with all the stuff you've got to get done and the interruptions keep coming, you need some alone time. Literally, enter the meeting with yourself on your calendar. Take your project list, to-do list, and calendar with you to the room and spend that time deciding what, when, and how you're going to tackle all the stuff in your work life, as if you're a boss meeting with your assistant.
5. Cut someone off.
When you are kept in chatting, yapping and diverting your concentration continuously; don't be rude, of course. A polite but business-like, "Can we get back to the agenda?" or "I hate to cut this short, but I've got an appointment" or "This seems off-topic for this meeting—can we move on?" can save you hours of wasted time at the office.
6. Edit that email you're writing down to less than five sentences.
The shorter your email is, the more likely you are to get a response because email's are not the appropriate place to have extended conversations. Give it a try. If your message has to be longer, pick up the phone and call instead.
7. Decide not to do one task on your to-do list and cross it off.
If you've got a to-do list a mile long with items that have been sitting there for weeks? Chances are there are a few you can cross off right this moment because they're not worth doing after all. If you've assigned yourself busywork that isn't that important, simply opt not to do it—that's the fastest and lowest-effort way to get it off your plate.
8. Don't check email for the first hour of the day.
Instead of opening up your email inbox in the morning thoughtlessly reading email first thing, work on that task you laid out for yourself. Accomplishing something out of the gate sets the tone for the rest of your day.
9. Write down the first thing you have to do tomorrow morning and put it on your keyboard before you leave the office.
Every evening, before you leave the office, write down the single most important task you've got to get done the next day. Leave it on your desk, with any support material you need to work on it, so you can get rolling first thing.
10. Make a lunch or dinner date (to create a deadline).
If you feel like you've got all day to get things done, you're more likely to get sucked into stuff that's not that important. But a deadline will light a fire under your butt and keep your eye on the clock. If you know you've got a spouse at home expecting to see you by 6:30, or a buddy waiting for you at the gym, you're more likely to stay focused, get your stuff done, and get out of your chair on time.
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