feeling behind on your to-do list? here’s how to get ahead

It can feel like such a lonely thing, getting behind on your to-do list.

Believe me, that’s how everyone feels too.

It can seem like everyone else is making progress, staying consistent, and writing everyday, while you’re finding it hard to just fit in the bare minimum of tasks that keep you afloat in the sea of your commitments.

As your to-do list gets longer and the checks marking your productivity get fewer and farther between, the idea of catching up, let alone getting ahead, can feel daunting and impossible. But it just feels that way. Catching up isn’t impossible, nor does it have to be daunting, and getting ahead can happen faster than you think.

But before I share the strategy I use for when I feel seriously behind on my to-do list, I want to make sure you know what feeling behind doesn’t mean.

You’re Not Failing

When you’re behind, it’s easy to feel like you’re failing, or making a mistake somehow. But that’s not true.

Falling behind on what you need to get doesn’t have to mean that you did anything wrong! It can just mean that you need to get super focused on getting back on track.

We all know what it’s like to be busy. Getting a little behind is natural and normal. It’s not like a sign that means you weren’t as productive as you always thought you were. If it was, I would be thoroughly convinced by now that I am not productive.

So don’t use feeling behind as an excuse to beat yourself up. You don’t need excuses like that. Not to mention, they aren’t productive. And that brings me to the strategy I use to catch up when I’m feeling behind (fun fact: I’m using this strategy as I write this!)

The Ultra Focused Response

• Get super clear on exactly what needs to get done

Don’t worry about getting everything done here, just list the big things, the things that will give you peace of mind when they’re gone

• Break each item into little steps

This means you get to check things off more frequently which builds momentum and makes you feel super good about yourself.

• Set a timer

A timer is like a hand on your shoulder, reminding you to keep going and not get distracted. It’s also fun to see how much you can get done in a certain amount of time, so a timer will help you work faster

• Get super focused

This is the most important part of the whole process! All the previous steps are what set you up for this: focus. When you feel behind, you can easily start to feel overwhelmed and then you feel like you have to go in a million directions to get ahead. Actually, all you have to do is focus on one thing until it’s done. Then one more thing. Then one more. And before you know it, you’ll have the three biggest tasks on your list done.

• Bonus Tip: How to Get Ahead

Once that to-do list is back under control, you have the opportunity to prevent getting behind in the future by getting ahead. This is something I’m having to learn to do more, but the benefits are so irresistible that I’m learning fast!

Some of the ways I get ahead is by batch creating content, batch cooking, preparing for a task I know is coming (this could look like outlining a blog post I know I have to write later in the day), or doing some of tomorrow’s school early.

Getting ahead on tasks isn’t necessary—though if you’re super busy it might be—but I have found that it makes my life so much easier.

So remember, you’re not a failure for getting behind. It happens to everyone and the fastest way to get out of it is to list exactly what needs to be done and then get super focused on doing one task at a time.