Recently, I wrote about the importance of routine in getting things accomplished.
I like to have a set time to do certain tasks. Like an athlete getting ready for a game, doing the same things in the same way gets you ready for the work you have to do. If you would like to read about the advantages of a routine, you can read here. http://waylonbailey.com/2014/05/06/the-power-of-routine/
I also believe in the power of small pieces. The other pastors who work with me know that I like to keep things simple, and I like to have only a few things to do. Even today, if you asked what I do as a pastor I could probably give you less than five responsibilities that I have.
Part of the reason for my small number of tasks is that if you have too much to do, you won’t begin the job. It’s easy to get overwhelmed if you have too much to accomplish. I need to think about how little I must do rather than how much.
Here’s what I suggest.
First, take whatever the job is and deliberately cut it into small pieces. I would recommend the more small pieces the better.
For example, I write a blog everyday. It would be really easy to get overwhelmed by the task. What am I going to write next Thursday? By dividing the tasks into small bits, I only have to worry about today’s blog and not the next 365.
Second, focus on the immediate task not the entire task. This is the beauty of small pieces. Do what you have to do everyday and you’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish.
What should you do if your goal is to lose 15 pounds? You can’t lose 15 pounds overnight, but you can possibly lose a pound a week for 15 weeks or three pounds a month for five months or even a pound a month for 15 months.
It’s much easier to lose the weight that way and it will probably stay off longer.
Remember the old adage about how you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.
Discover the power of small pieces and you will be both happier and more productive.
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5 Responses
This is so true! If I think of all the things that need to be done, , I will end up doing nothing because it just seems like too much to accomplish. If cabinets or closets need to be cleaned out, I do better if I take part of it one day and another the next, and the next until I finish. When the job is divided up into smaller segments, it doesn’t seem like such an impossible task.
It certainly works for me!
This made me feel sane! This is exactly how I get things done! Small pieces! I thought it was my own little method and I was a little crazy. But not only does it work, I love getting so much done this way! It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you break things down and prioritize. Then turn the big jobs into small pieces and it’s almost a fun game. Ok, back to work!
That’s a great explanation of how this works. It does seem to make the work easier as well. I think that’s the case because you get so much more reward for having accomplished the tasks.