Prioritize the rough stuff
We live in a world where instant gratification has pretty much taken over everyday existence. Gone are the days of being forced to wait through commercial breaks to dive back into a really good show or ordering from a Fingerhut catalog and receiving your items weeks later.
When you think of knocking items off of your to-do list, I’m sure it’s so easy to gravitate towards the low-hanging fruit of a self-perceived “easy win.” Here’s the thing:
Your emphasis on ease is in the wrong place.
Tasks that are quick to complete might feel good in the moment, but are they really making your life that much easier? Here’s my 3 favorite ways to tackle the stickier roadblocks that might come up in my work day (and they’re so much simpler than what you’d probably expect).
Let ChatGPT do the heavy lifting when you’ve hit a wall. Struggling to respond to that one inquiry on your desk that’s crossing the line? Not sure of how to actually get started on a new project on your plate? Generate some ideas for next steps by utilizing an AI tool as a thought partner to unstick yourself in record time.
Understand that “done” is better than perfection when it comes to getting started. Realistically, no one should be expecting a perfect product from you in a first draft. For what I do, feedback is critical for me to learn more about a client’s tones in writing and how to best mimic for more seamless drafting in the future. If you’re letting perfection rule your days so much that you’re putting off daunting tasks until the very last minute, you’re robbing yourself of the chance to continue developing your skills.
Walk away, whether you’re stuck or feeling extra confident. Separation from your work is HIGHLY necessary. When I find myself struggling to find my flow after I’ve leaned into the other tips above, I leave my desk and do something totally unrelated for a while. If it’s not happening in front of my screen I won’t punish myself by staying there. Usually, that’s enough to help me reset and approach with fresh eyes. I know that if I start to wallow in being unsure, my confidence all but evaporates. Conversely, when I know I’m absolutely blowing a tricky project out of the water and that my client is happy I’ll STILL walk away for a bit. I have a tendency to overwork myself when I’m feeling proud of the work I’m doing, which has been detrimental to my mental health every single time. I routinely would skip the part where you’re supposed to take a beat and pat yourself on the back because I wanted to continue chasing that feeling of praise from others.
