HOW TO GET SHIZZ DONE

It's September and that means a lot of you are going back to school/university, and you need to get back into the swing of actually doing something productive with your day (and when I say something productive, I don't mean watching every episode in series 2 of Orange Is the New Black in one sitting). Here are a few tips on how to get things done and avoid any procrastination.

Make Lists

I'm slightly OCD and so writing lists is second nature to me. If I'm packing a bag: make a list, if I want some new clothes: make a list, if I need to do anything: make a list. If you write things down, it gets everything out of your head and written clearly on paper. It's visually easier to see what you have to do and it gets you in a better frame of mind to get things done. Also, more often than not, when you write everything down, you'll realise that you don't have as much to do as you thought.

Allow Times

By allowing times for each task, it gives you a good idea of how long your list is going to take and makes it easier to see the light at the end of the tuunnel. It also means that if you have big tasks to do, you don't end up spending all day on them and completely boring yourself to death.

Use the List
Actually use the list, physically tick things of and cross things out - it's one of the best feeling in the world and you can watch yourself move closer to your last task.

Follow the 2 Minute Rule
I'm not sure where I first heard this but it is the best advice for my fellow procrastinators out there. The 2 Minute Rule - if a task takes 2 minutes or less, do it straight away, don't even add it to your list, do it right now and you'll be suprised at how much you get done.

Don't Reward 
I've just finished reading Daniel H. Pink's book called Drive - basically the jist is that planned/promised rewards don't work, they crush our creativity and decrease productivity. Don't promise yourself a chocolate after every task but instead just give yourself a time to stop working and a chance to relax - watch TV, read a book.

Good luck with going back to school/university, make this year your most productive year of your life!