Along with the fact that I’m lucky in many ways, some of how I get things done comes from effort, and the trial and error of finding techniques that work for me. I’ve put a lot of work into improving in this area, especially in recent years. Here are seven practices that have helped me.

Knowing My Counterproductive Tendencies

I’ve been able to identify key things I struggle with again and again. Knowing about them made it easier to work out when I was getting in my own way, and to make different choices (well, at least some of the time).

It’s easy for me to get stuck in my feelings. I’m not someone who can set emotions aside to produce work; I’ve learned instead to allow for them without giving them complete control. Understanding this helps me to recognize when I’m overly invested in an emotion and question it. As it turns out, feelings aren’t facts or accurate predictors, and they don’t need to dictate my behavior.

Choosing My Trade-Offs

For most of us, our needs (such as food and housing, say) dictate how we spend our time, but some of it is down to choices. Time and energy are finite, so I’m mindful of what I spend them on.

Just as I’m more likely to spend money on travel than clothes, I spend time on writing that some people might spend on other activities. So, I’ve looked for ways to create that time. I used to freelance (on top of my job) and have taken a break this year to focus on writing projects, which means I’ve had less income but made more creative progress.

Scheduling What I Prioritize

When I decided to trade freelance time for writing time, I set a weekly schedule and put it on my calendar. It’s amazing how much time life admin takes when you don’t have the things you want to do on the calendar – and how easy it is never to do the things you want to do. However, now that I have my writing hours, other tasks are not allowed to intrude on them.

Not Doing Things I Don’t Want OR Need to Do

Am I perfect at this one? Ha – no. But when I started tracking my writing time, I was surprised at how many things I was doing that I didn’t really want to do and I didn’t need to do, either. Some of these were time-wasters and procrastination. Others were activities I thought I should be doing, or things I thought would be fun, and which I did for a while, then stopped (because they weren’t that fun), and felt guilty about.

More often, now, I ask myself if I want or need to do things before starting. I still feel guilty sometimes about things I’m not doing, but I can recognize that they aren’t priorities. Conversely, I plan things I enjoy.

Cultivating Self-Care Habits

Self-care – what a buzzword! Are we talking bubble baths? Not necessarily. For me, self-care involves tending to basic needs. I’ve put time and work into creating habits that take care of these needs: weekly cleaning, batch cooking, exercise, regular sleep (exercise helps a lot with this), and social activities.

I focused on creating habits one at a time over long periods, rather than overwhelming myself by attempting a bunch of things at once. Again, I’m imperfect and flexible on these things, but it helps to have built up some baseline habits that support my wellbeing.

Also important: pacing myself and watching my mental health. If I’m low on energy, I scale back my schedule and prioritize rest. It’s more productive in the long run.

Setting a Deadline Before the Real Deadline

I use this one a lot in my professional life, when I manage writing contributions from others. I make sure that the deadline I give them allows for a lot of lead time, and I give reminders. I leave room in the schedule for emergencies, because they do arise. If something is late, I’ve created a window for it to move into production by the time it’s needed.

I do the same for myself, doing what I can to get projects over the line before necessary. This has been a huge improvement for someone who used to finish at the last minute (and sometimes not do the thing at all).

Rewarding Myself

This is the fun one! When I do well at a significant task or get something big done, I take time to appreciate the effort and reward myself for it. Knowing that there’s a light (or maybe a slice of cake) at the end of the tunnel motivates me to finish projects that may feel like a slog when I’m doing them.

I find it difficult to feel good about putting effort into things unless they result in real world success. Often, projects don’t, but they certainly won’t get results if I don’t put in the effort in the first place.

Rewards help because they’re tangible and within my control. They make it easier to value and feel positive about my hard work, whatever the result. Rewards vary, since they have to feel rewarding for me at the time. Earlier this year, I bought a cookbook. Recently, I took a day to do nothing (on purpose).

So, for those who are curious, these are my personal best practices for getting things done. They may or may not work for your circumstances, brain wiring and priorities. If some of this is helpful to someone else, then it will be worth the time I spent writing this!

What’s Next?

If you want to find out more about getting things done, we’ve got plenty of resources to help. Try our quiz, How Productive Are You?, for a start. Need a kick-start? How about our Quick and Easy Self-Motivation Hacks infographic? And if you’d benefit from the nitty-gritty of prioritizing your work, check out our article on Prioritization.

Tip of the Week

Overcoming Fear of Failure

By Simon Bell, Mindtools Writer and Editor

Fear of failure can hold you back from pursuing new opportunities. But with the right strategies, you can overcome it. Try following these three steps.

1. Analyze potential outcomes, including the worst-case scenario. Often, understanding the unknown reduces fear – you may realize the risks aren’t as daunting as they seem.
2. Next, practice positive thinking. Boost your confidence and self-esteem with positive affirmations or other exercises that reinforce a can-do mindset.
3. Finally, prepare a contingency plan. Knowing you have a Plan B helps to mitigate risks and gives you the confidence to take that first step.

By addressing fear head-on and planning proactively, you can push past hesitation and embrace growth opportunities with greater assurance. Encourage your team to adopt these strategies for tackling challenges and unlocking their full potential.

Pain Points Podcast

When you're feeling broken, how do you start rebuilding yourself and your career?

Sharon Aneja likens that process to making a mosaic out of shattered pieces. She says the finished result can be strong and beautiful – if you have the right skills, plus the support you need. And she speaks from experience, having gone through deep personal difficulty, then undergone a dramatic regeneration process herself.

Hear Sharon's powerful story, and her advice about recovery and renewal, on this week's Pain Points podcast.

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News Roundup

This Week's Global Workplace Insights

Sweet Parity? Not Yet...

Is gender parity in the workplace an illusion? A recent study by Gallup reveals that 51 percent of U.S. working women surveyed report frequent stress, significantly higher than the 39 percent of men who do. Additionally, 42 percent of women say their jobs have negatively affected their mental health in the past six months.

Parenting responsibilities affect women’s careers disproportionately: 64 percent of working mothers act as primary responders to childcare needs, compared to 22 percent of fathers. Misaligned work arrangements also make the problem worse: 54 percent of women prefer blended work styles, but 75 percent report rigid schedules, increasing burnout and job dissatisfaction.

So what’s the solution? Well, organizations can do more. Flexible policies equip managers to provide meaningful support, and foster a culture of wellbeing. It’s pretty clear: women supported in balancing work and personal responsibilities are more engaged and less likely to seek new jobs. That can only benefit employees and employers.

It’s a competitive labor market out there. So for managers, understanding these dynamics is key to attracting, retaining and empowering top talent.

Keeping Hold of the Older

A new OECD report highlights the growing importance of career mobility for the U.K.’s aging workforce, as demographic shifts and technological advancements reshape the labor market. One in four people are expected to be over 65 by 2050, so businesses face increasing pressure to adapt to an older, more experienced workforce while addressing persistent labor shortages.

The report calls for better integration of career guidance, employment services, and skills training to support mid-to-late career workers. It also identifies flexible lifelong learning programs as critical in addressing the evolving demands of green and digital transitions.

What does it mean for employers? The report recommends adopting age-inclusive policies, offering flexible work options, and prioritizing health and wellbeing to enhance retention and productivity. It also highlights improved job quality – fair pay, supportive workplaces, and effective health interventions – as a key factor in workforce longevity.

And managers? Well, they’re urged to consider proactive measures to better support older employees, ensuring businesses stay competitive in a changing landscape.

See you next week for more member-exclusive content and insight from the Mindtools team!