Getting Things Done Fast

Getting Things Done Fast: Beating The Deadline

You look at your to-do list - and you find there are lots you still have to do. You then look at your watch - and find out there is only so much time left. You begin to feel the pressure, you start to panic and find ways to remedy the situation. You look for means to complete all the pending tasks you still have - while the shadow of doubt lingers around, making you worry some more.

With the limited time you have, you feel hopeless of the situation you are in. You look back to the time you had but were unable to make full use of. You remember the time-wasters you had indulged yourself in and the non-value adding activities you involved yourself with.

And you now look at the only time left for you to finish all you have pending to do - and there is nothing more you can do but make use of what little time there is left. This can be the worst situation you can find yourself in. And no matter how you may really want to accomplish your tasks - the fact still remains that you have ran out of time.

Could there still be something you can do to get out of this bind? Is there still hope for you, with this seemingly difficult situation? Is it actually possible to come out successfully from your case and having completed your pending tasks?

Things To Do - Now!

Well, if you still have enough time in your hands - your 'things to do' can still be categorized according to importance and urgency. Yet you may not have the luxury to do so, when you haven't planned carefully ahead of time - with practically so little time left. Your only option may then only be to schedule all of this ASAP (As Soon As Possible) or worst, you have to do all these things NOW!

This situation should be avoided at all cost - you would not want to have a lot of things to do with all of it demanding you to finish them ASAP! In most cases, you would be left with some tasks undone - and yes, basically heartbroken. After the frustration of not being able to accomplish all your tasks, who can blame you if your heart breaks because of it.

The next time though, you have to make the effort to not be in the same situation again. You should plan carefully so that you will have enough time to work on your tasks at a reasonable rate. In this way you can allocate sufficient time for each task, making sure that each will be done well and in good quality. There is less satisfaction with a completed task that is done haphazardly - it's just a mere step higher to an uncompleted task.

Countdown To Your Deadline Begins - Tips To Getting Things Done Fast

While you are already committed to plan the next time around, you still have these pending tasks with deadlines about to explode right in front of your face. Let us see what we can do with the situation you are in now.

? Prioritize and Organize

Although it may seem hopeless and perhaps you may find that setting priorities on your task will not help a lot with your case now - that may indeed be true, but yet without a guide, you may just end up with a lot of tasks all partially started but not finished.

So it is still best to be able to rate each task according to importance and degree of impact. This is now a case of minimizing effects and losses. You should opt to do first those that when left undone would do a lot of damage.

Prioritizing according to importance will serve as your guide when you carry out your action items. This will at least keep you in track and will let you see which tasks come next. You should stick to the prioritization you have set - this will make it orderly for you.

Organize a plan that will allow you to complete all the pending tasks. If you can, plan in detail. The less time you have, the more detail you should go. With lesser time, you should opt for planning what you have to do by the hour. This will ensure you are using your remaining time well and according to plan.

? Be Disciplined

With a tight schedule, it takes a whole lot of discipline to keep going as per plan. You may find it hard to follow and with human limitations - you may just want to raise the white flag and give up. You may no longer want to do anything of the remaining tasks.

But you should remember that the situation you are in now is your doing. You should thus keep your head up and face it bravely. You should not easily give up and throw the towel. Who knows, you may just end up still standing after all these - with all tasks completed.

Yes, the situation you are in now may indeed be a firefighting activity. Yet that is the situation at hand - and the only way to address this is to pursue an unrelenting effort towards its completion no matter what. Perhaps in the future, you are able to plan effectively so as to prevent a reactive approach towards completing your tasks.

But while this is the situation you have to contend with, be disciplined enough to stick to your plans and don't ever call it a day until you have done all your goals for that day. Never give in to the human weakness of giving in and surrendering without a fight. With discipline and the right attitude, you still stand a chance.

? Commit and Endure

You have set your objectives and have organized a plan that can make you reach your goal of accomplishing all your tasks on time. Making do with what little time you have, will give you less time for rest and recreation.

Well, frankly speaking, you don't have the right yet in having fun. What have you actually accomplished that makes you deserving of the fun you feel is already due you?

You can however make it a motivation - that is you can have fun after you have successfully overcome all these. But while you are still at it, commit yourself towards the completion of these tasks. Do what you have to do - and endure if you have to.

There is no easy way out. You should face this head on and commit to not let it overwhelm you. You can do it if you set your mind to it - make it a battle well-fought at the very least.

? Give that Extra Effort

When the going gets tough, it is only right that you also give it your extra effort. You should not allow yourself to be too overwhelmed by the situation to the point of inaction. Now is the time to give it everything you can and maximize your efforts towards completing the tasks that has not yet been completed.

When you are about to give up, give it a second thought. Perhaps you only have a little more to go and you could have hurdled the obstacles in the path. So while there is still time - do what you can possibly can to make your plan happen.

? Eliminate Time Wasters

While working on a very tight schedule, getting things done fast is key. This is not the time to engage in activities that will not have a positive effect on the accomplishment of your goals. You should only engage in activities that will help alleviate the situation you are in.

You should constantly remind yourself of the current situation you are in. Doing so will keep you away from the time wasters that will prevent you in the achievement of your goals.

During this time, you should avoid talking long with people. Especially if it is not related to your tasks to complete, by all means - avoid such instances. You may just be tempted to converse more than necessary.

Times of recreation and playing should be rescheduled to some other date. Preferably, when you have already practiced time management, you could already allocate time for such. But while our purpose now is to keep you going and get things done quickly to meet your immediate targets - play time should be put off to a later date.

? Focus

When the deadline is very near, you need to focus intensely on your goal. You should not stray away from the plan - but if you do, you should regroup yourself and come back twice as focused.

Without the focus to get you through what you are in now, you may not be able to finish as planned initially. Your determination to finish your tasks should be as strong as your focus in carrying out your plan of action. With sheer determination, you may indeed finish - but the quality of your work may not be as good than with one who had both determination and focus.

Your focus keeps you in the right track - your determination keeps you going. Both are necessary to getting things done - getting the right things done fast that is.

? Delegate as Necessary

There are some tasks that can actually be delegated to another - especially if that other person has the capability to do so. In certain situations, you should not limit yourself to what you alone can do - when it is appropriate, consider other resources and personnel around who can help you.

This will allow you to finish the task faster - and provides you with that needed extra time to work on other important things. Those who will help may not always be fully capable in completing the whole task - as long as there are certain areas she can capably do well, then let her do so. And then you take over after her, and finally finish the work.

? Follow-up

When there are tasks that need coordination with other personnel, then you must be consistent with your follow up so that you will also be within the timeline you have set in completing a task. You should ask courteously and let the other person know that you need it in a particular time - for you to be able to meet the deadline.

? Be Creative

You should use your creativity especially when your deadline is fast approaching. You should be able to quickly assess the situation you are currently in and make the necessary adjustments to meet the deadline.

There are many ways you can approach your situation - and if you are creative enough, you have various options to go about completing your task. It is all about creativity and using it to your advantage. Time management should not strictly be a science - it could be an art if you are imaginative enough.

? Pray

As they say, when all else fails, pray - and when it seems impossible surrender it to the Lord. This would also give you a psychological effect towards the completion of your task. You are more inspired to complete it - even when your body & mind has practically given up.

You are no longer relying on your limited human capabilities, you are now relying on a higher power to get you through it. You still have to continue on though and let God work wonders for you. At times there would be such difficult situations with many tasks having deadlines about to expire - and all you believe to get you through it is a miracle. Who knows, when you do kneel - a miracle might just be on the way.

Giving It All You've Got

When you are running out of time, seemingly hopeless and desperate - you should still hang in there and do all you can to cope up. You still have to do your best and give it all you've got. There is still a chance for you to be able to meet the deadline - at the very least, you will have completed some tasks and in doing so minimize the effects or losses if there would be any.

You should realize however that always hurrying up and beating the deadline by a thin line is not something you should be comfortable doing time after time. Sooner or later you are bound to fail and you increase your chances of not meeting the deadline if you continue on with this.

Time Management - Being Ready The Next Time

The next time, you should plan carefully your tasks at hand - and establish timelines that should be met. Organize your activities and keep away from time wasters. Concentrate on doing things that provide value. Don't engage in activities that will not result positively to what you want to accomplish.

Be ready the next time and you will find the quality of your work improve as well. You will find yourself being more in control of the time you have. You will then have time for some relaxing and recreation. With time management, you will get things done fast - but this time, not merely beating the deadline - but having some more time in your hands to do the things you want to do.