How I Get Things Done in 3 Simple Steps

In a day we have too many things to do in too short a time. We have to prioritize and do what matters the most to us.  Here are the three simple ways that I get things done in a day:

1.       Do it now: The easiest way to get things done is to do it now. It is especially so when there is an interruption in what you are doing. There is a telephone call asking for something, I will do it right away if it takes only a few minutes. Do it now and get over with it and carry on with what you are doing. When I cannot do it immediately, I will

2.       Write it down and do it later: If I don’t have the habit to write things down I may not remember to do it.  When I know it will take a while to get something done, I will do it as soon as I have completed the task at hand. I don’t wish my train of thought to be interrupted and my work disrupted. Things still get done on the same day because it is in writing right in front of me.  What happens when the task is not supposed to be done until a future date, I will

3.       Schedule it: There are many ways to do it. You can record the message in your management diary, electronic diary, your smartphone, or iPad on the day when you are supposed to do it. For personal things, I jot down in my diary the day that I have to take action. If it is relating to my work in the office, I will transfer it to my tickler file. It does not matter if it is to be done next month or next year, it will be executed in due course because I look at the file every day first things in the morning.

How do you get things done effectively? Please share your ideas here.

10 Positive Attitudes to Get Things Done Productively

The key to get things done is to adopt the right mental attitude. When your thinking is right, you will act accordingly and do what is right.

1. Quality: Doing quality work is the main aim and the right attitude to get things done. It is not necessary to be perfect but go for excellence by doing the best you can. Provide value and substance in what you do.

 2. Integrity: Be honest and do what is right. Do not succumb to bribery or threats to do otherwise. You walk tall when your conscience is clear.

3. Be focused: You work with concentration when you like what you do and you enjoy the process of doing it. Develop an interest in what you do.

4. Learning: You may be competent, but you have to do continuous learning to stay up-to-date. To learn new ways of doing things is to be more effective and productive. It is the only way to stay ahead.

5. Innovation: Challenge yourself to do the usual things differently. To change is to seek improvement. It is an ongoing process.

6. Pride: Be confident of yourself and be proud of what you do. Feel good about your talents and expertise.

7. Avoid small staff and distractions: Stay organized and do what is important. Avoiding distractions and ignoring minor issues is an effective way to get things done productively.

8. Enthusiasm: Are you passionate about what you do? Are you interested in your work? Do you wake up in the morning and eager to get things done? You work with your heart and soul when you are enthusiastic about what you do.

 9. Be energetic: To work with energy and zest is to be fit and healthy. Regular exercise is the way to promote energy, alertness, and calm.

10. Create trust and authority: When you work diligently and get the right things done, you will, over time, gain trust and authority from others.

The secret of getting things done is to act! ~ Dante Alighieri

10 Effective and Easy Ways to Remember Getting Things Done

There are many ways to remember getting things done. Here are ten simple ways to get things done without committing to your memory and yet they are effective:


1. Write it down: The most effective way to remember things is to write it down. It is not that you need to look at the note. The fact is that the act of writing it down reinforces your memory. You are more likely to remember to do something even without looking at the note. Make it a habit to write it down.

2. To-do list: Do it in the evening for the following day. The list is prioritized according to the importance of each task. You know which one to do first thing in the morning. It is in your shirt pocket and you can refer to it often.

3. Note pads: A note pad next to your phone is essential to take down instructions and act on it. A note pad in your pocket is to jot down something that you suddenly remember you need to do. The most important thing is to write down wonderful ideas that can occur to you from time to time. Another note pad should be in your car for the same reasons. Don’t think that you can remember. Your memory is very elusive

4. Checklist: It is an easy way to check and see if you have missed something undone by looking at the list which is prepared in advance. Do a checklist before you go for a trip or attending a meeting so that you have all the necessary items.

5. Diary: A simple one-page-per-day diary, especially for one-off items to do in the future, should be kept at home. It does not matter when you need to do, but just write ‘Hospital appointment” on the page say, December 15, even though it is now January.

6. Tickler file: This file is divided into 43 sections consisting of 31 days in a month and 12 months in a year. It is very useful for recurring items to be executed on fixed dates. At the end of each month, say September, you will transfer the documents of October into the current month and slot into their respective dates so that action can be taken as and when an item is due. Every morning you will look at the folder for the day to act on the things to do. As soon as an item is done with you will transfer the document into the October section and ready to be used next year. There is no need to remember anything; you just make it a habit to look at the file every morning to do the necessary. It is a very flexible system because at any time you can add new items or remove items no longer relevant.

7. Outstanding job folder: In the office, keep all outstanding work in a special folder so that you can continue to do it in the following day.

8. The usual place for your things: Keep your keys, glasses, mobile phone at their usual places so that you don’t have to try and remember where you have kept them.

9. Meetings, discussions and seminars: Take note of important points and follow up accordingly. Be organized, effective and efficient.

10. Follow-up: You have given instructions or things to do to other people. Just maintain a list so that you can easily follow up and you are in control.


Use your mind only for creative and innovative thinking and put in writing for all other things.

10 Reasons Why You Don’t Get Things Done

When you don’t get things done your hopes, dreams, ambitions, and happiness will be shattered: Here are the ten reasons that you are unable to achieve what you want in life and what you can do about it:


1. Without a to-do list: It is an important tool that highlights things to be done according to their importance. The list allows you to get things done smoothly and it gives you a sense of urgency to do it. Without it, you will just get busy doing things that come along and you miss the important tasks

2. Not doing the most important thing first: It is counterproductive to do the small or easy tasks when your energy is at your best and do the important but difficult tasks when your enthusiasm ebbs.

3. Procrastinate: When you think of doing it later and allow the work to accumulate and it becomes overwhelming to get things done or even get started. Just take action immediately.

4. No benefits: You don’t find the incentives or satisfaction of getting something done quickly. Boost your self-confidence by being a self-starter and complete a task on time

5. No will power to start: It takes 21 days to form a new habit. It is important to carry on daily in order for the new habit to take root. See the advantages of new habits to stay motivated.

6. Do not take advantage of your natural rhythm: Start work at a time when your enthusiasm and energy are at your peak to do a difficult task. Usually, the morning is the best time.

7. Take too long to think and decide instead of just do it: Don’t look for perfection to get things done. Just do it and make improvements along the way.

8. Low self-esteem: You are not sure of getting success as you have no confidence to carry out a task. The fact is that when you try to avoid or dodge a job it gets formidable, but .when you tackle it head on the problem seems smaller.

9. Trying to do too much: You will notice it will not take too much time to do the most important thing. According to the rule of 80/20, you just work on 20% of the tasks and you will get 80% of the results. It means accomplishing the most important task and ignoring all other minor issues.

10. Too many distractions: There is too much interference to disturb your concentration at work. Turn off your mobile phone and do work at a time and place that you can fully concentrate


Getting things done is to get fulfillment and satisfaction out of life. It is also to spend time effectively.

Getting Things Done (GTD) in 7 Easy and Simple Steps

Are you overwhelmed with work every day? Are you busy every day but don’t seem to achieve what you want in life? Do you know how to get things done productively and effectively? The most important thing is to spend a little bit of time to plan ahead. Here are the 7 simple and easy steps to get things done every day:


1. Advance planning: The best time to do planning is in the evening. Find out the things that you need to do in the following day, personal as well as work-related.

2. Prioritize the list: From the list of the things to be done, identify a few items that are really important and you must do them. You allocate a time frame in which you will be productive to complete the tasks.

3. Do it first thing in the morning: Morning is the best time to do the most important tasks of the day; you are full of energy and your mind is fresh. The most important tasks are most likely to be tough as well, so it is best to tackle first.

4. One task at a time: Be focus on the task at hand to get the job done right. You do it with full concentration as it is stressful to do more than one thing at a time

5. Take a deserving break: Upon completion of a task, be smart to take a short break and enjoy a cup of coffee to clear the clutter in your mind and reward yourself for a job done well. In a way you go slow to get things done more effectively

6. Do less: You may have time to get more things done but please follow Pareto’s Principle about the 80/20 rule; just concentrate your time and energy on 20% of the tasks which produce 80% of the results. It is also to simplify your life, so you don’t do too much to get stressed.

7. Reflection: In the evening you ponder about what you have done for the day. Congratulate yourself because you are a self-starter; you take prompt action to accomplished those things that you have decided to do. In short, there is no procrastination. You will be glad to do the same every day because you feel good about yourself that you are really getting things done. You will plan ahead more effectively by concentrating on the 20% of the right things to do to produce 80% of the output.


Planning ahead is the only way to get the most important things done promptly, smoothly, and achieve the desired results. This is a good habit that will last you a lifetime.

7 Tips to Get Things Done in the Workplace

How do you get things done in the office? Spend a little time to get things organized in the first place is the best way to execute your work successfully.


1. Scope of work: Find out from the outset what you have to do when you have to complete the job. Clarify all outstanding issues before you start work.

2. Plan: Now that you know what needs to be done it is time to organize the task in an orderly manner. Design a time table with the logical sequence of the workflow to complete the project well in advance and not just in time. The reason is to allow extra time to cover in case of unforeseen circumstances. The other thing is to make sure that your tools are all in working order.

3. Creative thinking: While you are working on the project, be resourceful to come with ideas to do the project in better ways. Always think of simple methods to be more efficient and effective.

4. In case of emergency: Be prepared in case your PC or printer or Internet is out of order. Think of your support staff who may be out of action when you needed them. You have to ensure the project is done on time

5. Post-mortem: Upon completion of the project identify and take note of shortfalls. Avoid making the same mistakes in future projects. Celebrate with your staff for a job done well.

6. Day-to-day job: Organize your daily work is just as important. Carry a to-do list with you and work accordingly. Give allowance for interruptions in between to complete your daily tasks as planned.

7. Working smart: Do one task at a time mindfully. Don’t work from one task to another back to back, Take breaks in between them. Enjoy a cup of coffee, look at the scene outside the window. Don’t glue to your monitor all day long, alternate your work to avoid eye fatigue. Avoid stress by working less; just concentrate on a few important tasks for the day.


The most important thing is to find happiness at work. When you enjoy working it is not work anymore.

Getting Things Done Today – 7 Top Tips

I have the habit of cleaning my car every evening. I find that doing it on a daily basis is easier to maintain the paintwork and the interior. There is no stubborn stain because it will not stay for more than 24 hours. It only takes me about 15 minutes and the car is sparkling clean.

What I am trying to drive home a point is that when you can get something done today, don’t postpone it. The reasons are not hard to find:


1. Doing less: You are not overwhelmed by doing your work every day, instead of, say, once a week. There is less to do and things are always up- to-date.

2. While the memory is still fresh: In case you need to clarify your work with some one you get an instant and clear reply because the subject matter is only one day old and the event still can be recalled vividly.

3. When you can do it today: There is no certainty that what will befall in the following day. You may have other urgent and important issues to attend and the thing is left undone or worse still, it is forgotten.

4. There is always another day: This is a bad attitude and the fact that people are always getting thing done like paying dues at the very last day. . The result is a waste of time waiting in a long queue for your turn. It also ruins your day because other things never get done. You will be frustrated.

5. Today is the only day: You cannot do anything about yesterday and you are not sure what is going to happen tomorrow. But one thing is clear you are here and now. You have all the power in the world to get thing done. So, just do it. Go for the jog, say sorry to your friend, get the fused bulb change. Read the book you bought a month ago. Write the appreciation letter and take your children to the bookstore that you have promised long ago.

6. Be happy and enjoy today: Dale Carnegie says” One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today.” Today is the only day to be happy, not yesterday or tomorrow. Be happy at work and at home. Enjoy your meals and be delighted to be with you family.

7. Today for tomorrow: According to William Osler,” The future is today.” It echoes well with. “The future starts today, not tomorrow” as mentions by Pope John Paul II. Today is the most important day in your life.

When you live fully today it will be the yesterday that you cherish tomorrow.