If you find yourself saying, “I wish I could get more done,” stop for a minute and think about exactly what it is you want to get done.

• Do you want to finish projects you’ve already started?
• Do you wish you were doing more interesting stuff?
• Do you have big ideas and aren’t sure how to take the first step?
• Or are you just feeling like you’re wasting time?

Focusing on exactly what it is you’d like to accomplish is the first step to being more productive because now you’re heading in a direction. It doesn’t matter what direction – the important thing is that you’re moving. You have set your intent – you want to get something done.

Now take the first babysteps to get ONE big project done.

• Set a deadline. Big projects can take a while, so give yourself daily or weekly deadlines. Believe the deadlines you set. Be strict. If you need an incentive, tell someone what you are doing and when you intend to finish it. So many of our soulful projects feel like secrets. Saying what you’re doing out loud to someone you trust puts a commitment spell on the work and makes the new work seem more real.
• Schedule time on a daily, weekly or monthly basis to get the project done. Carve out a specific time each day, even if its 15 minutes, to start forming this new habit. Be aggressive with your schedule – and be realistic. You aren’t going to write a novel in a month. And at the same time, if you only plan to write an hour a week, it’s going to take you awhile to finish!
• Be choosy about what you say “yes” to. Your new project needs time. What can you give up from your daily habits to give yourself the time you need to get this work done?
• Don’t multi-task. If you schedule an hour of work, don’t open email. Don’t surf the web. Don’t take phone calls. This work is important to you so prioritize the task at hand. Focus is key to finding the peace of organizational zen.
• Document your progress. Keep track, ideally in a planner, of what you do on this project each day. You’re making progress and it’s important to see that.
• Bribe yourself with whatever it takes to keep you going. How about giving yourself a bit of chocolate each time you meet a deadline? Or say that after 60-90 minutes of work, you get to go outside for a quick walk? What’s fun, easy, and appealing that will help you stick to this new habit?
• Get healthy. If you aren’t healthy, asking yourself to start a new project is tough. Meditation, eating good food, and getting enough sleep are key. If you’re struggling with any of these, you may need to put “get healthy” first over any other projects you want to get done!

There’s nothing like a big project to help you get organized, especially one that comes right from your heart. Sending you the peace and love of an organized life.