Make Starting Effortless: Get Moving on What Matters!

Written By Ethan Dodd

Here is the checklist I go through that always makes the work happen with seemingly no effort!

Results: Moving the needle on priorities + flow state = euphoric enthusiasm!

  1. Clean Space!

    1. Nothing should be in a 10’ radius of you, unless it helps you complete the task ahead

      1. Put the phone in your car.

  2. Supplies!

    1. Water, food, and extra supplies will ensure that your focus isn’t broken

    2. Grab a blue pen and a red pen. Blue is for planning, red is for what actually happens, so that you improve over time when reflecting.

    3. Grab a stack of post-it notes or a legal pad to jot down any thought you have when working that can be scheduled later.

    4. Noise cancelling headphones or ear plugs.

  3. Prioritized To-do list

    1. Step 1: Mind Dump. Take a piece of paper and create a list of To-do list items or unmet needs that are stored in your head. (These thoughts will try to distract you if you don’t get them out)

      1. Advanced tip: Most people work 40 hours in a week, for that reason I like to make two lists here: one for personal time off the job and one for work on the job since those two shouldn’t mix. Then, proceed with the steps for the list that pertains to you right now.

    2. Step 2: Give each item in the mind dump a letter list using the ABC Method

      1. A - High Impact + High Urgency

      2. B - High Impact + Low Urgency

      3. C - Low Impact + High Urgency

      4. D - Low Impact + Low Urgency

    3. Step 3: Prioritize the tasks within each category with a number to signify the order of importance

      Example for work on the job:

      A1: Draft plat for client who’s picking it up tomorrow

      A2: Prep the field package for crew for tomorrow

      A3: Schedule new field work and update Asana

      B1: Perform research for next weeks project

      B2: Order a healthy lunch

      C1: Respond to emails

      D1: Catch up with co-worker

  4. Rewrite the list with no more than 10 To-do items (for now), and star the first 3!

  5. Time block

    1. Take a piece of ruled paper and for each line and write the hours of the day in 30 minute increments. 7am-7pm

    2. Block out time that is spoken for: meetings, deadlines, lunch, and leaving the office

    3. Fill the remaining time with your prioritized list!

      1. You might have to have a meeting if something important isn’t going to get done!

Done. 10x productivity! Enjoy!

Additional Thoughts,

This might seem like a lot, but it makes SENSE and is a small price to pay. Procrastination happens when there isn’t clarity on what matters and what to do about it. These steps fix that, thus energize you!

If you try this and it doesn’t click.

2 things could be happening:

#1 You aren’t present. Something is drawing you out of the moment. That’s okay. That awareness is you coming back to the moment. Know it’s your ego’s job is to do fill the moment with something; It’s constant. Maybe you need rest, hydration, or nourishment. Use your intuition.

At some point you just need to get going. Do one thing at a time at a comfortable pace. You will warm up, then ramp up. Don’t resist the moment or hold tension in your body. Give your full attention to what you’re doing and there will be a cinematic quality to your life and it will come out in the work you do. Try it.

#2 It doesn’t matter. This whole article has been focused on the micro. The moment and the day.

However, if you haven’t identified how this ties into your macro vision for your life or how this helps who you’re becoming, you won’t unlock enthusiasm. It’s important to tap into your “why”.

-> A Feeling

-> Desired identity

-> Desired result

-> Maintained lifestyle

-> More health, wealth, better relationships

Only you know!

P.S.

This is what works for me, curious to hear from YOU about how you operate at PEAK productivity.

Ethan Dodd