
One thing at a time
Whatever your field, whether you run a group home or a bridal salon, things can pile up quickly. These things can be tangible like emails to be read or bills to be reviewed or they can be intangible like an issue with a client that needs to be resolved.
The truth of the matter is that we can only do one thing at a time and most things can wait. So why torture ourselves by pretending otherwise?
Stop for an hour or two and get off the treadmill. Go through all your emails, delete all the junk and write down the action items that you need to follow up on. Do the same thing with the issues in your head, the things you are worrying about. Write them all down. For each issue, figure out and write down the next action item you need to do to move the issue along.
You now have a whole bunch of action items to pick from. Pick one and do it.
The process of cataloging all the things you need to take action on takes a load off of your mind and allows you to focus on the task at hand instead of worrying about what you are forgetting about. Making the list will make you feel better.
The act of completing a discrete task is satisfying; even when there are many other things still undone, getting just one thing done will usually give you a nice lift.
No go back to the list and repeat.

Follow us on .
Leave a Reply
Demo the Inclusion System
- Let us show you how the Inclusion System makes agencies efficient and less stressed.
Demo Shiftshark
- Fill shifts in seconds
- Reduce Overtime
- Reduce grievances in unionized environments
- Put a smile on your on-call manager's face
Learn more about Shift Bidding!
- The simple way of filling vacant shifts.
- Just open shifts to your employees.
- Let them choose the shifts that work for them.
- And save time and stress from scheduling.
Try Shiftshark risk-free for 30 days
- Free live training delivered by system experts.
- Constant support and communication throughout your entire trial.
- Full-featured access to absolutely everything.
- Your data, your CBA, your rules, your way.
Trial the Inclusion System
- Free live training delivered by system experts.
- Constant support and communication throughout your entire trial.
- Full-featured access to absolutely everything.
- Your data, your CBA, your rules, your way.
Inclusion System extends our profound respect and immeasurable gratitude to all the ancestors and keepers of the land on whose traditional territories our work takes place. We acknowledge that we are on Treaty 1 territory, the traditional gathering place of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota and Dene people and the traditional homeland of the Métis people. This land is sacred, historical, and significant.
Every time we acknowledge this truth, we have an invitation and an opportunity to reflect on the wrongs of the past, what we do in the present, and what we can do to continually honour the people whose lands and water we benefit from today.
This statement only acts as a first step in honouring the land we reside on and its peoples, and must be paired with education, understanding and informed action.
I’m a list maker and checker-offer from way back. It helps to prioritize my time and results in my brain being less cluttered. I agree that it works when in the midst of a conflict as well as listing tasks to be completed.
I was the consummate “keep it all in my head” guy for years Judy. This resulted in my brain often being scattered. Now I think of my brain as a machine that can handle one thing at a time really well with creativity and energy as long and I trust my external systems to keep track or what to do when.