Do you have a job that you keep putting off? It’s too hard, too complicated or you just never get around to it?

I get these types of tasks all the time.  I just can’t get started or don’t know where to start. This week’s Teach Tip Tuesday gives you my top 5 tips to getting that task off your to do list.

5 Tips to Completing Your Impossible Task

1. Break the task down into small task so that they seems manageable.

A task that you don’t know how to start is usually made up of many small task. Split your task in 5 smaller tasks so that  you can get started.

Each year I have to construct my departments junior profile database. It isn’t a particular hard task but it is time consuming. There are currently 5 of these that need to be done. Instead of trying to complete the whole database at once this year, I focused on completing small parts so that they task didn’t seem as overwhelming.

2. Work on the task with someone else. 

When getting started is too hard or the task is complicated, pair up with a colleague so that you can use your collective intelligence to make a dent in completing your impossible task.

I have a task that I have been putting off for months because it just seemed too big. I decided to form a PLC with a colleague of mine and we smashed out the first part in under an hour. Two brains (or more) are better than one.

3. Schedule time each day or week to complete the task depending on the timelines you have to meet. 

Scheduling time to complete a part of a job that you are putting off will help you eventually accomplish the task without needing to spend whole days trudging on until the end.

I use my outlook calendar to plan time sensitive task. By planning in allocated tasks into my calendar my time appears unavailable to anyone that checks. Adding to my calendar also helps to keep me focused and on task rather than scrolling through pinterest for great teaching ideas. 🙂

4. Form an action plan. 

Having an outline of the small steps that make up the larger task, with responsible persons and timelines to meet, can make completing the small tasks easy and help you identify others that can help you get it done.

Last year we implemented a new process to assist our students that were struggling with math. The whole program was overwhelming and there just seemed to be too many tasks to complete. I put together an action plan with timelines and responsible staff. This plan ensured that I delegated tasks appropriately and also ensured that I met my deadlines. 

5. Just Eat the Frog. 

Sometimes there is nothing to be done but to just get on with it. Eating the frog means that you tackle that big job before anything else. By completing the job that you keep procrastinating on you become more productive on those other smaller jobs.

How do you make sure that you complete those impossible tasks? Please share in the comments below or on our facebook page.