If you have trouble getting things done because of your mental health problems
I figured something out! If you’re like me and have executive dysfunction, get easily overwhelmed or exhausted, have short-term memory problems, etc., prioritizing can really help. Most people know that, but recently I ran into a problem while trying to pack up to move– how do I even prioritize?
Here’s a really simple method to help you get things done: make a list of the three most important things you have to do that day. Since I find myself unable to do a lot of stuff in a single day, I include appointments and stuff like that, but the choice is up to you– you can just stick to self-guided tasks if you want.
So, for example, your list might look like this:
1. Work shift: 8am-3pm
2. Get prescription filled
3. Essay due tomorrow
Ordinarily, I’d remind people that they can do things however works for them, but in this case I’m going to emphasize that choosing three tasks, and only three tasks, is really important. If you let fourth and fifth things sneak in, the whole system gets thrown off. And, if you’re like me, you’ll probably get overwhelmed and panic and then never get anything done anyway. (Grr.) Also, if you’re easily tired out, you’ll probably be more forgiving if you can’t get more than three tasks done.
That said, it’s okay to make OTHER lists of three as well, like a “secondary importance” list, or to break down your three tasks into three smaller tasks. Depending on your personality and circumstances, things like “going to work” might be easy, and it’s not stressful to write it down as one task. For other people, “going to work” might involve more self-direction, so they might need a separate priority list just for work.
For example, the list above might end up looking like this:
MOST IMPORTANT:
1. Work shift: 8am-3pm
a. Write letter
b. Complete spreadsheet
c. Speak with Kyle
2. Get prescription filled
3. Essay due tomorrow
SECONDARY IMPORTANCE:
1. Go to the bank
2. Buy mom a birthday present
3. Worksheet assignment
There are a couple of ways to keep these lists. For some, a pencil and paper will do just fine, and they can just make the list for the day when they wake up. Young people, like me and probably you, are more likely to be glued to their phones and computers. I don’t really have a recommendation for apps, but I’m using ToDoist and it is pretty good for this. It syncs between your computer and your phone, and you can mark things by priority. It does users an additional favor by sorting tasks by due date, so you know what’s due today, and what will be due within the week. However, I find that tasks without a set due date seem to get lost in the shuffle, and I haven’t really found a solution.
I hope this helps you as much as it helps me!
izzy806
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