What’s Holding You Back from conquering your to-do list this year?
As female founders, we all have a seemingly endless to-do list. Whether it’s organising your kids’ schedule, making sure you’re on top of your taxes, or showing up consistently on social media, the numerous hats you have to wear as a small business owner often means that not everything on the list gets done. Sound familiar? It’s why I’m so happy to welcome Litsa from Unscramble Me to the Your AJency blog with her top tips on how to cross of that stubborn task from your to-do list. I have been part of her fun coworking sessions and her 45 minute sprints have shown me how she can help people focus and get things done.
What's Stopping You from Crossing Off That thing this year?
As we head into the final stretch of the year, you're staring at that to-do list and there it is—that one task that just won't budge. Frustrating? Absolutely. But common, especially when you're a solo business owner.
Let's get one thing straight: It's not about laziness or a lack of willpower. There's a reason that task is still on your list, and yes, there's a way to make progress on it!
First things first, though. Look at that lingering task carefully. Is it crucial? Does it mesh with your ambitions, goals, and values? If the answer is “no“ then it's just taking up space, and it's time to cross it off. Not because you've done it, but because it doesn't serve your bigger picture.
Now, if you've nodded 'yes, it's important, I just can’t seem to get it done!' the next step is to understand WHY when you get to that task, you always bypass it in place of something else. What is holding you back?
Let’s go.
Your List is too big
Does the thought of the list make you feel overwhelmed? Swamped? If you're staring at your list and feeling that wave of panic rise, that's overwhelm. It's the sense that there's just too much, and it's all too big. But here's how you tackle that: break it down into bite-sized tasks. Each small step is a mini-win, and with every tick, you're giving your brain a dopamine boost which is nature's way of saying 'well done,' keeping you charged up and ready to tackle the next item.
Procrastination galore
If you're putting things off, you're not alone. We all do it. There are various tactics for this one but here’s my favourite- why not trick yourself into getting started? Set a timer for just 10 minutes and say to yourself that you’ll work on it for just those 10 minutes. Once the timer goes off, you'll often find you're into the task and will keep going until it’s completed.
Your List is too vague
A to-do list with tasks like "promote my new workshop" can be as clear as mud. What you need is clarity. Specify what it actually means. Is it “make 3 Instagram posts”, “write a blog”, “end an email to my email list” etc? Do this and you'll find it much easier to get it done.
Perfectionism Paralysis
Waiting for the perfect moment or the perfect execution can freeze you in your tracks. This is where that good old Pareto Principle or “80/20” rule comes in. Embrace the beauty of 'good enough' and remember that you can always circle back and refine later. Progress, not perfection, is the goal.
Prioritisation: The Art of Choosing
When everything seems urgent, nothing is. Use the Eisenhower Matrix to sort your tasks into 'urgent and important,' 'important but not urgent,' 'urgent but not important,' and 'neither urgent nor important.' IF your “thing” is in one of the first 2 categories – get it to the top of your priority list, and you'll see real progress.
Motivation
Sometimes, the motivation just isn't there by itself! So, you have to create your own. Some ways you can do this are to connect each task to a bigger goal or value, or set up a reward for when you complete it. OR set a time to work on it with a friend or mentor – accountability can really help here.
Distractions: The Thieves of Time
Distractions are the pickpockets of productivity. You need focused time! That might mean phone out of the room, a 'do not disturb' sign on your door, or white noise in your ears. Or a working sprint with others is brilliant for combining this with accountability.
Your energy
We all have times when we feel like we can conquer the world, and times when we can barely conquer the sofa. Match your tasks to your energy levels. Save the big, brainy tasks for your high-energy times (that’s the morning for me!), and the no-brainer tasks for when you're running on low.
Resources: The Right Tools or expertise for the Job
Are you getting stuck because you don't have what you need to get the job done? Maybe you don’t have the knowledge or skills to take it forward? So the answer? Make a plan to get them! Whether it's information, tools, or help from an expert, get it in place so you can get it done.
Fear of Failure
Worried about not doing it well enough? This is a mindset one! You must see each attempt as a step towards success, not a potential failure. Start with the less risky tasks or parts of the task to build your confidence – and get support from a mentor or someone else to help.
Whether you identified your blocker as feeling overwhelmed, struggling with procrastination, no motivation or being stuck in the perfectionism trap, you’ve now got some strategies to implement to finally get that thing done.
BUT!
For a fail-safe way to be 100% sure you’re going to get the most out of the rest of the year and get that sh*t done – I would love to invite you to join my Four-Week Focus Flight.
It starts on the 17th November and over 4 weeks you’ll get expert support, time held, motivation and accountability.
And to make it even easier to get on board, I'm offering a £10 discount exclusively to Anna’s followers: just use “ANNA10” at the checkout.
Litsa, founder of Unscramble Me is an experienced business leader and developer of people. She helps business founders to develop (you might say Unscramble!) their ways of working, so they are more effective and motivated, and get better results, faster, with more fun along the way. She helps them achieve their version of success, whilst having more time for life. Litsa also runs a weekly co-working club in Altrincham, Cheshire and helps business founders get the right stuff done through group and one-to-one mentoring.