Can you learn how to get more done??

[SlothWithACloth]

I never get as much done as i would liked to. I’m not even setting myself anything challenging and I’m not totally lazy, but I still get to the end of most days and feel like I just drifted through the day and did a few chores, maybe took dcs out for a bit and that seems to be it.
I’ll chat to my sister or one of my closest friends and their days seem to be full of getting things done, meeting friends, taking dc out, exercise and they even manage to binge watch tv and read.

My New Years resolution is to get more done but if I’m honest, I find it stressful to plan a lot and often, I seem to rebel against my own plan?

Can I learn how to do more? Has anyone got any tips please?

Sure you can learn to be more productive. There are loads of ways to do it. Bullet journaling is really useful, and, since you say you rebel against your own planning, maybe setting a timer for tasks, for example, “I’ll spend fifteen minutes decluttering that drawer”

What is it that is taking up time when you could be doing the things you want? If you’re on your phone or pottering, stop that. Allocate half an hour for chores.

Imho getting up early helps and having routines. I follow Flylady so in the morning I know as soon as I get up I will be: emptying dishwasher, hanging up clothes to dry from washing set to come on very early, putting on new load, dressing in clothes I laid out the night before, spending five minutes or so cleaning the bathroom, five minutes or so scrubbing kitchen sink and surfaces, prepping evening meal that's been planned in advance, dog walking etc. Then I know later on in the day I will be working for at least 15 in a specific zone of the house. I also know depending on which day of the week it is whether (in normal times) whether I will be running errands or planning menus or cleaning out car.

Flylady (although it doesn't sound like it!) helps me do minimal choring in short focused bursts of time, allowing me to do other more interesting things instead. (Although I've switched to the organised mum method while DH is working from home as it seems to work better under lockdown.)

I also have a weekly "school" timetable set out half hour by half hour so I know what I am doing when and that helps me pack stuff in and helps me make the best of time I have free, around work hours.

Finally, I think it helps to think more about habits and routines rather than specific objectives because RL is unpredictable and if you have a tendency to rebel against the plan, it doesn't matter, as long as you are up, dressed, poised to do something at 8.30 am, it doesn't matter exactly what ifyswim, as long as it is productive. Also, if you do them consistently, habits and routines become automatic without having to even think about them, which takes less energy somehow.

Good luck

I second bullet journaling (I have that kind of brain, I need to write it down).

I had a week annual leave before Christmas. I booked in all the appointments I needed and wrote a list of all the things I wanted to get to done to keep me focused. I managed to achieve everything other than return my uni books and pick up more of my uniforms (nurse and to be honest I just decided to make do for now as didn't want to risk an unnecessary trip to our local hospital) so I've still got that to do. I find to do lists keep me on track and I love ticking things off!! You could start the day with a few things you want to achieve. Doesnt have to be a long list! I even scheduled in time to chill out, read a book etc. I find, like now for example, I'm in my pyjamas, having a cup of tea on my phone, I can easily waste a few hours and feel like I've achieved nothing!

The thing that takes up most of my time is chores. I always seem to be cleaning, tidying or cooking.
I just feel that I don’t have time to do things that are fun or even exercise.

I could have written this OP.
Following for solutions - I have the same issue at work too. I always get stuff done eventually but I'm sure it's more stressful than it needs to be.
Lists don't work for me (spending more time making revision timetable than revising?l - self discipline is an issue for me.

I do work as well and have issues with a lot of the admin stuff. I’m not stupid and I’m good at my work and no one would guess that I feel harassed and stressed every time I have to do all the paperwork.

Most of us spend a lot of time online or watching TV.

Keep a Diary what you are doing with your time before you are hash on yourself.

I do work as well and have issues with a lot of the admin stuff. I’m not stupid and I’m good at my work and no one would guess that I feel harassed and stressed every time I have to do all the paperwork.

This is exactly me OP - both at home and work. I struggle with admin stuff as I find it so tedious, whether it’s at work or life admin at home. I used to be quite organised but now seem to only get something done when the deadline is very close. This then creates unnecessary anxiety.

Not sure how to resolve it. I have tried allocating time slots for things and it does help a bit. The TIDE app can be useful for this. I’ve got a pile of marking to do today and I’m still in bed reading a book & cruising MN here! I only seem to be motivated if I enjoy the task 😒

I may be the wrong person to respond as I made a conscious decision to do less about ten years ago

I think a lot of what I did (and things I see people doing) was a) unenjoyable and b) pointless.

What do you actually want to do and why?

I would like to be more on top of the housework. Perhaps I need to break it down into segments of time spent rather than a list of never completed tasks. It is since the pandemic I cant get going!