People who just get things done and are relentlessly efficient - please explain how you do it

[CarbonEmittingPenguin]

As said above. I am the queen of 'getting round to things' but never actually doing them. I can waste entire days thinking about what needs doing but never actually doing it

If you are efficient and just get on with things how do you do it? What is your thought process? What are you generally like?

It's a bit of a game to me. What can I do in the time it takes to run a bath? Boil a kettle? I need to go upstairs for something, I need 3 things to take up and put away.

I use spreadsheets for everything, I've planned 2016 monthly spends, insurance renewal dates, big purchases, birthdays, Christmases, contingency.

I deal with the post as it comes in.

I use a diary and 2 notice boards of all the things need doing soon, school stuff, prescriptions, weekly meal planner etc.

I loathe clutter, I just don't buy tat anymore. Life is easier without tripping over and finding homes for ornaments, semi-sentimental stuff.

I'm not horribly efficient, I have jobs that need doing but I use a mantra to get me started which is SEE THE JOB AS A CHALLENGE then I look at it differently and it makes me get on with it. I have been chucking out (recycling) all the clothes that are too big for me since my diet and it's brilliant because I've got much more space in my wardrobes now.

I've always been a big procrastinator but a couple of months ago I was suddenly hit by the sudden realisation that it feels so much better to get on with things than faff around. Once you realise how energy sapping it is to have things hanging over you compared to the positive feeling of achievement it seems to set up a virtuous circle.

A diary that I use.
I check it every morning and add things to it as soon as they crop up...school stuff, appointments, deliveries etc.
I have lots of hospital appts that I have to keep track of for my son my mother so have to be on top of that.
Repeat prescriptions are kept in the diary in the week before they are due to run out and done online when due.
It's just getting into the habit if not putting letters/appointments/school stuff in a pile and forgetting about it. Read them, throw away what isn't relevant and put the important your diary!!
My son has football training, my youngest has swimming so they need to be planned for and paid for in good time.
Tidiness is important. The house never gets too bad because everything has a place, inc toys. I have regular (twice yearly) clear outs.
If I have ironing in the basket I put a DVD on to watch and do it - usually only takes about 40 mins once I get around to it....a good iron helps.
Online grocery order each week...top ups as needed during the week.
I dint actually meal plan - a lot of people swear by this - but it's not for me. My youngest is veggie, we all eat meat, ds1 and Dh eat huge amounts one meal for all of us is tricky. I tend to cook lots of bits and people help themselves tomwhat they want of it.
Lists.
Lots of lists.
I have:
Holiday packing lists
Xmas planning lists
Finance lists
Medical lists....you get the idea :)
These can be done in your phone, no need for pen and paper.
I know people who use spreadsheets. I don't but it can be effective.

...I really do recommend putting on a cd/DVD and just cracking on with it..l.always amazes me how quickly I get stuff done once I knuckle down to it.

I cultivate the maxim 'never put off til tomorrow what you can do today'.

I try and use 'dead' time, so online shop on bus, thinking up eg response to emails while walking so I can just write it and send with no thought. Menu planning on the go. Wiping the sink or surfaces as soon as I see they are dirty (baby wipes are key). Tidying as soon as something is finished with. Preparing clothes the night before. I am aware all of the above makes me sound like a dead bore.

Never letting things build up to frightening proportions is key to me.

I don't even plan, I just stop in my tracks when I remember to do something and go and do it in that moment else it will never get done.

E.g. About to put a wash on, remember the bed needs changing - go and do the bed first, get it out the way, and come back to the wash afterwards. Rather than thinking "I must do the bed after this wash"

Works for me every time, and I like to think i'm very efficient!

captainproton you sound exactly like me, my kind of woman.

I use lists all the time, and if i think oh i'l do that later i then ask myself how long it will actually take and then do it!
Most of us can spare the time out of all the hours we are awake. Just do it is my mantra.

Sadly though OP, No, I don't think you ever can switch off if your brain is wired this way.

Daily lists every morning that you transfer to the next day. And I use the Remember the Milk app - there's some others (all very 2016 this) www.culturewhisper.com/whisper/view/id/6262

Also being realistic about how much time things actually take and what you will need to do said task.

I went to an literary prize giving last night and the author said 'everyone thinks they can write a novel in six months. But they can't.' So true!

Lists, lists & note lists. Also minimal clutter

I did everything, always on time, dealing with stupid hours in work, kids, house, looking after my disabled grandfather and it was only a matter of time before I crashed, and when you're so used to such high expectations of yourself, when you crash you can't get back up. Now I just take each day at a time and what I don't get done I try not to sweat about it.

My job demands that I'm very organised and on top of things. So I write lists, I write things down/make notes on my phone as soon as things come into my head, I have reminders on my phone and computer, I love forward planning, and I always feel better if I deal with things as and when they happen, I hate things hanging over me.

And leaving things to the last minute is just not in my nature!

I'm not sure where my career or home-life would be without all the above, particularly lists !!!

OP said the angst was the problem...

I bet you're fine with stuff that HAS to be done. It's the "sometime" jobs that get held up.

Make lists.
Put in your diary.
Be compulsive about keeping email inbox or lists short.

Tackle the smallest & easiest jobs first. Sometimes I have to think about something for a few weeks to know what mindset I need to be in or figure out what is bothering me, what is missing to get it done, & then seize the chance when I have the time & mindset & removed the problem.

Sometimes I play a game: 1 hour for boring jobs & then 1 hour to doss, 1 hour for jobs, 1 to doss...

Today I did a job I've been putting off for YEARS.

The worst is when you can do half a job & have to leave it to finish later but don't know when because of unexpected hold up (argh).

Being very busy helps. The more I have to do, the more efficient I am. When I am quieter I turn into a procrastinator!

I think working part time with responsibility for nursery drop offs and pick ups helps. I am ruthless about which meetings I go to, how my diary is managed at work - if I don't think I need to be there I won't go, as I prefer to just plough through stuff. I block time in my diary to do tasks so that no one tries to arrange a meeting when I have lots to do - probably everyone at work hates me as I rarely have time to socialise but that's the price to pay for being part time
Outside of work I apply same principles - massive multitasker, routines, lists, use a family calendar to plan for me, DH and the kids, don't sleep very much as never switched off.

Decent notebook in my bag for lists. As it's hardback, and is A5 size, it doesn't get shabby, and I can use it for ages before it runs out.

Birthday and event reminders in my phone - I hate typing on the phone so don't keep lists on it.

Spreadsheet for the money - all my direct debits listed (with dates on which they come out), balances on savings policies, list of big expenses and dates for those, running totals of savings accounts against this list so I will have enough for them. I spent about 2 years consistently living in my overdraft and ignoring bank statements, and have gone to the other extreme. It feels brilliant though - plus when I know I have extra money, I can spend it pleasurably, without the sinking feeling in the background of "I can't really afford this but I'll take a chance..."

Declutter - funnily enough I freecycled a few big pieces of unused furniture before Christmas, which makes the house feel much tidier - so I therefore keep it much tidier!

Do the small stuff immediately (still working on this one)

I'm not a super efficient person but I have developed systems to keep the show on the road. I don't cope very well with rushing/being late/not being prepared so I've worked backwards to avoid it.

We have an A4 desk diary and everything is written in there - it has extra space each week into which I write a meal plan and general to dos. I empty/check school bags as soon as we get home and immediately diarise anything from newsletters etc. I fill in and out forms for return straight away (keep envelopes and cash in kitchen cupboard ready). I RSVP to party invites as I read them, write in diary and have a tick list next to each entry for card and present.

I bulk buy cards when in town and party presents from TKMaxx or Amazon when I see something suitable on offer. I get dc to write card and chose from gift cupboard and then i tick off those things on the diary. Every couple of weeks I check my birthday planner for upcoming events and order a gift online, check I've got an appropriate card and set a reminder on my phone to post/deliver.

I have a delivery pass for online grocery shopping and book a delivery a couple of times a week that can be amended up til 11pm the night before. As soon as I find something near empty or a recipe I want to try I amend the basket online.

I have a cleaner once a week which massively helps as the day she comes I whizz round and tidy and empty all bins.

I set up all payments possible to be by direct debit. I save things like dance to my online banking so I can pay fees easily on my phone.

I have all emails synched on my phone and reply to things ASAP.

I plan, a lot. So I'm always reviewing my diary and thinking about what we're going to do when am with whom.

I also take pictures of newsletters, invites, itineraries, term dates, etc and keep them on my ohone or easy reference. I delete once they've happened.

I'm general I rarely stop and often do more than one thing at a time - I would never sit and watch the TV without also meal planning or sorting 'the pile' from the Worktop (a never ending task).

I would love to be like captainproton. You have no idea how much we lesser mortals admire people like you. It's as if you were given an added efficiency gene at birth and the added energy to implement it.

Seriously ? I regularly get up at 5 if I am doing the school run, so I can get a couple of hours work done 5-7,I , don't drink monday-thursday. so i can manage the early mornings I have lists both mental and paper and cross things off as I do them. I think I drive my more laid back friends and relations a bit mad.

Agree with the "See the job and do it" mantra so in the bathroom, wash the sink and or the loo\shower screen if they need it, when you see them.

This doesn't work for dm because she needs glasses and doesn't wear them in the bathroom!!

It's a bit like eating well. You have to want to do it for the right reasons that mean something to you, not just because you 'should'. So decide why you want to be organised.
For me it's because I like a peaceful life, and a peaceful house and a peaceful brain.

Time spent
looking for stuff,
cleaning things that I don't even use or like,
shopping endlessly because no one knows what's for dinner,
going to events which I don't want to go to,
deciding what to wear,
guessing if clothes lying around are clean or dirty,
worrying if I'm missing an appointment
is all time wasted.

I'd rather relax, knowing that I have a plan, which includes things I do want to do. I have four children and dogs, work and find time for exercise, hobbies and just chilling.

1. A lovely notebook and bulletjournal.com system
2. We only watch pre-recorded tv
3. Do it now and finish it