“How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time” (1)
Following from the Wheel of Life, we picked 3 tasks we would like to work on in 3 months. By focusing on just three tasks, we felt we had more chance to get them done. Admittedly, these tasks could vary in size and could even be large and involved ones.
The next part was key for us. We dedicated some Pomodoro sections (25 mins on, 5 mins break) to break them down into “bite-sized” parts. Often when faced with a large task, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and start procrastinating. That’s why we spent some time working on each other’s tasks to identify the smaller tasks required. These could also be items setting up the environment.
For example, if you wanted to exercise 3 times a week, the “tasks” could be to identify the days and times, set out your clothes the night before, start using an accountability app, etc.
We worked for 25 mins on my tasks and then switched to my husband’s. As our tasks were quite different from one another, we welcomed the change of topic. You may want to stick with the same person for a couple of pomodoros instead, whatever works best for you.
It was helpful to see the big tasks laid out in small items on the flipchart. These now felt more “doable”.
Are you finding yourself overwhelmed by a task? Tackle it bite by bite.
Footnotes
1) No real elephants were harmed or eaten on this offsite ☺