3 Ways to Get Things Done With Joy

Things can feel overwhelming when life gets busy, and there’s so much to do. With multiple interests and commitments, getting it all done can feel like a never-ending pursuit. Between my surgical practice, leadership roles, personal projects, and family, I often juggle between work and home activities, all of which I love and enjoy. Here are three things I’ve learned to be productive, manage stress, and still smell the roses each day.

Prioritize. In all there is to do, identify the things most important to you for your personal and professional well-being. What aspects of your life do you love? What aspects would you miss if they were taken away from you? What would you not miss if you never did them again? What activities and efforts most support your goals and align with your values and purpose? Answers to these sorts of questions help guide your way to a path of peace and satisfaction. Take time to think about who and what matters to you most, and commit to prioritizing and giving them the attention they deserve each day.

Reframe. Often the things we love involve tasks that we may not enjoy doing. For example, grocery shopping in preparation for cooking a special meal or background research when preparing an article on a topic you’re passionate about. The act of doing the work to fulfill a project or aim can be daunting amidst everything else to be done. Reframing these tasks and experiences can change less enjoyable tasks to joyful ones. Imagine yourself as a chef selecting the finest ingredients for you to cook with or being a detective looking for clues to piece a puzzle together for your article. Reframing your perspective can take the heaviness out of your goals and bring play back into your work.

Strive for progress and not perfection. When we pursue certain goals and outcomes, the need for perfection often gets in our way. Making that perfect souffle or writing that perfect article – the expectation and pressure we attribute to a task can feel intimidating to the point of feeling unachievable. Allowing yourself to make mistakes is the greatest gift you can give to yourself. Not only does it build the courage to complete challenging tasks, but it increases your productivity and confidence as well.

If a souffle falls or your article needs revisions, you can feel good about having completed the work as best as you knew how at the time and about learning new tips and lessons you could apply the next time. There’s always room for improvement and fun – accomplish your goals as best as you can while being fair and kind to yourself. Be open to feedback, feel comfortable with making mistakes, recognize the lighter side of things, and appreciate your progress.

Life is a journey that teaches us lessons in everything we do. To meet your goals and enjoy them along the way, prioritize what’s important, reframe less enjoyable tasks to bring play back into your work, and focus on progress over perfection. Having this outlook helps get things done while having fun along the way!