A to-do list is a fantastic and handy tool that simplifies working on immediate tasks. The idea is quite simple – You itemize a list, sometimes organized into similar categories and fields, due dates, and even by projects. Each item on the list, or task, is then checked off once it is completed. Ta-da! A simple process to be efficient and to meet end goals. The reality however is that to-do lists are quite tedious and mundane. Let’s be honest for a bit. No matter how many times we all make to-do lists, we often just do not complete tasks or check things off as we had originally hoped to. Why is that? If a to-do list is so efficient and simple to use, we should all be checking off tasks, and being highly productive!
The problem with to-do lists and tasks in general is that they are never ending. We can come up with task after task and add it to a to-do list forever. Over time, this can lead to task fatigue, and an avoidance of working on tasks altogether.
Image Credit: Volodymyr Hryshchenko on Unsplash (Image Credit: Volodymyr Hryshchenko on Unsplash)
Task fatigue, in my opinion, is defined as mental fatigue that accumulates by repeating mundane tasks or continuously working on cognitive based tasks over a period of time. As an individual keep’s working without following maintenance for themselves in the form of a break, cognitive decline occurs, thus reducing the output of performance when working. If repeated, this can lead to fatigue in general, burnout, and finally avoidance of work altogether.
One of the ways that we can actually reduce the onset of task fatigue and help maintain optimal performance, is by using and implementing strategies. As I discussed in my post, Capacity for Motivation, task’s should not be performed in an all or none fashion. We should think of it methodically. Every individual is unique, and their capacity for work is also going to be unique to them. As work increases, cognitive demand also increases. This increases the demand for intrinsic motivation to help focus on tasks, and has a correlating effect on our thoughts, mood and emotions. So to stop ourselves from hitting that wall of reduced performance and fatigue, we can employ a set number of maintenance techniques.
1. Building up capacity for work:
One strategy that you should add to your arsenal is how to approach tasks themselves. If your capacity for work is low, you have no chance in hell of climbing the Mt. Everest of tasks! Doing so will just burn you out right away. Instead, take a few baby steps to reach that goal. Build up your capacity by sticking to this strategy:
1. Pick 3 simple tasks that you can do per day, and 1 complex task. Example: brushing my teeth (simple), cooking/eating breakfast (simple), reading a book for 30 minutes (complex).
2. Slowly add 1 simple task per day after a week. After 3 weeks you will have added 6 simple daily tasks. When that happens, add another complex task (1 complex task added for 3 simple tasks).
3. Another helpful technique is to sort out when you want to work on the tasks. If you have 10L of fuel in the morning, work on your complex or difficult tasks then. Generally, they will require more energy and use something like 5-6L of fuel at a time, so work on them when you feel fresh. And the great thing about your Motivational Fuel, you don’t have to pay to fill up the tank. Watch a show, hangout with friends, do something that satisfies you emotionally and mentally, and your tank will reset back to 10L or to “Full” and you can go back and work on whatever other tasks remain while feeling refreshed.
2. Use Tempo to manage tasks
Tempo was designed to help reduce task fatigue. By following the framework of the Tempo Productivity System, you can organize your tasks, prioritize them, and track progress. Tempo can help simpify the work that needs to be done, and help you maintain your optimal rate of performance. To learn more about my producitivity system, visit the Tempo section of my blog.
3. Work as you go -> Batching
Another problem with to-do lists is that they are simply too big. When you see a huge lists of tasks before you, it can be quite daunting and discouraging seeing how many tasks that you need to focus on. This is why it’s important to work as you go. That simply means that you should only work on tasks when it is time to work on them. Set out a time and place for where you will work on the task of a certain category. For example, if you need to clean your bathroom, set out a time to do it, and allocate only those cleaning tasks related to it, and work on said tasks one-by-one. This way, you are batching similar tasks together.
4. Down time -> Active and Passive rest
Taking care of your health and wellbeing is more important than completing tasks. When you meet your goal of task completion, simply rest. Even in between work, take some time to rest. Some ways to achieve this is to focus on both active and passive rest. Active rest refers to doing leauisrely activity that requires low grade cognition and focus. Examples of this include going for a walk in a park with a friend, reading a book, or even watching a movie. Passive rest is when you are not having to focus conciously on a task or work. The perfect example of this is sleep. Employing these strategies can help retain high performance.
5. Perform a brain dump
One of my favorite strategies to avoid fatigue is to perform a daily brain dump. As I mentioned in this post, the goal of a brain dump is to transfer all of your thoughts, emotions, or whatever is on your mind onto a writeable surface, thus freeing your mind of clutter that is impacting cognition and focus.
The theory is that task fatigue is a phenomenon that can be avoided all together if inteventiions are applied early on. While fatigue is going to be inevitable when performing any kind of work, interventions and strategies can help us reduce the chance of burnout from occuring, thus impacting performance all together. Try it out, and reach out to me to let me know what you thought!
Until next time,
– Sandeep