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How to plan ahead and avoid deadline dramas
The busy nature of being a lawyer often invites a tendency to put something like obtaining yearly CPD points on the back-burner. However, there are three things lawyers can do to avoid the trap.
Emma Musgrave
Do you often feel busy, but unproductive? Do you often struggle to get through your to do list?
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This is a question asked by Vanessa Bennett, contributor to Lawyer’s Weekly sister publication Wellness Daily.
“As our lives get busier and we keep adding things to our never ending list, we start to feel overwhelmed with what we have to do and stress about how we can actually get it all done,” Ms Bennett said.
“To stay on track, it’s important to focus on your ultimate goals in order to feel that you are more productive with your time, rather than feeling busy and unfulfilled.”
Ms Bennett explained that there are three things you can do if you’re lacking productivity in your day and want to increase it.
The first, she said, revolves around learning how to manage your energy, not your time.
“It's incredible how much you can achieve when you’re energised. Whether it’s after a yoga session, a good night’s sleep or after working on a project that you love, we are so much more productive when we’re feeling good about ourselves,” she said.
“Start to understand how and when you work your best. Is it in the morning after a nourishing breakfast and a gym session? Or after your lunch break?
“Plan your ’heavier’ tasks at those moments in the day where you have more energy. You’ll be surprised how much you’ll get through, in an efficient manner.”
The second tip Ms Bennett offers is to use technology to your advantage.
“Instead of letting technology and our devices take control of our life, teach yourself more about digital discipline,” she said.
“For some people, putting their phone or laptop aside for hours or days can create more stress and anxiety than relaxation. Instead, does it make you feel better to simply take a few minutes to go through your emails and flag what you need to do?
“Doing this may put your mind at ease so then you can continue on with your day in a more mindful matter.”
Learning the art of saying ‘no’ is her third tip.
“It’s this simple: you can’t do everything. You don’t have the time or the energy to continue to say yes to everything that pops up,” Ms Bennett said.
“It’s okay to be selective on how you want to spend your time and not overload yourself with a million different tasks, that you won’t complete to your full potential.
“Instead, choose tasks that contribute to your end goal so you can focus your energy and intentions on those.”
Earlier this week, Lawyers Weekly also covered a piece on procrastination – why we do it and what to do about it.
Click here to see the article and find yourself being inspired to obtain your CPD points by 31 March.
