Key points:
1. Break a goal into tiny, doable tasks and check them off one by one.
2. Ask for feedack when you think a task is ~60% done, then improve it based on feedback.
3. Put your emotions aside and focus on one task in the present moment.
4. Have some room for additional tasks.
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Multitasking is kind of a myth.. or is understood poorly because it doesn't necessarily mean doing two or more things simultaneously, but prioritizing tasks and focusing on one task at a time, while watching progress of several goals. I have found so far that planning each week works for me. In other words, I plan things that needs to be done in 5 days, so that I give myself a little freedom and flexibility on what to do on each day. Here is how it's done...
1. Make a list of what needs to be done (goal) in that week. 2. Break the goal into smaller, doable tasks. 3. Prioritize them. -- The highest priority ones are those that need other people's input. Write a rough draft and ask people for feedback then modify, instead of trying to perfect it in the first go. -- The second highest priority ones are those that you don't know how long it'd take to finish. Need to start early and ask others for help if necessary. -- Things that I can do by myself have low priority. 4. Focus on the task of highest priority first. Do not think about other tasks for now. 5. After one task is done, check it off on the list and start the one of second highest priority. For example, if your goal is to apply for three jobs (company A, B, C) this week, and you like company A the most, B the second, and C the least, then your tasks would be:
- Do some research about company A - Update my resume based on the job description at A - Write a cover letter for A. - Do some research about company B - Update my resume based on the job description at B - Write a cover letter for B. - Do some research about company C - Update my resume based on the job description at C - Write a cover letter for C And try check off all the items within a week. "Do some research about A" is something you can do by yourself, but you need to do it first in order to write your resume and cover letter, so this comes first. Then, write your resume, send it someone for their feedback if you'd like. While waiting for them to reply, you can start writing your cover letter for A. You may need to edit it based on the feedback you will get for your resume, but still you can create a Word document and type in names, addresses, and some typical phrases that a cover letter usually has. Get the task going, even just a little bit. The key for not being overwhelmed is to break your goal into very tiny pieces of actions and to focus on one at a time. One task could be to create a subfolder for company A in your job application folder; to create a Word document; or to come up with one sentence that describes why you like the company you're applying for. The more check marks, the more motivated you feel. If you couldn't apply for the 3rd job in the week because it took time to apply for the first two, it's OK because you did your best. You can have a realistic plan for the following week (e.g. apply for 2 jobs). But keep in mind that you may be faster in the following week and could finish 3 because you've already done it several times. In that case, plan to apply for 2 in the following week, do your best, and if you could apply for 3, that's a great bonus, and it can be incorporated into your future planning. It's a good idea, though, to have some room for unexpected and urgent tasks that come in during the week, like preparing for an interview or preparing additional documents upon request.
Asking for feedback is not a problem, do it as often as possible. After all, all your jobs are to satisfy your clients' needs, and the more feedback you receive, the better you can meet your clients' needs. (Applying for a job is kind of meeting a clients' (employers') needs.) Don't be disappointed by negative feedback, it's a chance for you to improve yourself, so stay positive and just make whatever adjustments necessary to get things done.
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Be kind to yourself, stay focused, don't get overwhelmed by negative feedback. Take a deep breath and think what has the highest priority to achieve all the goals in time. People are there to help you.
Good luck will follow, I trust!
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