How often do you set yourself a long list of tasks to get done within a day and end up either: 1. Spending all day running around trying to get everything done, feeling drained at the end of the day 2. Only completing 6 out of your 8 tasks and feeling worthless because of it. I have experienced both of these. I used to give myself as many tasks as physically possible for a day, and it was very rare I managed to get everything done. Then, Chris Williamson released his Christmas Special which contained an idea that changed how I thought about to-do lists. This idea was The Minimal To-Do List. Imagine you set yourself 6 tasks for the day but only hit 4, you end up in either of the previous two scenarios. But if you set 6 and hit 8, you’d feel pretty good about yourself wouldn’t you? You would probably also be more motivated for the next day. So, it might be better to set yourself a lower target for the day. This many benefits such as: 1. Feeling less overwhelmed as you have less to do  2. The essential things now get done as clutter is removed  3. Feeling more energised as you feel good for hitting your goal  Instead of cramming everything into each day, choose 3 or 4 essential tasks and get them done. If you then have time at the end of the day, you can always get a head start on tomorrow’s tasks. This is how you end up actually getting more done. It allows you to feel good about your work. Now it’s over to you. For the next week choose no more than 4 essential tasks for each day and work on them. See how it goes and if it changes how you feel at the end of each day about your productivity. Then come back and let me know how it went. Good luck!!

In his book ‘Feel Good Productivity’, Ali Abdaal shares how an old film can help shape how we think about work. Have you ever watched Mary Poppins? If you have you will be familiar with the song ’A Spoonful Of Sugar’. Now I’m not asking you to go and watch the film or ass this song to your growing list of affirmations. But pay attention to the first verse below: In every job that must be done There is an element of fun You find the fun and snap! The job's a game The legend that is Mary Poppins is telling you to find the fun in your work. So how can you apply this to your life? Well maybe you could: Listen to music whilst you work Time yourself doing tasks and try and beat your time each week. See how many upsells you can get in a day. Work with friends. Give yourself a treat if you get a certain amount done. These are a few ways you could make the work fun. It’s not about grit, willpower, and determination. These will come and go depending on how you feel. But who turns down something that is fun? Personally, I’m only allowed to listen one of my favourite comedy podcasts on my long runs. So sometimes I’m going out just as an excuse to listen to them! Make the work fun and listen to good old Mary Poppins!