Stress and Non-urgent Tasks

Most folks don’t realize it, but one cause of stress is almost invisible. It’s the non-urgent tasks that sit in our office, waiting to get done. They might sit in our in-box. They might be in a folder. They might have a special place to be attended to when time allows.

We think that they are off our minds, but they are not.

How do I know this? How can I make the point?

Do you recall the feeling right after you completed one of these tasks that had been on you list for more than a month’s time? Was the feeling far more relief and accomplishment than a task at that level deserved?

Little tasks that aren’t urgent, but require our attention at some point can be unconscious stressors. They hang out in the back of our minds waiting for us to mark them off as finished. Something as simple as a customer letter to say, “Thank you for sending us your idea,” can take only a few minutes to write, yet we can carry the stress of it for the three months it takes us to get to doing it.

What’s the solution to this problem?

Dump it. Delegate it. Do it. Designate a time for it.

When those small items first enter your office, choose how you will handle them before they can become a stressor on your “non-urgent to do list.” Decide whether you will

• Dump it. Take no action. Put it in the circular file and forget about it.
• Delegate it. Teach someone how to handle that sort of inbound message. Hand it over and have that person put it on his or her “to do” list.
• Do it. As soon as you receive the inbound message, take the time to respond appropriately. Then there is no opportunity for it to become an unconscious stressor.
• Designate a time for it. Have a time — say 30 minutes — at the beginning or the end of every day when you attend to non-urgent tasks on your “to do list.” Keep those things moving to keep them from nagging you.

Make it a habit to follow these four D-words. You’ll find that you’ll have a clearer mind to put toward the things you really care about.

Liz Strauss

Behind every Successful business is an Outstanding manager. –Perfect Virtual Manager.