{"id":31003,"date":"2018-02-10T14:12:27","date_gmt":"2018-02-10T22:12:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/?p=31003"},"modified":"2018-02-10T14:12:27","modified_gmt":"2018-02-10T22:12:27","slug":"kill-dread-unlikable-tasks-take-advantage-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/gov-talk\/career-advice\/on-the-job\/kill-dread-unlikable-tasks-take-advantage-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Kill the Dread of Unlikable Tasks – How to Take Advantage of Time"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.0.101″ background_image=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/tasks1.jpg” custom_padding=”24.625px|0px|178px|0px”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.101″ text_font=”PT Sans||||” text_font_size=”72″ text_font_size_tablet=”52″ text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_line_height=”1.1em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”620px” custom_margin=”0px||0px|”]<\/p>\n

Kill the Dread of Unlikable Tasks – How to Take Advantage of Time<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|24.625px|0px”][et_pb_row use_custom_width=”on” custom_width_px=”1200px” custom_padding=”20px||0px|” custom_padding_tablet=”0px|||” column_padding_mobile=”on” parallax_method_1=”off” parallax_method_2=”off” admin_label=”row” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ column_padding_mobile=”on” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/beth-beutler.jpeg” show_bottom_space=”off” align=”center” disabled_on=”on|on|” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ animation=”off” sticky=”on”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|on|” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ text_font=”PT Sans|on|||” text_font_size=”20″ text_text_color=”#02b875″ text_line_height=”1.2em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”center” max_width=”140px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”20px||0px|”] BETH BEUTLER<\/span><\/a><\/span> [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|on|” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ text_font=”PT Serif||on||” text_font_size=”16″ text_text_color=”#363636″ text_line_height=”1.4em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”center” max_width=”140px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”10px||60px|”] Beth Beutler is the founder and executive director of HOPE Unlimited. [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ column_padding_mobile=”on” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.101″ text_font=”PT Serif||||” text_font_size=”24″ text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” text_text_color=”#363636″ text_line_height=”1.5em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”720px” custom_margin=”0px||0px|”]<\/p>\n

Do you have a task that seems to drain you, just by thinking about it? Something necessary, but unenjoyable?<\/p>\n

Every month, I prepare a statistical and financial report on a project for which there are ongoing sales and other people involved. No one is standing over my shoulder waiting for the information, but it is useful.\u00a0 One day, toward the end of my work day, that task remained on my list. So, I changed the due date and closed up shop for the day. The next morning, when I had limited time, I decided to see how long it would take to actually do the task and get the report out, so I set a timer and dove in.<\/p>\n

I was pleasantly surprised to find that the dreaded task only took about 10 minutes if that. I simply had to focus, transfer the numbers, prepare the email and send it out.<\/p>\n

Now that I realize how little time it actually takes, I hope to be less likely to dread it popping up on my monthly recurring tasks.<\/p>\n

When you find yourself dreading a task, take control of your time to maximize your energy and time by considering the following:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Do it while running a timer. When done, note the time it took. Add that time onto your task description (if it is a recurring task) to remind you that it doesn\u2019t take that long.<\/li>\n
  2. Schedule it. If you can\u2019t do it now, schedule a time in your calendar for \u201cmiscellaneous tasks\u201d (I call it \u201cTIE\u201d for tasks, in-box, email) and make sure you stick with that appointment.<\/li>\n
  3. Postpone it–carefully<\/em>. If you must<\/em> postpone the task, only allow yourself to postpone it once. If you don\u2019t, you may postpone it so much that you\u2019ll push it into a time when it comes up again, and now the work is doubled (i.e. if you don\u2019t do September\u2019s report until October, you\u2019ll then have two reports to do.)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ background_color=”#f7f7f4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|”][et_pb_row make_fullwidth=”on” custom_width_px=”680px” use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|” make_equal=”on” column_padding_mobile=”on” background_color_2=”#efefe9″ parallax_method_1=”off” parallax_method_2=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ column_padding_mobile=”on” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/tasks3.jpg” show_bottom_space=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.101″ animation_direction=”off” animation=”off”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ column_padding_mobile=”on” background_color=”#efefe9″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/tasks2.jpg” show_bottom_space=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.101″ animation_direction=”off” animation=”off”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text disabled_on=”off|off|” _builder_version=”3.0.101″ text_font=”PT Serif||||” text_font_size=”24″ text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” text_text_color=”#818178″ text_line_height=”1.4em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”20%|10%||10%” custom_margin_tablet=”|10%||10%” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop”]<\/p>\n

    Sometimes our mind makes things harder than they are.\u00a0Be realistic about the time a task will take.<\/p>\n

    [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.47″ text_font=”PT Sans|on|||” text_font_size=”12″ text_text_color=”#888888″ text_letter_spacing=”2px” text_line_height=”1.2em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”20px||20%|” custom_margin_tablet=”20px|||” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet”] BETH BEUTLER [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|”][et_pb_row use_custom_width=”on” custom_width_px=”1200px” use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”4″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|” custom_padding_tablet=”0px|||” column_padding_mobile=”on” parallax_method_1=”off” parallax_method_2=”off” parallax_method_3=”off” parallax_method_4=”off” admin_label=”row” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ column_padding_mobile=”on” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.101″ text_font=”PT Serif||||” text_font_size=”20″ text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” text_text_color=”#363636″ text_line_height=”1.4em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”60px||0px|” custom_margin_tablet=”40px||0px|” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet”]<\/p>\n

    Inevitably, there will be tasks that really don\u2019t take that long and can be knocked out in the time it takes to gear up to do them or complain about them. To get started, do you procrastinate regularly any of the following?<\/p>\n

    5 Minute Tasks: cleaning out one file, cleaning off my desktop, deleting or moving a few electronic files, cleaning up\/deleting emails I don\u2019t really need, doing a quick review of my calendar for the next week<\/p>\n

    10 Minute Tasks: returning a couple of phone calls or emails that take just a few sentences; doing a more detailed review of my calendar, researching a product, cleaning out a desk drawer<\/p>\n

    15 Minute Tasks: conducting a call with a client, reading a chapter of a professional development book, taking a walk, cleaning out a good number of emails.<\/p>\n

    Sometimes our mind makes things harder than they are. Be realistic about the time a task will take. In some cases, you may be surprised that it won\u2019t take as long as you think! Time it and tame it for less stress!<\/p>\n

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    Every month, I prepare a statistical and financial report on a project for which there are ongoing sales and other people involved. No one is standing over my shoulder waiting for the information, but it is useful.One day, toward the end of my work day, that task remained on my list. So I changed the due date and closed up shop for the day. The next morning, when I had limited time, I decided to see how long it would take to actually do the task and get the report out, so I set a timer and dove in.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3240,"featured_media":31007,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_cbd_carousel_blocks":"[]","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[8,38],"class_list":["post-31003","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-on-the-job","tag-leadership","tag-management-government-administration"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nKill the Dread of Unlikable Tasks - How to Take Advantage of Time - Careers in Government<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/gov-talk\/career-advice\/on-the-job\/kill-dread-unlikable-tasks-take-advantage-time\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Kill the Dread of Unlikable Tasks - How to Take Advantage of Time - Careers in Government\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Every month, I prepare a statistical and financial report on a project for which there are ongoing sales and other people involved. 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