How To Get Back On Track With A Ministry Task

If you’re anything like me and you get distracted by things, it can be hard to get back to the task you were meant to do. This can be frustrating when what you need or have to do lingers over you. If you can relate, you have noticed that it has become a habit and is happening more often than you would like.

When this happens to me, my natural response is, ‘Oh, I will do it tomorrow’—which never happens.

So how do you overcome this and get back on track without making yourself feel worse? If this is something you struggle with, here is my go-to strategy—identify the task, problem and solution.

Ministry Task (example): I got caught up with a project I need to do today. In addition to that I needed to write my blog post.

Problem: How do I get back on track and complete this task?

Solution: Get clear on the action you need to take that is going to create the least resistance.

Next, make a plan and implement it. It doesn’t have to be perfect or complicated; it just needs to work for you and get you to your desired outcome. If you do find yourself in this situation:

Create An Action List

This can be really helpful when you have no clue where to start. It also allows you to figure out if it’s something you should complete now or reschedule. This is not always the case, for tasks that you set yourself to do that day but pushed to the back of the list are going to be your number one priority before the day ends. To get started:

• Do a brain dump—Write a list of what steps you need to take—especially if you don’t have the motivation to get started. By getting it out of your head and onto paper, you're able to see what you need to do and what your process will look like. This can be a detailed breakdown of what you must do right now if you’re going to take action. For example, you got distracted and didn’t get your blog post up—you can make a list of some ideas for short blog posts you can create. Look for inspiration—this can be especially helpful if you need a quick, effective solution to move forward.

• Simplify Your Process—When you’re trying to get back to a task, you want to be mindful of your energy levels as well as your mood. This can affect the way you show up and how much you're able to do. For example, if you're used to writing longer, in-depth blog posts, maybe keep it to one main point with three simple bullet points—like this blog post. You could always go back to it and add more later, but for now keep it simple. Plus, it should be something you can easily create content on, not something you have to think long and hard about. This will allow you to get in the flow and write from a place of ease.

  Take A Break—Sometimes all you need is to step away for a bit and come back to it. This can be very effective if you’ve used up your energy and are struggling to transition from the thing you were doing to the task you want to get done. By taking a long or short break to refocus your mind on the task at hand, you're able to reignite the drive you need. For instance, when I feel sluggish, I would take a nap or sit in the dark for at least an hour—this helps my brain to switch off and rest. Other times I go and get a snack—because it could be as simple as your energy levels are low. It’s important to know what your body needs, especially in moments like this.