The Power of Overestimating

Respect your energy and your time; set boundaries that honor your authentic self.

Valerie Mirto

When your busiest fundraising season approaches, are you so busy adding stuff to your to-do list that you don’t have time to breathe? Are you dreading another year where you end up even more tired and burnt out?

Do you ever think about how long something will take when you add it to your list of things to do? My guess is probably not. And so your desk ends up looking like this:

Let me introduce you to the power of overestimating.

When my to-do list is getting out of hand, I take a look at it and try to figure out how to fit it all in. If I underestimate how long things will take, I will only end up in the same situation I was when I started—overworked and overwhelmed. So I overestimate.

I give myself time to transition out of one task and into another.

I schedule breaks to lift my head and look out the window, have a healthy snack, or take a quick walk.

This means I have to block out more time than I normally would. I have to overestimate how long it will take.

One tool I use when heading into a busy season is my Pre-Season Goal Setting worksheet. It allows me to clarify my goals, narrow down my to-do list, and identify the small steps it will take me to achieve what I want over the next 30 days. I also define what I will do to celebrate once my goals are achieved!

Hit the button below and grab this worksheet for yourself.

Block out 30 minutes to set yourself up for success this season. And don’t forget to overestimate! Never underestimate the importance of giving yourself some breathing room.

Get your free copy of my Pre-Season Goal Setting worksheet today!