For example, suppose you made several careless mistakes on your math homework. Looking back, you might realize that you were rushing to finish your homework because there was a show you wanted to watch on TV. Rushing through your homework is the probable cause of your mistakes. Remind yourself that failure isn’t a bad thing. Mistakes can help you grow and become better at what you do. [2] X Expert Source Sandra PossingLife Coach Expert Interview. 13 August 2020.
For example, if you find that you make more mistakes after working for an hour, you might want to build in short breaks so that you aren’t working that long. Breaks help keep your mind fresh and make it easier to focus.
If you have to go find things after you’ve already started the task, it can take you that much longer to get back into the swing of things once you return. Too many interruptions and you might find yourself rushing through the job, which leads to an even greater risk of making mistakes.
Be patient with yourself—it’s okay if it takes you longer than it takes someone else, or if it ends up taking longer than you thought. It’ll still take less time if you do it right the first time as opposed to having to fix a bunch of mistakes after the fact. Sometimes it’s hard to figure out how much time you need to complete a task—especially if it’s something you’ve never done before. Just give it your best guesstimate, then multiply that amount of time by 1. 5 to make sure.
For example, if you’re writing a report, leave time to go through it carefully and proofread for any typos or grammatical errors. You might also have a friend or family member look it over—a fresh set of eyes can catch a mistake you might miss.
To help yourself be more present, try a short meditation where you focus all your attention on each sense for 1 minute. What are you seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling, and feeling? Do this whenever you feel your mind drifting to bring it back in touch with your surroundings. [8] X Expert Source Sandra PossingLife Coach Expert Interview. 13 August 2020. You’re most likely to make careless mistakes when you’re doing something you’ve done a thousand times that you don’t need to think about doing. Because you’re not paying attention, it’s easy to miss something—but practicing mindfulness can help.
The only things you can successfully multi-task are things that you can set and forget. For example, you can do something else while you’re doing the laundry because you don’t have to do anything while the machine does the work. Just don’t forget to take it out when it’s done!
You might also get in the habit of making a to-do list each day, either first thing in the morning or before you go to bed at night (for the next day). This can help you organize your day better so you aren’t leaving things to the last minute.
For example, if you have a hard time making phone calls and you have 2 phone calls you have to make, try to do them first thing in the morning and get them out of the way. Check in on your energy level at different times of the day and keep a log so you can figure out when you tend to have the most energy. Do complex tasks during those times to lessen the risk of making mistakes.
It’s best to do this as soon as possible after you’ve made the mistake and it’s still fresh in your mind. Otherwise, you might forget to set your reminder! For example, suppose you’re late to work one morning because you forgot to get gas the day before. Create a reminder that prompts you to check your gas gauge and see if you need to get gas on your way home from work, then set it to go off each afternoon about the time you’re leaving work.
Even if you have a separate calendar for work, it’s still worth your while to add all those items to your master calendar. You can color-code things for work using a different color ink than you use for personal commitments. If you use a digital calendar on your computer or smartphone, you can also set reminders that will help you keep track of your appointments.
