Do you have things piling up on your desk, emails that are going unread or return calls that just aren't happening? 

Here's a trick for getting them done:  Use a timer.

Set a timer for 20 minutes and focus only on one specific task while the timer is running.

Take that 20 minutes and knock out a pile on your desk.  When the timer goes off, you're done, move on.  If you need a longer time block, set the timer for 40 minutes and focus all your attention on eliminating the email backlog.   When the timer goes off, you're done, move on.  Set the timer for 30 minutes and do nothing but return phone calls.  When the timer goes off, you're done, move on.  You get the picture.

What you will find when the timer goes off is that you've at least made a dent in something that has been causing you stress.  You may even have eliminated it completely!  Isn't reducing the amount of stress in our lives one of our top desires?   

You allocate the amount of time that goes on the timer.  You choose whether or not to continue working on a task once the timer has gone off.  You may choose to repeat the timer trick daily or weekly for longer duration tasks or recurring tasks.  You're in charge.

The timer trick is also great for doing tasks that you don't want to do but know you need to do. 

For example, you may need to have an overdue conversation with an employee or peer, or to call a difficult client or to initiate contact with an intimidating prospect.  Set the timer for an hour and focus only on doing those tasks that you don't want to do but know you need to do.  When you finish the first task, and still have time left on the timer, move on to the next task.  Stay focused exclusively on completing these tasks you've been avoiding until the timer goes off.  Then, you're done, move on.

You can also use the timer trick at home. 

You know that pile of stuff that's growing?  The household chores that need to be done?  The kids homework and their chores?  Try making it a game.  Set the timer and see if all of you can get your tasks done before the timer goes off.  No one said work can't be fun!

At the end, take stock of what you did accomplish when the timer was running, give yourself a pat on the back for the good work and move on.  Pretty soon, you'll take that mountain of things to do down to a mere molehill.