Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Jumpstart my day

Today there is a long list of stuff I need to get done, much of it with deadlines attached...

...and, honestly, I don't really care.

Ok...I do care or I wouldn't be blogging about it,  but I just want to sit and mentally whine about how weary I am.

However, cup of coffee in hand, I'm going to do my best to take charge of this day, and attempt to tackle (and hopefully complete) only one task at a time.

How?  The method that has, over the years, worked best for jumpstarting my day is to use a timer.

At moments when life gets overwhelming, all I have to do is make one choice: set a timer for ten or fifteen minutes, then, during that time, attempt only one thing.

For example, if I need to clean the kitchen I set my phone for fifteen minutes, then I clean the kitchen.  

Just the kitchen.

This method means I don't clean out drawers, tackle the clutter on the dining room table, or carry the Amazon box to the trash.  I don't take stuff to my shop or my bedroom.  I don't move laundry or check my phone.

I do One. Thing. At. A. Time. Once the timer goes off, I reset it again for the same amount of time and continue. 

It's something I've done for so many years that it actually (sort of) becomes fun.  When my chore is complete I tackle the next thing on my list.

And.  Most important.  I schedule myself a timed rest/water/potty break every hour.


For those of you who are naturally organized, this method may sound silly.  However, for those of us who have thought processes that, at best can be compared to a ping pong game and, at worst, can resemble the screen of a television where a remote is continually changing channels without me pushing the button, a coping mechanism like this has become a necessity. 

I never cease to be amazed at how much I can do in just fifteen minutes of concentrated effort.  


How about you?  Journal about your strategy for dealing with the "I don't wanna's" in your life.  Does your strategy work?  If so, why.  If not, is there something you can do?




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