TOO MUCH TO DO?
There is so much vying for my attention right now. Can you relate? I have three projects that look as tasty as a steak in every direction I turn. I’m in a spot in my life where it’s not about finding opportunities; rather, it’s about choosing the right ones carefully. One way I am choosing to deal with my situation is to put time tables on commitments. I think everyone is glad America finally has a time table in Iraq because we need to get out of there. Just as it is sometimes the right thing to make a commitment, it is also a virtue to know when to give up and to stop. When a big project opens up to you, it’s a good idea to stop and re-evaluate at a set time. For some projects it might be after a week, others a month or even a year. The important thing is that you stay rational when that deadline comes and weigh the results of that project objectively.
GET PRACTICAL
I’ve shared on here so many times how much I love and use the tools rememberthemilk.com and Google Calendar. These two combined have made me at least 50% more successful since I started using them. I highly recommend them. As a guitar player, I know the value of my KVM switch. These online productivity tools are just as valuable.
A CHALLENGE
Consider the challenges before you. As you take on huge projects, make sure you put a time table on a calendar and when that deadline comes, be real and ready to walk away if it isn’t working out. This is something you must do even if the project is your dream or possibly your fairy tale. Realism regarding projects is a virtue of the maturity. The right tools get the project done. Whether it’s a KVM switch when you are on stage doinga guitar solo or rememberthemilk.com as you plan your weekly tasks … seek out the stuff the works and learn how to use it.
4 Comments
I might mention that there is a plug-in for thunderbird that adds calendar and task features for those who don’t want to go to a website to keep track of tasks, but Remember The Milk is the best task site I have seen by far.
Also, make sure you prioritize and if you have a lot of tasks, do many smaller ones first before you tackle big long ones so you feel like you are accomplishing something.
I think prioritizing the most important can help. I haven’t posted to my blog yet this week, and here I am reading and commenting on yours lol.
I can definitely relate on too much to do though, coming here to visit was a nice “time out” for me, which I definitely need if I am going to get back to work :)
@Dragon Blogger: I like how they are always there waiting for me. I can go online virtually brain-dead and just bring my tasks right up. I am their slave.
@Chelle: Good for you Chelle. If I can be a time out for you then I have succeeded in my blog’s purpose ;) I have all kinds of love ideas these days … need to get my time out over at your blog. Hey, I am noticing you’ve had a lot published at AC lately … great work.
Time tables are important. I have many projects that go uncompleted because I don’t allocate enough time for them, don’t give myself a deadline for features of the projects I am working on, and eventually forget about them. I never heard of rememberthemilk.com, so I think I might go check that out.