Today is the DAY!
I have been thinking about, planning to, deciding to — write everyday. And well, that just doesn’t happen. But I do think it is very important that I write as often as I can. One of the things that I know happens when I write, is I reinforce ideas, ingrain new information into my head, learn more about myself and honestly, I love that it SPARKS CREATIVITY. Rolling around with ideas on paper or on the screen allows me to sit with them for awhile. It forces me to find words to articulate my thoughts and often new ideas come forward.
Welcome to my “Dailies” — day one.
Today I am starting my daily writing, with the goal to write at least 400 words that I can publish and share. It shouldn’t be too hard. It is 10 in the morning and I’ve had my breakfast, fed the foster kitties, made a pot of coffee (I’m on cup #2), answered a few emails, scheduled a few Facebook posts and walked a little over a mile. Feeling very productive and accomplished!
Last week I was sharing with a client my tactic of using a daily index card to help me feel productive. I couldn’t remember then, which book I had learned that tactic from, but wouldn’t you know it, I was re-listening to Manage Your Day-to-Day, by Jocelyn K. Glei – and there it was in chapter one. Now, Glei talks about using a 3″ x 3″ post-it and I use a 4″ x 6″ index card. But the message is the same. Write down three to five things you want to get done today (or do it the night before, for tomorrow), on a “small piece of paper” – don’t make the too hard or or too big – make them doable. Then, don’t go to bed until they are done. It is that easy.
Here’s my card for today.
I do more in the day, I mean, I’m writing this! 🙂 But here’s what is solves for me:
- I start the day with ideas of what I want to accomplish, but I get distracted or pushed onto other things. This grounds me and gives me focus. I do at least 3 tasks – and then at the end of the day, I can honestly say, I did some of the things I wanted to today.
- It forces me to prioritize. What MUST I do? I have to ask myself that question. What do I need to do today that will make me feel accomplished and productive at the end of the day.
- I allow myself to put personal goals, or small things on the list – sometimes it is as simple as “take a shower” or “see the sunshine” – if this is something I have been skipping or leaving out of my day. Adding it to the card will help me put focus on it.
I’m going to CLEAR MY DESK now, so I can check that one off the list.
**** Oh, and my phone keeps making this horrid ringing sound. It is some sort of notification, but there is NO alert, or popup. So I have no idea which app is doing it! Stay tuned for the saga of the mysterious phone alert. I will either discover the culprit or hurl the phone out the window!