Staying on Task Update

I’m interrupting the Tarot series — life got in the way this last week so I didn’t get around to doing the next spread — but never fear, it will return next Thursday.

Dug from the movie UP

Six weeks ago I posted Staying on Task…SQUIRREL! about my attempt to find a schedule that worked. If you’ll remember, I posted this schedule:

1. Walking and/or D&E Writing (new wordage)
2. [30]Professional: Check E-mail, Social Media, and Blog Comments (on my blog not following up on others)
3. [60]General Cleaning and Laundry
4. Professional: Google Reader and Commenting (Twitter for re-tweets only)
5. ___
6. ___
7. [15]Personal: Check E-mail, Facebook, and Blog Comments (on my blog not following up on others)
8. ___
9. Personal: Google Reader and Commenting
10. ___
11. Professional: Research, Write, and/or Schedule Blog Post
12. [30]Professional: Check E-mail, Social Media, and Blog Comments
13. [30]Zone Cleaning, Re-boot Laundry (put in dryer), and Hot Spot Cleaning
14. ___
15. ___
16. Personal: Research, Write, and/or Schedule Blog Post
17. [15]Personal: Check E-mail, Facebook, and Blog Comments
18. ___
19. ___
20. ___
21. ___
22. [30]Professional: Check E-mail, Social Media, and Blog Comments
23. END DAY WITH SOMETHING FUN!

It takes about three weeks to develop a habit…I’ve had six. How did I do?

Well, I’ve been good about the Dark & Early for walking. The new dog has helped immensely with getting this done, no room for the “I’m too tired this morning” excuse. Currently, I’m working on revisions which I’ve learned through trail and error isn’t something I can work on D&E, so the writing aspect of #1 has not come into play yet.

#2 and #4 (as well as #7 and #9) have merged into one often lasting much longer than the allotted time. I’m not calling it a fail but it’s not a success either. Sadly I’ve not been as active in the commenting part #4 and #9 as I’d like but I’ve learned this is the area that suffers when I’m short on time.

#3 is a success but I kinda stacked the deck in my favor with that one.

#13 is mostly a success but like #3 I kinda stacked the deck with it as it has been a part of my routine for a while.

#11 and #16 have mostly been a success…posts continue to be posted…but the daily dedication to it is perhaps more 50/50. (Heck, this post is proof.)

All those blank spots were for the write-ins that came up on a daily basis. Overall, I’d say this schedule has been a success. However, with the addition of the dog and the advent of summer break starting today, I see a real need to revise this schedule.

Sigh. It’s almost like starting from scratch.

Any writerly tips and tricks?

Staying on Task…SQUIRREL!

Dug from the movie UP

I’ve been “officially” working at this writing thing for a month now. Staying on task, not so much. I’ve been feeling an awful lot like Dug from UP and the mere thought of a squirrel sends me scurrying in another direction. Not a great start. Nor is it the manner I wish to go forth.

Amazingly, or not, time management seemed to be the topic of blogs this past weekend. Rather timely. It’s not that any of the blog posts I read were new or life-changing but taken together created a series of ahh-ha moments for me.

The first ahh-ha was Kristen Lamb’s Time Management for Writers–Getting More Done in Less Time. Who doesn’t need that?!

I also make lists every day and no longer try to just “keep it in my head.” I then look at that list and whatever item makes me cringe when I read it (FROGS)? That is what I do first. Remember, 20% of our activity is going to account for 80% of our results.

Kristen Lamb also recommends Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time by Brain Tracy…yep that’s on my to buy list!

In the meantime, I’m working my way through all of Kristen Lamb’s blog posts on social media because I’m a newbie at all that. I’d been just fine and dandy with my little family blog (and Facebook page I opened kicking and screaming for a family reunion), but this writer’s life is a whole other beast.  Social media can be overwhelming, distracting, and if it’s not managed, a complete time suck.

I did set myself a rule early on that I could only get onto Twitter, Facebook, or MySpace  AFTER I’d done whatever my assigned writer related duty was for that day.  Most days it works.

The second ahh-ha came from Zoe Winter’s 5 More Minutes.  I literally hit my forehead.  Duh!  I’ve been a follower of the FlyLady for years. She has a simple motto: You can do ANYTHING for 15 minutes. Why the heck wasn’t I applying THAT to my writing life?

The final ahh-ha blog post came from Lynn Viehl’s Productive Task Listing. So simple. Alternate the dull tasks with fun tasks!

You know the old saying about all work, too, so try to devote a little time every day for play.

I’ve combine these ahh-ha moments.

Nailing that social media thing was my first priority. So, I pulled out an old Things To Do Today form left over from one Evil Day Job or other and wrote that in three times for my professional persona and two times for personal. Keeping up with the blogs I read came next, I’m limiting myself to checking Google Reader once a day per persona. Then I filled in the minimum FlyLady duties. I ended up with something like this:

1. Walking and/or D&E Writing (new wordage)
2. [30]Professional:  Check E-mail, Social Media, and Blog Comments (on my blog not following up on others)
3. [60]General Cleaning and Laundry
4. Professional:  Google Reader and Commenting (Twitter for re-tweets only)
5. ___
6. ___
7. [15]Personal:  Check E-mail, Facebook, and Blog Comments (on my blog not following up on others)
8. ___
9. Personal:  Google Reader and Commenting
10. ___
11. Professional:  Research, Write, and/or Schedule Blog Post
12. [30]Professional:  Check E-mail, Social Media, and Blog Comments
13. [30]Zone Cleaning, Re-boot Laundry (put in dryer), and Hot Spot Cleaning
14. ___
15. ___
16. Personal:  Research, Write, and/or Schedule Blog Post
17. [15]Personal:  Check E-mail, Facebook, and Blog Comments
18. ___
19. ___
20. ___
21. ___
22. [30]Professional:  Check E-mail, Social Media, and Blog Comments
23. END DAY WITH SOMETHING FUN!

Taking a page out of the FlyLady’s book I’ve put this basic list into a page protector. This allows me to use a dry erase marker to write in the date and fill in any of the blank lines with date specific tasks.

In keeping with Lynn Viehl I alternated the dull with fun tasks and made a note to end the day on a positive note.

From Zoe Winters (and actually FlyLady, too) I will take a 5 minute break after each task (see the numbers in brackets — my maximum time for said task) with a 15 minute break every hour (or four completed tasks, whichever comes first). It is all about pacing.  I think I need a timer.

Based on Kristen Lamb’s 20/80 thing I put the two things I struggle with up front. The dreaded exercise, I live in the desert, if I’m going to get my walking in it has to be Dark and Early, so I’ve got it first on my list while allowing myself Dark and Early writing if I’ve got new wordage screaming to get out. And, the bane of my existence, general house cleaning. Seriously folks, I’m surrounded by males.

I want to add yoga to my day, especially after reading Kait Nolan’s review of New U Fitness First Yoga and Pilates, but I’m not sure where it will fit yet.

This is still a work in process.  I’ve only been working with this schedule since Monday and according to the FlyLady it takes 21 days to build a habit, so we’ll see how I’m doing in three/four weeks.

So, talk to me:

• Do you have any time management tips or tricks?
• Have you had an ahh-ha moment about staying on task?
  • How did you act on it?