Nov
Multi-tasking
I used to consider myself a fairly good multi-tasker. I could keep track of the kids and their activities, find time to hang out with them, keep everyone’s stomach happy at dinner time, and get laundry and other jobs done all before I shut my eyes for the night (let’s pretend I didn’t have issues with insomnia, okay? Makes me sound more productive).
I even added homeschooling to the mix for an entire year at one point. And then, a few years later, single motherhood and four different part-time jobs…
Yet I still got everything done.
I think some of that was my love affair with the to-do list. I wrote everything down that I needed to do in a day…exercise, shower, take kids to school, write, laundry, work, dinner, take kid # 1 here, take kid # 2 there, bed. As I did them, I checked them off–often adding things to my list just so I could ink a little mark next to them (yeah, I know…).
But lately, the list thing has fallen off. Mostly because I don’t have a space yet that I can call mine. No spot for the calendar that keeps me on track, no place where my to-do list can be without getting covered over by other stuff. Which has me feeling like a failure in the multi-tasking department.
And that’s not a good place to be when I have three major projects due over the next thirteen days.
So how do you juggle things? What works for you? I’ll take any and all suggestions no matter how big or small…
~Elizabeth
November 2nd, 2009 at 9:40 pm
I like the to do list also, but I do it a little different. Mine works on a week basis. If I don’t get to something that day, it goes on the next day’s list. I work out of my calendar book a lot. Yes, it has business meetings listed, but it also has mail rent check, pick up stamps, stop at Sams. Giving myself a little leaway helps.
Of course I didn’t exercise like I planned on today. Maybe tomorrow. We work toward improvement, not perfection.
Lynn
November 3rd, 2009 at 8:28 am
I color code my daily planner, then have a list that is sometimes split by category: Teaching side- grade quizzes, write lecture chapter 10 etc … the House side: dark laundry, vacuum living room etc
The planner shows one week at a glance == each day goes 6am to 9pm;I have appointments written in (or things) and I outline them with different color highlighters (love that!) — green for clients, pink for classes, orange for persons (hair cut etc), blue for anything that counts as exercise…..
Things still get moved to the next list, but it makes me FEEL as if I’m organized!
November 3rd, 2009 at 10:16 am
Lynn, I like the *idea* of a week long to-do list but I’d be afraid I’d keep pushing it all back to the last day. Perhaps I should give it a whirl.
Nikki, LOL on the colored highlighters. I like that because it would give me a reason to go into an office supply store and buy something fun!!! And I so get the “feel as if I’m organized” part.
November 3rd, 2009 at 1:51 pm
Yep–that’s right! Let me know if you try it!!
November 3rd, 2009 at 3:33 pm
I allocate time for each task. The one that will take less time to complete, I tackle first. The longer tasks, I try to do as much as I can get done and whatever I don’t finish, can be finished the next day. This way I feel that I’m accomplishing all of my tasks as opposed to none or some.
November 4th, 2009 at 7:54 am
Elizabeth–You have to vow to cross something off the list each day! LOL
Nikki — my work calendar highlights things in color for me. I’ve just been too busy to really play with it.
Dru – I think there’s some merit to setting time limits. I’m always over committing my to do list and then feeling guilty because it doesn’t all get done.
November 5th, 2009 at 8:03 am
Dru, time allocation? Sounds like that requires some discipline…but I like the notion. Very cool.
November 11th, 2009 at 11:41 am
I never spend more than 15 minutes at the library, but I go weekly so I know what’s going on in the world. I can’t possibly read, or watch, that much in a week. I only break that rule when I’m reading magazines (and saving money by doing it there). When my son was young we limited ourselves to a given number of books (7 specifically). That way I wasn’t always reading the same book over and over. We also recorded the books as we read them so he could listen again, and again to the same book (while I cooked or baked, getting my list checked off, my books read, and keeping him happy).
November 11th, 2009 at 11:43 am
Thank you for this book, I’m looking forward to reading more from you.
November 11th, 2009 at 11:51 am
Oh, on “money sense”–did I mention our library has DVD’s we can borrow for a week?
November 11th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
Gail, good tip on recording yourself reading your son’s books so he could still hear them when you’re busy. Very neat!
I’m so glad you liked SEW DEADLY!!!! The second, DEATH THREADS, comes out March 2nd!!!
December 16th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
I also do the list. Theres no specific time frame but I really like to get those items checked off, so it does keep me from procrastinating to much.
December 30th, 2009 at 10:26 pm
Gail, I listen to books on tape (CD) too as I live in the Atlanta suburbs and it takes me 40 minutes to get to work and home and listening to a book is more calming than listening to the radio. My favorite “reader” is Christina Moore.
Elizabeth, I started and finished Sew Deadly today…. Great book. You are now tied with my favorite author – Jennifer Chiaverini. I love the Elm Creek Quilt book series. I lack the ladies to form a sewing group or a quilting bee so I love living the friendships formed in your books.
I can’t wait for the next book!
Happy New Year!
Brenda
December 31st, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Hi Brenda!
I’m so glad you enjoyed Sew Deadly!! And you know what? I love living the kind of friendships I formed between my characters, too. Tori is the kind of friend everyone wishes they had because she gives it unconditionally.
The new book will now be released on MAY 4th (they’re making a neat change to the cover) so mark it down!!!
Happy New Year!
January 1st, 2010 at 12:18 pm
Elizabeth,
I can relate with Tori in regards to “being from the south”. I was born and raised in Central Florida and it really bothers me now that I live in GA that people say that I’m not from the south! I spent the first 37 years of my life in FL and can’t see how that’s not the south! But at least Tori accepted the correction graciously….
Oh, and speaking of corrections, are you going to enlighten the readers, who aren’t from the south, about the meaning of “bless her heart”? That is one of my most favorite “southern” phrases!
Happy New Year,
Brenda
January 1st, 2010 at 1:44 pm
I love “bless her heart” and the way it’s almost a backhanded slap. That’s a good note, Brenda. I’ll need to explain that somewhere along the way.
Hey…starting Monday, I’ll be posting a new blog here every weekday. Fun stuff. Would love to see you getting in the mix with some of those!