31 Days of Productivity - Day 2

Today I have managed to get through a few things on my to-do list and make it through a few meetings ... but I have reached a stand-still because I have had a horrible headache all day.  Even typing this looking at the computer screen hurts.  I have worked with the lights off to help get the most important things done that I need to do.

Luckily, there are several things on my to-do list that I cannot finish because I am waiting on information from others so I do not feel guilty continuing to leave those items on the corner on my desk.  I have a few phone calls that need to be made and emails that need to be sent, but I'm just losing the battle of focus to these hammer pounding in my head.

I took a long lunch and went to my mom's house to take a nap ... knowing that I work my second job this evening.  At first I felt guilty about that "waste of time" and then I thought about how much better I would feel and how much more I could get done, if I could just get rid of the migraine ... Unfortunately, the migraine is still there BUT it has dulled and I feel much more refreshed to take on the world for the evening.

Productivity lessons of the day: It is okay to just get the importnat things of the day done ... those meetings that were already scheduled and just the items of immediate priority on your desk .... Productivity is fluid ... It will ebb and change and flow ... And as long as the work that needs to be done is getting done in a timely manner, we are allowed to slack a bit one day ....

And last, but not least, one of the most importnat lessons I have learned about productivity:  Sometimes we won't feel well ... Sometimes our heads will hurt or our stomachs or our noses ... It happens.  That is life.  And, yes, those days make being productive even harder, but the longer those illnesses and pains last, the more off track we get with our productivity ... So sometimes it is the most productive you can be to take a long lunch and take a nap ... or stay home, take medicine and sleep.  You might think that is a waste of time, but it might be just what you need to get your productivity back on track.

Day 1 - 31 Day Productivity Challenge

I struggle with procrastination ... I mean who doesn't?!  I complain about how little time I have to get everything done ... but the reality is most of the time I'm just lazy.  I don't want to clean the kitchen, instead I want to watch the HIMYM rerun I've seen 10 times ... I don't want to finish the work I know I need to finish bc I want to clear off my email and Google Reader feed ...

I spend a lot of time justifying my procrastinating actions ... But they haven't gotten me anywhere ...

Here's why this is so important to me!

In May of last year I opened my own law practice ... At times I have been quite busy and others have been incredibly slow ... I like being busy because that means less financial stress ... but I wil be honest in saying that I love the slow times more ... Why? Because I can read a book, check Facebook, spend hours on Pinterest, house hunt, go shopping, get my hair done, etc ... I have been pretty justified that when I do not have work to do and things are slow that I can just do whatever I want ...

But this mentality is killing my business.  There is always something that can be done ... ALWAYS.  There are always blog posts I can write, marketing events I can attend, or simply taking the time to catch up with old clients or friends who might be in need of my services.

So today I embark on a 31 day journey to become more productive and use my time for wisely ... If you tips, tricks, marketing tools ... anything that can pull me and my business out the slump I would love to hear them!

So far today I have been the most productive I have been in a while ... It is 1:52 p.m. and a good chunk of my To-Do list is finished ...

And as much as I hate to admit it - the cause for my extreme productivity to start the week: Getting up at 5:30!  I got up and carpooled with my husband this morning, which meant that I had roughly 2 hours of downtime before work even started today (oh, I know I'm going to be paying for it later when I'm too tired to function).  It gave me some "me time" to catch up on some reading, read my Bible, check Facebook updates, make a good action list for the day, and de-stress before the day even started!

I don't think I will continue getting up at 5:30 in the morning, but I think I need to start setting my alarm 30 minutes earlier so I can use that extra time to get  a few of the things done that I know need to be done before my day truly starts ...

Just a note:  This was extremely hard for me to admit since I LOVE to sleep!  I hate alarm clocks with a passion.  And last but not least ... I am NOT a morning person!  But maybe that is just the change I need.

Any tips or tricks for turning yourself into a morning person?

A New Day

I originally started this blog with the intention of writing about books ... And now I've realized after months of un-use and complaining that I don't have the time to devote to blogging, I've decided on a more practical approach ... A blog to just write about whatever!  Share my favorite quotes, verses, etc., but also to share my thoughts and feelings.

I am joining a writing challenge for the month of October to write on a topic for 31 days!  I've decided to write about my battle with productivity ... It will be my account of the distractions and I face daily and my battle to overcome them to get more done!

I hope these posts will encourage others who struggle from the same procrastination disorder to overcome the obstacles that get in our way.

Books for Christmas

If you are anything like me, then you have a list of books you would like to see under the tree for Christmas!  Or better yet, how about an eReader under the tree with the books you want?  I am all for being environmental and saving trees and reading on my Nook instead of actually getting books, but I will admit there is just something about a big book wrapped under the tree that makes the Christmas tree sparkle and glow like it has a secret!

Quote of the Day

He puzzled and puzzled until his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. Maybe Christmas, he thought ... doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps ... means a little bit more!


-Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas 

NaNoWriMo

This past month with the prompting from my sister, I decided to try my hand at National Novel Writing Month.  I am proud to announce that I made it to the 50,000 word goal two days before the deadline and validated my novel.  I am still working on editing my work and may post some excerpts from the novel at times.

If you don't know much, or anything, about NaNoWriMo, check out the website, so maybe next year you can participate as well!

http://www.nanowrimo.org/

Quote of the Day

Unless you have been very, very lucky, you have undoubtedly experienced events in your life that have made you cry. So unless you have been very, very lucky, you know that a good, long session of weeping can often make you feel better, even if your circumstances have not changed one bit.


-A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket