Holiday time
I was thinking about all the things I have to do today.
1. Finish an article that has an actual deadline.
2. Head to local bookstore with DD who has nothing to read.
3. Finish an article that has an actual deadline.
4. Buy socks for everyone because our socks run away on a regular basis.
5. Finish an article that has an actual deadline.
6. Keep up with blog reading and commenting, twittering* and emails.
7. Finish an article that has an actual deadline.
8. Shower
9. Finish an article that has an actual deadline.
10. Spend time with visiting parents.
How does one prioritize when everything in the schedule and routine are amiss? I mean, I have company, I have one kid who has school and one who does not — yet I’m not technically “off.” I have a daily deadline for consulting work that I do. I have newly groomed dogs vying for attention and constantly reminding me that there are other people in the house. I have kamish bread to bake and cheese trays to arrange and oh yeah, an article to write with an actual deadline that will garner an actual paycheck.
Usually that would take priority, and in theory, it does. I offered the article by the beginning of this week — when I was obviously not thinking. I have therefore decided that up until Wednesday morning is now officially “the beginning of the week.”
When you work from home and when your boss lives inside your head, are you ever off? I can finish my projects and have days where I do something else, but I’m mid-stream this week…not able to have a Thanksgiving week where it’s all play and no work.
It doesn’t have to pertain to writing. When schedules and routines go out the frost-covered window, how do you make sure nothing falls through the cracks or gets forgotten? I make a lot of lists, and found myself falling asleep with to-do’s running rampant through my mind.
I won’t let what I have to do take away from what I want to do this week, although much of that is the same. But there are extra’s this week and something we don’t get, no matter how much we wish or try or hope, is extra time.
Another reason to prioritize.
Yep. Less blogging. More baking.
And oh right, finishing that article.
*post on Twitter, post holiday
**SHALL ANSWER AGE-OLD QUESTION: WHAT IS KAMISH BREAD? TOMORROW!!
I think the first thing to do is to sit down with a nice cup of coffee and some kamish and make a list… of good excuses why your deadline should be extended. Finish up with some left over pie.
2. Send guests with DD to bookstore with a credit card or cash and instructions to browse through the store to find just the right book–and then go to the coffee shop and relax. They should have alone time with your kid. You can write. Or clean. Or surf the internet.
4. I think I have your family’s socks. That is–if they have holes in them and no matching partners.
Well, typically I have so much to do, that I have to let the ball drop on something, and forget something. So I just worry about what’s most important and let everything else slide.
(In other words, my house is a mess.)
Delegate, as much as possible! It seems like the article is really pressing, so maybe during quiet time (?) if parents take dd out, make a cup of hot coffee & work on that, freeing up worry-space for everything else!! Then treat yourself to a pair of fluffy knee-socks!
I’m a big list maker. Usually as soon as I write something down it’s locked in my head and I won’t forget, and therefore never consult the list, but I still have to go through the motions.
I agree – send DD out with family so you can finish your article. Good luck!
I like fern’s idea of sending guests to the bookstore with DD, while you get your writing done. Then you can relax. Also delegate the cooking.
I work from home as well, and I have to prioritize and let things fall sometimes. But the deadline, get paid stuff stays on top, unless someone is sick or something.
I know this won’t help you much now, but… maybe next time avoid a deadline by not scheduling it Thanksgiving week.
monica
What the heck is kamish?
Get the stinky thing done and off your plate FIRST (yeah, that article). And contrary to your denial, hon, you’re always “off.” *snirk* Happy Turkey Day!
Uh.. deadlines? I hear ya. I think editors and the devil got together and decided that, while I am free to pick my own deadline for ANYTIME this week, I’m really stuck having it done today or tomorrow. Uh, hello? Has everyone else forgotten it’s Thanksgiving this week?
On a separate note, usually when I stress and freak and postpone and finally write that (paid) article… I send it in a tizzy and get the infamous “I’m out of the office on holiday.. be back… blah, blah, blah” email. In other words, it doesn’t matter when I send it. They won’t read it until next week.
The only reason I keep these kinds of deadlines (even though they are really pointless) is to keep my word. Even the most average of writers (like me) can do good business if they keep their word. (Whether anyone is in the office to hear it, or not.)
Good luck, and happy holidays!
Bye next week, none of this will matter. You’ll do it Amy. Promise yourself a reward next week, focus on that and your tasks won’t seem so insurmountable.
Ah, therein lies the holiday dilemma. How does one get stuff done that needs to get done for the holidays, while simultaneously enjoying the holidays? I’ve got part of the answer. I don’t cook! And, let me tell you, you should try it. It takes a whole lot of pressure off and drastically shortens the holiday “to do” list. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
What is it with socks!?!? They vanish in my house too!
Good luck with those article deadlines.