Whittling Down 100 Posts in 200 Days

Do you prefer to write by hand or with a keyboard? Explain. … When I have time, I prefer to write by hand. It is a comforting experience and I am more creative.

I currently have 306 drafts for this blog. Please tell me I am not the only one to have so many ideas and half-done posts.

By Wednesday, September 2, 200 days away, I want to write and/or delete 100 posts. In addition to working on draft posts, I’ll be writing Friday’s Fave Fives and sneaking in brand new posts, as well.

Now, if I am honest, I would like to say I’d whittle down 100 posts in 100 days. But, I seem to have over-achiever syndrome. While I could do 100 posts in 100 days, I most likely would resent the project after a week or so. This year, I want to enjoy what I am doing in all areas of my life. Therefore, I am giving myself grace and doing this in 200 days.

I want to have my drafts down to 206 by September 2nd. I am giving myself permission to delete posts that are inconsequential and no longer interesting to me. Yikes! That is a scary thought

I will do the following . . .

Friday’s Fave Five Posts – A weekly gratitude meme

• 4 posts — March
• 5 posts – May
• 4 posts -June
• 5 posts – July
• 4 posts – August

Finish Up Drafts

• Finish Kindness series
• FInish Laughter series
• Consider Broken Shoulder Series or delete
• Consider a series about Chip or delete
• Series on Diabetes Management (April)
• Spring Bucket List
• Posts on Lent and Easter

New Posts

• National Holidays
• Posts from file on “Writing Ideas”

Your Turn . . .  How many drafts do you have on your blog? Want to join me in this venture? If yes, comment with how many drafts you’ll take care of by September 2, 2020. 

Related Posts . . . 31 Days of Finishing: Table of Contents & What it is About

31 Days of Finishing – Day 12: Done is Better Than Perfect

Day 12: I couldn’t get the seat covers square nor could I cut off the instruction tags without cutting the cover material. But I can get help with that. And DONE is better than perfect!

Do you ever procrastinate because you cannot do what your ideal is?

That sure describes me at times. I over-plan and over-dream what can be accomplished in a space of time. This is certainly true regarding the seat covers for my car.

I wanted to vacuum and shampoo the seat before putting on new ones. For a variety of reasons that is not happening – at least not any time soon. So because I couldn’t do the beginning steps of my plan, I figured I couldn’t do the ending steps either.

Moral of the story? I reminded myself that It doesn’t have to be perfect! So what if I put the new seat covers over dirty upholstery?

Dilemma solved. A new perspective achieved. So I went shopping and bought seat covers. And installed them. Sure looks pretty in my car – pretty and clean!

During this month of October I am joining LOTS of bloggers hosted by The Nester who will be writing every day about a topic. My topic is about finishing. I will spend 31 minutes each day on a to-do item (from the secondary list).

I will write about it and share any productivity tips I find helpful to FINISHING things.

Go here for the Landing Page with all the posts (which go live as they are written). The list is towards the bottom of the page. Go to the following link for Day 13: Delegation is a Good Idea When You Don’t Know What You Are Doing.

Your Turn . . .

• Do you ever let “perfect” get in the way of completing a job?
• If yes, how do you overcome this?
• What did you do with your 31 minutes of finishing today?

Related Posts . . . 

• 9 Ways Chronically Ill/Injured People Benefit from a To-Do List
• Done is Better Than Perfect
• There Can Be No Trust When Perfection is Your Goal

Done is Better Than Perfect

How good are you at finishing things? Does perfectionism ever break your cycle of start-to-finish? I confess, more times than I care to admit, perfectionism is my enemy to completion in some areas. I let this idea that I must do a perfect job overwhelm me to the point of paralysis.

Writing backwards is difficult! Isn’t it funny that I misspelled “perfect”?

Take this informal poll to see where you score on finishing well. Use these 3 answers as your guideline.

1. On target 90% – 100% of the time. I am very self-motivated.
2. I have a 70% – 90% completion rate. Lots of nagging and reminding keep me on task.
3. Under 70% is what I can accomplish. Fear, perfectionism, and overwhelm keep me from finishing well and on-time.

• How good are you at finishing home projects? I.e. repairs, home decor, gardening
• How good are you at finishing personal projects? I.e. cards, finances, hobbies
• How good are you at finishing work projects? I.e. reports, phone calls, follow-up

How did you do? Like me you probably found that it depends on the project as to how well you finished. Some things I rate myself as a 100% especially when it comes to work.

But with other things I am not so good. I.e.  Decluttering is still a top to-do. I have a lot of unsent birthday cards. I get overwhelmed by social media and so am behind in answering those multiple streams of inquiry.

After reading this article (Done is Better Than Perfect) and this article (The Done Manifesto Lays Out 13 Ground Rules for Getting to Done) from Lifehacker, I realized that “DONE IS BETTER THAN PERFECT.” This is true for most things that I am involved in.

• You don’t have to do a perfect job when painting a living room wall or cleaning out the garage.
• You don’t have to do a perfect job in paying bills or making costumes for the kiddo’s Halloween party.
• You don’t have to do a perfect job writing a school paper/work report  or returning a phone call.

You don’t have to know all the answers and most likely NO LIVES will be harmed with your less-than-perfect accomplishment. That probably holds true for me too. 🙂

And you know what? We are smart enough to know when a “perfect” job is needed.

• Doing surgery? Performing on The Voice? Perfection is needed.
• Putting in a rose garden? Decorating a cake? Perfection is not needed.

So from today on, I am going to assess my to-do’s by this new motto, Done IS BETTER than perfect. “The point of being done is not to finish but to get other things done” (#6). I am hoping this will snowball and before you know it my excess stuff, pile of cards, and half-written papers will be done!

Your Turn . . . How does this quote strike you? . . . What projects will you finish today (this week) because of applying the truth that Done is better than perfect? . . . Do you have some other way of dealing with perfectionism?

NOTE: This is the 4th photo in the series, A Fall of Self Portraits, from my Fall Bucket List.

• Photo 1: Hair & Memorizing
• Photo 2: Love in a Box (an Operation Christmas Child shoe box that is)
• Photo 3: Cell Phone Replaces Many Gadgets

Related Posts

• How Realistic is Your To-Do List?
• My Task Feels Too Big
• Seek First . . . What?

Grateful for 5 Things Done From Summer Bucket List

For the past 6 years or so, we’ve been having a “Make It” contest at our women’s retreats. We choose an item (for example flip-flops, pot-holder, wand) and ask the women to decorate it according to one of the three categories chosen. Click on the contest rules link “Contest_Rules_potholders – 2009” to see the instructions for the Pot-holder Make It Contest.

Last year’s (June 2011) contest item was a pail. Through a time of brainstorming, my friend Geri and I went from pail to bucket. This led me to creating a Summer Bucket List using a turquoise beach pail.

I picked 10 goals for my Summer Bucket list. These 10 things were not specifically summer oriented, just things that have been on my mental to-do list for a l-o-n-g time.

I am good at picking goals. I am good at writing out how to obtain them by mapping out a plan and a setting realistic deadline.  I am good at starting.

However, I am not too good at finishing. That’s why I look for creative ways like this to get things done. That’s why I put the retreat verse (Philippians 4:13) on the pail with puffy paint. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (I love using puffy paint even though it did come off in places.)

That’s why I wrote the following explanation on the required index card: “Because of God’s available strength, I am able to do many “impossible” things. I.e. Lose 10 pounds, declutter, and add new healthy recipes to my cooking repertoire.”

I started working on the Bucket List in Mid June. My finish date is September 30^th. It is still Summer HOT here then.

I read this quote on FB the other day (thanks Anza): “When you have a desire, back it up with action or let it go. To believe you want something you’re not doing anything to achieve is actually deceptive” (Buster Carter). Ouch! It made me think about my Bucket List. I decided to see how far I had come.

To my amazement, I’ve completed 5 of the 10 items. And I still have 5 weeks left! I am grateful that God indeed has helped me with these items. I am grateful that I persevered in accomplishing these 5 things.

1. Decluttered 3 boxes. I also went through my closet and gave away some clothing that no longer fit.
2. Finished 3 homework assignments for consecration. One of the assignments took FIVE minutes to finish. I had procrastinated MONTHS and MONTHS in doing that final work.
3. Bought new tops that look good on me and I like to wear. Last Spring I lost some weight and have been in need of new clothing. I am still looking for trousers that fit and look good. (Shopping is such a trauma for me.)
4. Exercised 4-6 times a week doing something I loved. Since late April I have been exercising this consistently in order to get my (formerly) broken shoulder back into shape. However, I cannot say that I have found the exercise I love to do.
5. Had a family outing. I was able to attend a dinner party my daughter had and both my son and I were able to attend along with some of her friends. I was hoping to spend the next day with both of them, but my son became ill. Had another great time with my daughter though.

This is good progress for me. Wahoo!

The other items on the list still to do are as follows:

• Write an e-book.
• Finish reading the Bible and then get a new one.
• Compile 7-10 new recipes that are healthy, tasty and become favourites.
• Read two books for fun.
• Lose 10 pounds.

Your Turn . . .

Where have you made good progress? For what are you grateful that you’ve finished and/or that God has helped you accomplish? Go here to read what other’s put on their Friday’s Fave Five Gratitude List.

Related Posts . . .

1. Motivating Myself in 5 Areas
2. Bingo Helps Me Get Things Done

Motivating Myself in Five Areas (GPM)

Katrina at Mama Manuscripts is hosting Goal Planning Monday (GPM). I am participating so I’ll have a record of what I complete each week. I’ll also have a tool to energize my (sometimes) flagging motivation to complete (1) the jobs I tend to avoid or (2) jobs that get overshadowed by the urgent items on my to-do list.

Her plan is to post 5 things to complete during the week. I am tweaking this a bit and posting 5 categories with two (sometimes three) actions to be done. (h) is  for home and for work. I will put a line through the task and date it when I am finished.

1. Exercise

(h) Walk 30 minutes (4-6 days)

(h) Sign up for the Idita-Walk (1/11)

Take a 5 minute stretch break every 90 minutes (3 times this week)

2. Declutter project

(h) Table in dining room area

Filing cabinet

3. Food

(h) Plan menu for week from anti-inflammation diet

Buy and bring in snacks for 3 weeks for work (1/7)

4. Miscellaneous

(h) Fix my godson’s blanket (1/11)

(h) Decide on and buy present for soon-to-be 15-year-old niece (1/12)

Email chronic pain resource list to Brittney (1/7)

5. Procrastination Project

(h) Call to see if part is in for car (have an appt. at 7:30a.m. on 1/8)

Take food to food bank (1/7)

Your Turn . . .

1. What’s on your goal list for this week?
2. Do you plan by category?
3. How do you motivate yourself when your energy or motivation is flagging?

Twitter Helps me Organize, Blog Helps me Strategize

On Twitter you have 140 characters to answer “What you are doing.” Because so few words are available, I am forced to succinctly organize my thoughts.

I just posted the following:

Housework, school, body aches & Retreat details need addressing. Wondering how to organize my week for maximum effectiveness, joy & peace.

Now that I have succinctly written my thoughts, I can now blog about a solution in as many words as it takes.

Overwhelmed. That is the major feeling from the tweet I just posted. Since I am feeling overwhelmed, I jotted down on my white board what needs doing in the 4 categories of . . .

• Housework
• School
• Body aches
• Retreat details

I then chose the #1 item in each category.

• Housework – Clean up from trips this week (Living room and kitchen)
• School – Research for Premillennialsim paper
• Body aches – Make chiropractor appointment & walk (Okay so this is 2 things, but I will read while I walk on roommate’s treadmill – unless I trip and add to my body aches.)
• Retreat details – Gather/print out all information and put in one place for meeting with Reggie

Looking at this list, I realize that there are many steps involved in each category. So I wrote what needs to be done for each category – one item per slip of paper.

For example, Housework slips include . . . .

• Put away sweaters
• Put away suitcase
• Clear off desk
• Clear off table
• Put Goodwill items into car
• Sort out sand dollars (put in bleach water to soak, wash towels)
• Put away dishes
• Wash dishes
• Take trash out
• Wash beach blanket

I put these many slips of paper in a orange-colored gift bag. This time I chose to keep the categories separate. Sometimes I mix the category slips of paper all together into the same bag.

After I am finished with this post, I will set the timer for 30 minutes. Then I will pull out one piece of paper: read it and DO what it says until the timer goes off.

Then I will “reward” myself for about 20 minutes. Unfortunately, I hardly ever reward myself. I think this lack is one reason why I have a hard time accomplishing things on some days.

I am too hard of a task master on myself. When I add the “rewards” to my day, I find that I have more joy.

Here are a few rewards I could get used to . . . .

• Eat a nutritious meal.
• Chat with a friend.
• Read a chapter in a “fun” book.
• Take a shower.
• Rest on an ice pack.
• Write a note.
• Water my garden.
• Say out loud, “Job well done, Susan.” ( I probably wouldn’t do this for 20 minutes. I think that then borders on megalomania.)
• Pray.

Then I’ll start the cycle over again with the timer and the orange bag of “job” slips of paper. Every finished slip of paper, brings me closer to peace. I’m trying to learn to live in peace even amidst the unfinished tasks of my lie.

So what do you do to help yourself when you are feeling overwhelmed and in a procrastinating mode? How do you organize your week for maximum effectiveness, joy & peace?

I Never Wear a Watch

“I never wear a watch because I always know it’s now – and now is when you should do it.” Steve Mariucci, San Francisco 49ers Head Coach

I have so many items on my to-do list that are NOW  items. Instead of trying to do them all today, my question to myself is . . . .

. . . . What 2 things will make the most impact by their completion?

Sigh of relief – only 2 things. That is my promise to myself.

I need to make 2 phone calls. I don’t like making phone calls. Silly, isn’t it?

What 2 things would most impact your life? If you share, I’ll be praying for you.

______________________________________________________________________

P.S. I never wear a watch either, but that’s cuz I’m allergic to metal. 🙂

Seek First . . . What?

I woke up with this thought, “Seek first the kingdom of God.“

My New Testament prof told us “the kingdom of God is wherever God’s will is being done.”

So my to-do list is down to one main principle – doing God’s will. Still hard to figure out what to do at times.

Maybe pondering the following question will help . . . “Is it really worth the life of our Lord, what we’re doing? (by David Lowes Watson)

Related Posts

• 5 Questions to Ask Before Making a Big Decision (written by Holly at God Chicks)
• 14 Ways to Determine God’s Will
• How to Hear God’s Voice
• Wondering About Options Brings Answer

Pondering Success & the Drowned Voice

“I valued accomplishment.”

“I valued being special.”

“I valued results.”

“The driven part didn’t question or examine these values.”

“It took them as real, and believed it was following the carrot “success” [and the road “righteousness”] wholeheartedly. Didn’t everyone believe in success? I never asked, “Success at what cost?””

“A part of me is quiet.”

“It knows about simplicity, about commitment, and the joy of doing what I do well. That part is the artist, the child – it is receptive and has infinite courage.”

“But time and my busyness drowned the quiet voice.”

The above words are from Plain and Simple (page 5) by Sue Bender.

Procrastination: Paralyzed by the Need of a Responsible Choice

Choosing the wrong values  . . . too many of them have led me to an unfocused, frenzied life.

Too many choices . . . all lining themselves under the appropriate lists of accomplishment, special, and results.

Too many choices . . . more and more calling at my life’s door. Each beckoning me into its grip of more.

I’ve collected these choices (some very good and noble) and added them to my to-do’s. Now surrounded by piles of varying heights of accomplishment, special, and results. 

However, not all my choices are discriminate. Instead they are indiscriminate.

Indiscriminate: Having no particular pattern, purpose, organization, or structure.

These piles, my plies, have their own voice and their own demands, much like frisky kittens aloof, attacking, and affectionate, alternating, without seeming reason. And not knowing which to tend to first, I fret.

Paralyzed by the need of a responsible choice, I make none until forced.

Procrastination covers the piles like a blanket muffling their cries for attention.