When it comes to your schedule, do you make time for hard work? Do you schedule time for procrastion, or recess, or play?
Chances are you have hard work on your to-do list. Like writing a resume, or looking at job listings, or networking…
So, if it’s hard work, then call it like it is. Put time on your calendar and label it Hard Work. Be honest with yourself. But, don’t give yourself a hall pass by avoiding the hard work altogether and worrying over what you don’t get done.
There are tasks that we do easily and efficiently, well most of us do, and there are tasks that sit on our to-do lists for days and weeks and months. It’s important to face the hard stuff head-on. But bound the time. And schedule something rewarding afterword.
Lots of people have techniques to get work done and stay on track. You know the usual lingo: set priorities, limit the number of tasks you’ll get done in each day, separate discrete tasks from projects (that’s a very smart one) knowing that a project is something you’ll work on over a period of weeks and the discrete tasks can in fact be completed in an hour, set a timer, get an accountability partner, break tasks down into bite sized parts, etc.
You probably know what works for you and where you slide. Or procrastinate.
What if you made a date for hard work and another date with procrastination? Yes, go ahead and put time for discomfort on the calendar. Create a block for answering nagging emails. Create another for the boring technology stuff that can take you out of your creative space. But make sure you also block out time for: easy breezy time, indulgences, pedicures, blowing bubbles and venting.
- Acknowledge what is hard and uncomfortable.
Name what is easy and enjoyable. - Get honest about your work habits. If you procrastinate, celebrate that. If you like to dive into distraction doing laundry and cooking soup while getting through your emails so be it. Put it on the schedule.
- In addition to indulgences and marketing, make sure your schedule is balanced.
If the week is all hard and boring, you probably won’t feel good and you may not get anything done.
Choose from this list and add what works for you.
- Easy and hard.
- Comfortable and uncomfortable.
- Interesting and boring.
- Joyful and nagging.
- Work and recess.
Whoever said we learned everything we needed to know in kindergarten was right; it’s important to have time for naps, play, milk, cookies and storytelling. Bring back recess for adults!