working on purpose

So, I have a confession to make. For many (many, many, many, MANY) moons now, I have been pretty lazy when it comes to work. Oh sure, I'm still getting a lot of stuff done, and I'm still doing huge projects. But, I'm really not giving it my all...more like 45%. I pretend I'm working. I worry about working. I stress about projects I have to do. I just don't use my time wisely.

Over the last few weeks, I've been working on working. :)

I am a lot more productive when I have a daily to-do list. And, I know what it is I NEED to get done that day and what I WANT to get done and what would be a BONUS if it got done. Some days I work on the bonus items and ignore the needs and the wants. Then, I stress about not getting the needs done when they should have been done. And it ripples through life and causes some problems.

I also work better when I put myself on a schedule and decrease my distractions. I know this about me. I get distracted very easily and since I have NO sense of time, I think I've been distracted for five minutes when really it has been 25. I've missed meetings this way. I get behind. It does not serve me well.

Am I making progress? YES!! I can honestly say I am making progress. Here are the five things that make a difference in my day.

1. Make a list the day before. 

Not only am I making a list but I am prioritizing my list. I know, basic time management. I know! I have just be horrible at it lately. My list is actually a combination of the need/want/bonus items for work, for doterra, and for personal stuff. One of the reasons lists have not been working for me lately is that they center on my job instead of everything in my life that needs to be done that day. This is making a big difference in helping me prioritize my day. 

2. Use a timer.

Doesn't that sound like I'm a two-year old? Remember when I said I get distracted for five minutes only to find out that it has been 25? Well, with a timer, I am quickly put back on track. I am currently using this app on my phone called Pomodoro. When you start the timer (which looks like one of those old-time tomato timers, it is fun), you have 25 minutes on which to focus on a specific -- as in ONE task. When the timer rings, you can take a short 5-minute break. Then you can focus on the same task again for another 25 minutes or switch as needed. What I love about this app is that it breaks my day up into 30 minute segments. I can plan around that! And, my five minutes really are five minutes! 

3. Open a new browser winder (or close the browser altogether)

Sometimes, I'm working on a project that requires access to the internet. When that happens, I found that if I open a new window and make it take up the entire screen, I don't see all those little icons on the other tabs that show me I have new notifications, or pins, or whatever. If I don't see them, I don't want to check them and then I can stay on task. I do still hear the notifications but if I focus, I can tune them out. Social media is really the biggest time sucker I have. I am working to tone it down (on the personal level but up for doterra stuffs) but I can still get easily distracted. 

4. Don't read in the mornings. 

I love to read. I am a veracious reader. My idea of heaven is a library the size of the Empire State Building with nothing but time to read. Sometimes, I wake up before my alarm goes off. Lately, when I find myself in that situation, I start reading. Then the alarm goes off and I'm in the middle of an exciting part and I just turn off the alarm and keep reading. And then it is 1.5 hours later (yup, not lying here) and I'm still reading! UGH...what happened to my day? So, no more reading in the mornings. That is an evening, before I go to bed activity. Not a waste-all-morning activity. 

5. Take my vitamins. 

Have you heard of the doTERRA Lifelong Vitality Pack? No? Well, they are just the most amazing product I have ever taken. I am sleeping better, which means I have more energy, which means I'm not dragging all day, which means I can get more done! In addition, I feel like I have better clarity, my muscles are stronger, and I can do anything! I know, they are just vitamins, right? WRONG!! I seriously thought the same thing, and was hesitant to try them but this formulation is the bomb.com. Nothing in the past 25 years has helped my crazy insomnia as much as this pack. NOTHING. I don't even want to live without them again. So, every day. I need to take my vitamins and have a great day.