Comments on: When everything on your plate is a priority

By: Michelle V. Rafter

Michelle V. Rafter — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:24:27 +0000

Delia: I took a self imposed break from my social networks this summer when I went on vacation, though I did check email a couple times. It was refreshing, and surprise, the world was still turning when I returned. It’s definitely a worthwhile mental break. I had been taking weekends off of work too, but this fall have needed to put in a couple hours on Saturday or Sunday to keep up. I’m hoping I can stop that during the holidays. As for nothing in the email inbox, I’ve done it before, but it doesn’t last long. I’ve gotten better with immediately replying, deleting or filing though.

MVR

By: Michelle V. Rafter

Michelle V. Rafter — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:20:44 +0000

Thanks Susan – have to say, after the last year, we’re lucky to have this problem, no?

By: Susan Johnston

Susan Johnston — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:31:04 +0000

Amen, Michelle! I am busier than ever. I really need to say no more, but it’s good to have lots of projects going (and thus lots of paychecks rolling in). I write to do lists, but I rarely follow a strict schedule. Inevitably things come up during the day (I get a last minute assignment or a client calls with an urgent question or I get locked out of my apartment) and I need to be flexible enough to respond without being locked into a schedule. I don’t usually get too far off track, but sometimes things come up that have to take precedence.

By: Delia Lloyd

Delia Lloyd — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:33:13 +0000

Funny, I just posted on my blog about how I ended up taking a “self-imposed vacation” last week (from my blog) in order to do something on my to-do list (send out my novel to agents) that just never seemed to get done. My feeling is that the things that need to get done always do, whether b/c you prioritize them or, like me, you decide to de-prioritize something else (for a week, say.) But i also learned from that week that you never, ever hit a zero inbox. It just doesn’t happen and learning to live w/that is the biggest challenge of all.

Delia Lloyd
http://www.realdelia.com

http://realdelia.com/2009/11/18/tips-for-adulthood-how-to-make-time-off-productive/

By: uberVU - social comments

uberVU - social comments — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:54:20 +0000

Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by michellerafter: New on WordCount freelance blog: When everything on your plate is a priority: http://bit.ly/FU0VP…

By: Brandi U.

Brandi U. — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:12:17 +0000

Great post! Although I’m not as busy as you, I do feel like I always have a ton of stuff to do. From marketing to paperwork, I always feel like my mind is several feet in front of my body and I can’t ever keep up.

For right now, I’ve been just working on the most important (paid stuff) or stuff that’s due first. When I take a break, I Twitter or Facebook, write a few blogs or apply for more writing jobs.

I’m curious to know what others do too especially for times when my business (*knock on wood) grows.

By: Dave Doolin

Dave Doolin — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:17:33 +0000

1. Timers are gold. I set the timer on my iPhone for 1 hour work sprints. The hard thing is gearing up to use the time.

2. Do the most important thing first two working hours. Preferably before you check email.

These two things right here will go a long way.

3. Stop keeping todo lists. I’ve stopped writing anything down actually. Unless I can more or less publish it immediately, or include into something that’s ongoing without much effort.

Instead of todo lists, visualize your outcome. Find a quiet place, make a mental image of what you want to get done. Make your mental image as complete as you can. If necessary draw a road map in your mind’s eye from here to there. But don’t write anything down.

I have stacks and stack and web pages full of todo lists, journals bulging full of ideas, hardly any of which I ever look at after I write them down.

If I can turn a todo list into an article, I will write that down.

We have a problem that’s gotten really bad over the last two years: fewer people are being paid too little money for too much work.

It can’t continue, but I don’t know what the breaking point looks like.

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Twitted by MeredithResnick — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:01:52 +0000

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