Getting in the groove, especially after a break, is difficult. I seem to burn a day without much to show at the end of it. I get off the hamster wheel to grab a bite to eat or meet someone, but, over all, my nose is put to the tasks with little or no effect. I need to be more productive with my time.
My time and effort gets me nothing. Nothing, but 101 reasons why I can’t get things done. My desk might be one reason.
It’s a mess. I know. My workspace usually looks worse. So bad that I often take the MAC Air and head to clearer places.
My computer files are more messed up than the desk.
And please, don’t even look at my email inbox.
But the most cluttered part is my mind. It’s exponentially worse off than both my space and schedule combined.
The outcome is lots of stress and no progress. My productivity has been ZERO for too long. If I was my boss, I’d fire me.
The reality is that the creative part of me generates more ideas (tasks) than the practical homeschooling mom, household manager, and minister’s wife could possibly get done. I still have to perform the regular duties of cooking, cleaning, gardening, teaching, mentoring, leading, speaking and just being a wife and a friend. Add on the creative part of ministry and the business of it and I’m done.
Tired.
Sick and tired of not getting things done. By itself, my Franklin Covey way of prioritizing tasks in my little notebook wasn’t working anymore. Where is that saw that needs sharpened anyway? I need some drastic help.
Therefore, I looked into what other productive people do to get things done. After trying several systems, Michael Hyatt applauds David Allen, author of Getting Things Done and Nozbe, a task management system based upon the book’s principles. I researched the program and it sounds awesome. Check out Mr. Allen’s desk. But I can’t afford Nozbe’s monthly fee to get my life together.
*picture gettingthingsdone.com
Overwhelmed and lusting after productivity, I ended up doing what every overworked preacher’s wife does.
I whined.
Got slightly depressed.
And conducted an intense search of the house for dark chocolate!
Afterward, I called a friend for help.
Lori is a smart business woman who coaches small business owners to be more productive. (Surely she could help.) After sitting down with me for an hour and listening to my whine and never ending to-do lists, she quickly concluded how I should handle my tasks. (Btw, she didn’t see my desk or she’d have given up before starting.)
Stay tuned for the next post where I’ll share, to the best of my understanding, the system Lori said would help me. Her system might work for you too.
How do you deal with your weaknesses? What does your workspace look like? What excuses do you have for not getting things done?
Part II: 6 Tips to Get More Done System
This post is part of the blog series Insights into Ministry and Leadership. Interested in guest posting, check out the guidelines.
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