What I need to do to actually get work done
I’m a chronic checker. Almost every day, perhaps multiple times a day, I check the following:
- My bank balances
- My Gmail account
- My Yahoo accounts
- My Outlook email
- My blog
- Other blogs
- My stats from my blog and website — technorati, MyBlogLog, Google analytics, etc
- The number of people who have signed up for my newsletter
- My weight
Man — writing them all out makes me look a little OCD, n’est-ce pas? I’m embarrassed to admit that I can actually spend a whole morning bouncing back and forth between checking things — before I get started on actual work.
Since I’m aware of my compulsions, I’ve developed a system to make sure I can get actual work done.
- I close my Outlook email. I’ve also turned off the little noises and indications it makes when new mail comes in.
- I hide my BlackBerry phone in the drawer at my desk. Otherwise I spend forever looking over to see if that little red light (You’ve got mail!) goes off.
- I write out all the tasks for the day on a To Do list, which I keep right in front of me. When I feel myself wandering off, I run my finger down the list to help me find something else that needs to happen. Today’s list has 17 things, including #3 — workout at 7, #9 — work on web pages for client, #13 — confirm meeting with local graphic design firm, #16 — find workout schedule so I can train for the Carlsbad Half Marathon in early 2008.
- I close the internet so I am not tempted to Instant Message with my friend Ian in San Francisco or visit the fun sites that Moonbeam McQueen points me to.
- I make my bed — otherwise I pass by it on the way to my bathroom, and I start thinking about cleaning the house and doing the laundry.
- I make sure I dress appropriately for the weather because if I’m too hot or too cold I tend to become uncomfortable and stop working. Right now I’m wearing socks with a dress.
- I look at the signs that I’ve posted around the office. My favorite is my personal slogan: Today is a Great Day to be Amazing.
Moonbeam McQueen on 02 Nov 2007 at 11:43 am #
Uh oh. I’m worried that I’m becoming a bad influence! Actually, you’re a good influence, Beth. As you know, I deal with distractions all the time, and if they don’t actually exist, I create them! I’m going to start implementing some of your great ideas.
John Leach on 02 Nov 2007 at 7:51 pm #
Another topic that we all deal with…good post!
There is a great book by Steven Pressfield called “The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles” that deals with this same subject.
I haven’t read the book, but I did listen to a conference call with the author who discussed some great points on how to get into the creative zone and dealing with the distractions.
Beth Ziesenis on 05 Nov 2007 at 7:11 am #
Ms. McQueen, I’m an expert at distractions, but the lists help more than anything. But these days I’m so into my lists that if I don’t put something on a list, I forget about it completely.
John, I really like your book recommendations. I need to get over to Borders and use it as a library to check some of these resources out. Thanks!