One of my greatest showcases of procrastination is when I am swamped and have too much to do for a given day. If I know I'm not going to get any free time after work, so I put off all of my work projects to make time to read some feeds, and have some coffee. Not only does this irritate my boss, but it puts me behind, so I have to work the weekend.
My accountant has a phrase he likes to tell me every year when I break to him the news that I haven't saved anything this year. He goes on a little tirade, then drops the line 'Always pay yourself first.' What he means is: Before I commit to throwing all of my money at bills, groceries, and frivolous expenditures, I should put a small sum away to save. Every paycheck, Every time.
Along with all of this personal planning, pay yourself first. Allocate an untouchable piece of the day, that can't go to anyone or any project, and is reserved for whatever activity you get the most direct pleasure from, or nothing at all. Then fill in the details around it.
I like to double this and pay myself FIRST and FOREMOST, by getting up an hour earlier, and taking my first hour of the day to meditate. This focuses all of my subconscious energy on the rest of my day. Then when my hour of meditation is over, it's down to the car for me; batteries charged, intentions focused, inspiration plugged in. By the time I get to work, I can tell my boss that several things will be on his desk by noon, I have all of the words in my head and just have to empty them onto the spreadsheets. Then when I get home, I can work on my novels, and before you know it, I run out of things on todays todo list, giving me another crack at some freetime before bed.
Good Luck,
~BraveBlueMice |