One at a Time

I am realizing how much time I spend bouncing from task to task.  I used my interval timer to help me focus on cleaning.  12 minutes BEEB 12 minutes BEEB. . . .I switched from cleaning the kitchen to cleaning other parts of the main level.  The kitchen was the main priority, but I also didn’t want the kitchen to be spotless and the rest of the house to look like a tornado came through.

I learned that staying on task for even 12 minutes was difficult for me.  I’d see something else and want to do that quickly.  Sometimes because of boredom and sometimes because of a change in priority.  I do think the intervals helped me to stick with cleaning longer because it kept me from getting bored or frustrated with how long something was taking.

I have the same tendencies while working out and at my job.  I find myself doing 5 different tasks before a short email is written.   While working out,  I find I can run faster and longer if I change-up the speed rather than keep at a steady average pace.

The key is trying to figure out how much of this is part of my personality and should find ways to fit this style of working and how much is a skill I need to develop with practice.

Quote of the Week

“It is never too late to be who you might have been.”     George Eliot

Bonus Quote

“If you focus on results, you will never change. If you focus on change, you will get results.”    Jack Dixon

Random Cleaning

I’ve had a bunch of family come to visit me this month.   It was nice in so many ways.  Cleaning wise it is nice because it’s motivation to clean, but there isn’t the pressure of normal house guests.  I know my family will love me regardless and will not be shocked no matter what the current state of my house is.

I decided to do some random cleaning.  Cleaning what inspired me—-not some magical order.  Usually I clean the kitchen and surfaces first or start with the biggest mess that is visible when I walk in the front door.  Today I did the tasks that seemed like fun or the  messes that were bugging me the most.  The only rule was that I TRIED to finish one task before going to the next.

Here it is:

• deep clean one section of kitchen counter
• sweep and scrub the floor
• process tomatoes and peppers
• cook Italian sausage
• scrubbed marks off the wall

Well I’m off to finish folding socks and drink my tea.

Quote of the Week

“Accept that approximately 30% of problems are resolvable, 50-60% are modifiable, and that 10-20% need to be accepted and coped with”

Barry W. McCarthy, Ph.D. (“What makes a Happy Successful Marriage?” Psychology Today (website))

My Desk

I have shifted to a new position at my job.  Along with the change in job responsibilities, the job comes along with a large office space with about 25 people.   We all have a full size desk, filing cabinet, and shelves.  While I at times miss having the privacy of having my own space, there has been some benefits of having a shared space.

My desk is visible to anyone who walks by.   I tried to keep it tidy, but it was amazing how fast it filled up.  Then positive peer pressure stepped in.  Other people on my team started to clean their desks.   It made my space look worse by comparison.  It also made me feel like tidying was a productive activity.   Sometimes taking the time to clean and organize felt like a stalling tactic to getting something else more pressing done on my to-do list.  I managed to keep it clean for 2 days.  There is a partially finished project on my desk, but I should be able to get that tidied before the weekend.  Now if I could only use that same motivation to clean my house.