Restart in the Moment

Have you ever been in the middle of something and found yourself getting bogged down, weighed down? Maybe you know why it’s happening and maybe you don’t. What do you do? Keep pushing through? If so, do you find it gets easier, or do you feel like the harder you try, the more difficult the task becomes?

That’s what often happens with me. I push harder and the task seems to push back! So I’ve been trying a new approach the last few years (when I can remember to do it!). Instead of pushing harder, I take a moment to stop and think. I don’t mean I take a break and come back to it. I take a moment to sit quietly, close my eyes and think about the problem. Am I overcommitted and running out of time? Am I working on the wrong thing at the wrong time? (That happens too much when I’m doing something on the Internet.) Am I tired or stressed and not thinking clearly?

When I stop and close my eyes and breathe and think, I tell myself it’s time to hit the “restart” button here and now. In that moment, I mentally pull away from what I’m doing and ask myself what the priorities are for the day, and for the next hour or two. I often find I was not working on the most important item on my list and when I switch over to it, I relax. I can only guess that some part of my brain was trying to tell me all along that there was a problem, a priority problem.

Other times, I realize that I’m working on the right things, but I’m simply running out of time. Then I try to figure out what is most important to finish, or what can be done at a lower quality than what I was trying for, or if anyone else can help me do part of the task. Sometimes, and this is the worst for me, I have to make a call and tell someone that I cannot deliver what I promised. This happened last week. In that instance, I was given more time without a hassle. Blessed relief! Sometimes the result of that call is far more negative; I know one client who will likely never call me again. But it was my fault. I knew when I accepted the project, I would have difficulty getting it done for time reasons and a voice in my head said not to do it. I should have listened.

But once you get too much on your to do list, how do you take care of it all? I’m not one to skimp on sleep. I don’t run on maximum efficiency that way, and I figure if I’m behind then maximum efficiency is exactly what I need! So I’ve just now as I’m typing this come up with a new idea. (Yay! This is why I love writing – in the very act of writing, you create new things!) I live in every way off my calendar. If iCal says a morning is free, then the Assigner of Duties man in my brain considers it fair game to put an activity or task in that open spot. My new idea is to block off 3-4 hours a week for the next few months and call it “To Do List Catch Up” and calendar it. The only thing I’ll do during that time is what I’m already behind in.

The more I think about it, the more I think I’ll have to make that a permanent part of my calendar. I know myself, and I’m not above “tricking” myself to make life easier/better. Since I know I over commit, I’ll carve out extra time for it now. That should help keep my writing routines working and my writing goals achievable. And until my To Do List is under control, I’ll pretend I don’t have that extra time. That way in a few weeks I’ll possibly be getting everything done that really needs to be done. (Then maybe I’ll have 3 hours a week for all the scrapbooking I’ve been putting off for the last five years! Yeah, right! LOL!)

Okay, I just put it on my calendar! Every Friday till lunchtime is “Catch Up” time. I’ll let you know how it goes. Meanwhile, when you find yourself getting stressed and overburdened, take a moment and close your eyes and breathe. Ask yourself how you can hit the restart button right now, in the moment, so you can be more peaceful as you strive to be more productive.