“Don, you need to streamline your process.”
Yes, Dad. That I do. For damn sure.
This was my dad’s comment as he watched me dig for a bottle of water in my overloaded purse in a hot parking lot at Disney World last June. I was sweaty, frustrated and impatient. My purse strap broke. I wanted to curse. Aaugh!
In hindsight, it’s almost funny — that comment. Such a simple statement. Such a stark truth. But such widespread application. In my business. In my life. Geez, Dad. You’re so right. <3
Right now, I am hurtling through my days. Accomplishing little, and stressing much. I am painfully aware that I need to “streamline my process.” Actually, I re-read a blog post I wrote on the subject of the importance of routine back when I started my full time job as a PCA at our high school. All those reasons for needing structure and routine in my life are still true. Indeed, as a single working momma/small business owner, there is really no way to function without good routines in place throughout my days.
During the week between Christmas and New Year’s, when I was on break from school, I pored over my new planner that my boyfriend got me for Christmas (the Brilliant Life Planner). I really love this planner, because there are pages for jotting down and refining goals, as well as weekly pages to keep you on track with goal-setting, overcoming obstacles and remembering to be grateful. There are pages for project planning and habit trackers. And, of course, there are the daily, weekly and monthly calendar pages. It’s a “planner and a half” (as my co-worker stated)!
But, friends. What good is my planner if I don’t make it work for me? ugh. It’s not very good at all, then. Still super pretty though! 😉
I constantly feel like I do not have enough time in my day. I can bet you feel like that, too — at least on some days. Well, we all get the same 24 hours in a day. And I am consciously aware of the need to plan my days. But I have been lax about following through with any plan at all. The result is that I am frequently feeling overwhelmed and behind. And I get frustrated at myself for dropping the ball on carrying out my routines. Not cool.
That is why I chose this quote by Seth Godin to remind myself that I need to stop complaining about my seeming lack of time, and start making choices in my life which benefit me and my family.
Author: Seth Godin. He is an American author and entrepreneur, and a former dot com business executive.
How it speaks to me: I am reminded that I am, indeed, granted the time I need. It is my job, however, to use my time wisely — in planning and decision-making, in caring for my family and in accomplishing my goals. Seth is an influential thinker in the business world, and this quote was intended for entrepreneurs and start-ups. But why not apply it to my personal life, too? 🙂
So … right here, and right now … I am DECIDING to plan my days, and set in motion some doable routines for both my progress and my survival! I plan to come up with some concrete routines and habits that will bring calm and peace to my days.
Stay tuned for my plan as I hash out the details over the next few days.
How do you manage your days? Do you hurtle aimlessly (I totally get it)? Are you a routine person? Do you live intentionally or merely survive from one day to the next? <3