10. Focus more on things you can control.
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There’s a difference between being a Control Freak and being organised.
I tend to be mostly organised. It harks back to the days when I wanted to be a Professional Organiser.
(My organisation motto is “A place for everything, and everything in its place.” That way you don’t end up owning 3 sticky tape dispensers. My girlfriend Karen always has a laugh at me. She’ll ask me where the sticky tape is, and I’ll answer with “computer cupboard, shelf above the moniter”. I like to be organised.)
I’m organised in my home and my family life. Have had that down pat for a while now.
When it comes to my work schedule though…. well, let’s just say that it could use a little help.
As an Independent Creative Professional, I’m my own Boss. I say what work I need to get done for the day.
What I have trouble controlling is how easily I get distracted.
And this is making me stress.
Friday’s post – Do one thing now you’ve been putting off – got me to thinking.
I have four hours in my day – when my kids are at school and I’m not at school myself doing my in-class aide work. I need to utilize those four hours to my advantage.
Focus on what I can control. Control of my work output. My ‘productive’ work output.
So I’ve set myself a schedule.
I work in 25 minute blocks. I have to for my back. I set my kitchen timer so that when it goes off, I get up and do my yoga stretches for 5 minutes.
I therefore have 8 blocks of 25 minutes to work in.
I know I’ll never control the weather or the price of eggs in China. But, gosh-darn-it, I will learn to control my time-wasting!
What areas can you focus on? Areas that you can control? Or at the very least, direct a little more…
Today completes the ’10 tips to stress less’ series.
