I struggle with focus. I love the challenge of new things, but have a bad habit of taking on too many at a time, and the result can be very stressful.
Right now I have three major client projects in the works, I’m writing an ebook (due to my editor on Wednesday), and I’ve signed up for Jimmy D. Brown’s Six Figure Formula coaching, which starts today. I’m also helping some friends organize and promote a 300-mile, 5-day bike ride (meeting today) and am in the middle of about six smaller client projects. Oh, yeah, and I’m supposed to be launching my new site and doing some business development work that will make my life easier down the road.
Aaaaauughh!
Today I am going to focus on doing just a small list of (big) things:
- Finish writing, entering, and first-draft-editing ebook chapters three and four, and send to my editor
- Read and follow the first lesson of the S.F.F. course
- Attend bike ride meeting
- Clear inbox (48 messages, most of which require some action or response)
I really want to add more items to that list, because I have so much more to do, but I think that’s realistically all I can handle in the next eight or nine hours. If I get it all done, I can always do more! Part of dealing with email will be communicating my slipping schedule to affected clients.
The big challenge will be not getting distracted. My inbox alone contains enough distractions to suck up the whole day, so I’m going to take Mark Forster’s approach and create a backlog of non-essential items that I can do later (like reading other e-courses), just to get them out of my immediate view.
I’m also going to turn chat off for today. I’ve just started following some ladies on Twitter that I’d really like to get to know, but I’m going to have to save that for another day when I can give it my full attention.
When I complete my tasks for today, I will reward myself with… um… man, I’m so mentally busy I can’t think of anything non-food-related that I want right now. Okay, I will reward myself with permission to read all of my neglected blog feeds, and check my blog stats.
Furthermore, when I get my finished draft of my ebook to my editor on Wednesday, I will get my hair cut on Thursday or Friday.
On the upside, I’ve already succeeded in clearing my clogged kitchen sink. That’s got to count for something!
Want to jump in yourself? Just leave a comment saying what you’re going to do today, or post on your own blog and leave a link.
