photo credit: Sappymoosetree

Had a good weekend, but feel like death warmed over this morning. I’m coming down with either a sinus infection or a head cold, and I’m just glad to be working from home. Too bad self-employment doesn’t provide benefits like sick time.

Going to keep it light today and see if the brain fog dissipates after a while…

Most Important Tasks

• Call the City of L.A. and try to figure out why they’re demanding thousands of dollars in taxes from me (despite the fact that I’m, you know, in Idaho)
• Finish and launch the new theme for TweetStyle
• Pay my outstanding bill to one of my designers and get him started on/prepared for the next project (depending on whether or not the client got me their materials over the weekend)

The reward

A nap.

photo credit: kevindooley

Whew. Got yesterday’s tasks done, barely.

I’m learning again the importance of setting goals that don’t assume the involvement of others—the membership plugin didn’t work out of the box, but since getting it set up was part of my task, I was kind of in a bind. Fortunately, the plugin developer offered very quick support (it’s a paid plugin) and it’s up and running now.

I also managed to forget a task I’d promised (don’t know where I’d have fit it in anyway!) so that’s on today’s agenda. Other than that, I’ve decided that a good approach to my blog training course is to add lessons as I do them while launching a new blog. Specifically, I’m not allowed to do anything on the new blog unless I first add a lesson about it.

My mom and out-of-town sister are flying in tomorrow (my baby shower is on Sunday and they’re just that nice!) so I want to make sure I’m ready for the weekend today.

Most Important Tasks

• A bit of client work (finalize an upgrade, and a new header image for a client)
• Spend at least one hour on a new theme for a client
• Release my “Bibliophile” WordPress theme from Monday

The reward

Feed reading time!

photo credit: adamjinj

Didn’t even get close yesterday. The theme consumed me (but it was so much fun!) and I didn’t get to the other two MITs at all… so more for today. I technically have four MITs and that’s not allowed, so I’m going to get creative to fit them all in.

On the upside, my bedside still looks exactly like it did in last week’s “after” picture!

Most Important Tasks

• Do the “simple” upgrades and tweaks I’ve already promised two clients
• Write a master list of all the tasks that need doing on my two big projects (this is meant to keep me from freaking out in the face of what feels like never-ending tasks, which terrify me)
• Make a little progress on the two big projects, but more importantly, communicate the plan to the clients

The reward

The idea of finishing seems far-fetched but also crucial (if I fall further behind today, I’m toast). Let’s make it something really good and motivational. Scanning the Amazon list…

Ooh, I know! Amy Butler’s Little Stitches. And whatever else I want to get to the $25 Super Saver Shipping threshold.

That’s actually shockingly motivational for me, so I think I’ve hit on a good one (just not a dollar amount I can sustain daily!).

photo credit: NathanFromDeVryEET

Getting right down to business because I’m excited about my first task.

Most Important Tasks

• Create a new WordPress theme based on book navigation (table of contents, index, etc.)
• Set up my operations manual with said theme, and port the existing content over
• Perform (or write instructions for Leanna to perform) promised upgrades for a client

The reward

Permission to spend as much time as I want reading my feeds (after work is done!).