We often make fun of the idea of planning to plan, but for a good hour or so a week that’s really what we should be doing.
For the longest while this year everything’s been messy in terms of staying on top of the minutiae in my life. I’m out there working a lot, and then I’m trying to catch up on sleep when I can. The next thing I know 3-4 weeks goes by and I remember some 8 minute task I really should be taking care of.
Instead I stare into the abyss for 8 minutes and get distracted by something else.
Today that task is sending out some emails with the requirements for the Bonjour-Hi album cover (completed). These tasks take very little time but it also takes that extra surge of creative energy to switch tasks into something new. Especially when life feels like all you are doing is playing catch up.
I know that when I’m in cycles like this, I end up less patient and I end up less sure of what I can commit to.
The only solution is to bite the bullet and stop everything else to take some time to get organized again.
Here’s how I’ll tackle this.
Step 1 - Get myself a master list of all the things I need to do
This is more of an ongoing task over the next few weeks.
As I remember things I forgot to do, or things that have been looming in my mind I’m going to put them on the list. This can include finding a homie to bring my couch downstairs on a Sunday but can also include fun things like vacation dreams. I really want to go to Nashville next year. This list is just things that require you to stop and do some work to complete.
As much as it’s fun to take care of things on this list as you think of them, if we’re going to execute this plan correctly, we need to acknowledge that the ADHD styled task completion isn’t helping.
At least it makes it harder for me, so we need to get it all down.
Step 2 - Schedule weekly time to actually sort through that list and plan
This is the part where we literally take some time to plan out a plan for the week.
You want to go through your task list items and do some prioritization. Assess how long everything will take to complete and then also assess how important it is to do right away. Sometimes those nagging 15 minute tasks can be left for 3 months without consequence and a big 9 hour task needs to be done in a few days.
The purpose of this weekly, ongoing planning session is to go over the work you’ve done, and still need to do, to establish what is important this week. Then focus on the little things you need to do this week. As new tasks come in, add them to your big list. Deal with them when the time comes.
Obviously you’ll know when some critical stuff comes that throws off your week. Deal with timely stuff in a timely fashion. Your plan is a guideline at best.
The habit is in forcing yourself to get things done.
Step 3 - Actually schedule time to get the work done
Once you have that list of items you need to get done in a week, you need to responsibly allocate time for it.
I need to be cognizant of my Taste Montreal obligations, my Uber intentions and whatever other obligations I have in a week. You should be aware of all the regular work you have too. Regardless of your best intentions, your habit driven regulars are going to go down in your life. Be honest about your shit and shower times. Pay attention to how long it actually takes to get to work and back, including the walk to the office door.
You’ll come to see you probably have way less time for random tasks then you were expecting. This is the tough reality of getting your stuff together. Once you have it all cleaned up and organized, it just flows in a way where you have so much less stress.
The hard part comes from the discipline that goes into actually doing the work.
Once your scheduled work time comes, treat it like it’s important and take care of business.
Once the life is organized and the tasks are moving you unlock so much free time
I spent way too much time lately burning out wondering what I forgot.
By adding a bit more work, focused on cleaning the mess and stress of my mind, I can actually get back to the things that matter. Like making music and seeing how Phantom Liberty in Cyberpunk 2077 ends. For now I need to make sure I can get all my logistics in order.
Inevitably I’m going to stop making proper commitments. I’ll start over promising and under delivering. No one wants that.
Taking the time to plan is just a wise thing for the everyday hustler on their grind.
Live Long and Prosper Everyone
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