Unitasking

Photo by Stuart Miles

I didn't make that up, I read it in a magazine,though for the life of me I can't remember which one. But yea, unitasking. I think this would be a very valuable gift to have.

Imagine, only doing, only thinking about one thing at a time. How much could you get accomplished? But instead, I multi-task, and I suck at it. Like right now I'm writing this blog, while answering emails, drinking coffee, and thinking about other stresses in life. I know, I'm totally talented.

So, I think I'm going to try to stay focused and unitask. I'm going to make a list of what needs to be done (I was supposed to do that weeks ago, but this is me we're talking about), prioritize, and make it happen, one thing at a time.

Are you horrible or awesome at unitasking? How do you stay focused? How do you organize and prioritize your "to do" list? Got any tips or suggestions for me?

Monkey Madness Monday: Balancing Act

"Rhesus Monkey" by James Barker

Keeping my life balanced is one of my New Year's resolutions, and perhaps the hardest one for me to keep. I have all these different aspects of my life that have to fit into the box that constitute my 15-16 daily waking hours.

I need to balance work, writing, marketing, household cleaning and maintenance, kids, boyfriend, friends and family, exercise, and the time in which my life is slowly slipping from me on my way to and from these tasks.

How do I do it? Well, right now I don't. That's the point. I WANT to, but I've never been good with balance. Multi-tasking? Yes. Complete and utter exhaustion? Sure. But balance? Nope.

Step one: Advice from my boyfriend, say no. Of course I know this, I've told myself I need to stop doing for others until I've got my own shit together. But I can't seem to do it.  Megan, come over early and help me set up for the party? Sure! Megan, could you review my book for me? Great! No problem! Megan, can I get you to read my query letter/synopsis/partofmymanuscrip/etc? You bet!

Don't get me wrong, there are people I will ALWAYS say yes too. My parents, people I'm mentoring, people who have helped me out, but I don't have to say yes to everyone, which I find myself doing more often than not. Sigh.

by David Castillo Dominici

Step two: Make a list. I need to list all the things on my to do list. And I mean ALL of them. It will be extensive, but whether it's something I need/want to do tomorrow or next year, I need to keep track of it.

Step three: Prioritize. Okay, maybe buying all new towels for my bathroom isn't as important that getting my manuscript to my editor. And perhaps that manuscript isn't as important as say, feeding my children. Or maybe it is? No matter, I need to figure out what is important and what can be put on the back burner.

Step four: As Yoda says, "Do or do not. There is no try." Uh, yeah. Okay, no try, I have to do. Without the "do", I will have spent all these waking hours on making lists and prioritizing for naught, and believe me, I have no waking hours to waste. It's going to take a schedule. Deadlines. Fortitude. Diligence. Things I try to ignore, but can no longer.

How are you at the balancing act? Do you find yourself swimming in the shallow end trying to ignore those tsunamis heading your way that are bound to drown you?

Yeah, that's me. So here I go. Wish me luck. If you never see my head above water again, it's been nice knowing you. Keep it real.

Thought Provoking Thursday: Work and other things that keep me from writing

Since I started work, it's been so hard to find the time to do anything let alone write.  I used to be good at the balancing act, but that was BW (before work).  Now, I'm like a crazy person running every which way, trying to multi-task but at the end of the day has accomplished nothing.

And I'm working out now.  An hour a day.  Where the hell does the time go?  And I don't even work full time.  I work five hours a day.  I get home, I try to write for a bit, but there are distractions like email, bills, facebook (*shakes fists at Mark Zuckerberg*).  Plus I blog, I have kids that need my attention, a house that needs cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping.  By brain is cheese toast by 5 pm.

So how do you do it?  How do you balance everything without plummeting to an untimely death (okay, that may be overdramatic)?  This girl needs some advice.

~Megan