I'm feeling a little overwhelmed. I don't really have that much to do, but I think after an entire year being unemployed and not on a schedule, now that I'm starting to work a bit more (with a long-term job starting on the 14th) having anything that has to happen at certain times is feeling like a lot. So I'm going to handle it the way I usually do--with a list.
Things I'm planning for this week (and a little bit beyond):
- Work on stories at least 4 times
- Post ROW80 goals for Round 2
- Make class handouts for the two embroidery classes I'm teaching the first weekend in May
- Give feedback on L's writing that I meant to do last week
- Try out new PT exercises for my knee and hip and start working them into my regular routines
- Catch up on Wanderlust lessons
- Blog daily
- Read 3 blogs daily
I really want to put a million things on there. I was going to write out all the ROW80 goals here--maybe I should. I feel like there's a lot more I'm supposed to be getting done, but now that I'm making the list I don't know for sure what it all is. Working on my studio--cleaning, organizing, setting it up so I can actually work in there. Changing the sheets and washing the dirty ones. I'm sure there was so much more zooming through my head until I started the list. Maybe that means these are the important things. Anything else that comes up can go on a list for another time. I think this must be the list for this week. My head is feeling better, so it's definitely good enough to work with, and that's what I was aiming for, so I'm going to call it good.
Realistic lists work better for me or there is a constant feeling of failure and like you say, the brain dump aspect is half the battle, allowing mental space to focus ...even if it doesn't all get done!!
I have to keep my lists short and realistic or I get overwhelmed by the lists I make to help me not be overwhelmed. But yeah, clearing that mental space by getting things onto a list feels so good!
Getting stuff out of your head and onto a list is a lifesaver, right?? I make looooong braindump lists at the start of every month, they really help my tendency to get overwhelmed!
Oh, that sounds interesting. Is it a braindump of everything you want to get done for the month? Now that I'm getting back to a regular work schedule, I feel like I'm going to need more lists to keep my head where it needs to be.
I get it! I, too am fumbling around trying to get back into a work groove after complete freedom for five months. List, for me are essential until I get my groove back.
I love how lists help us with brain things and not just getting things done. Here's to getting our grooves back!
It is a transition to go from unscheduled to working. I find it difficult, my executive functions need practice.
Mine, too! I like that take on it. I'm practicing being back on a schedule. Yes!
I’ve been unemployed for ages because of the pandemic. The thought of working and having to keep to a schedule feels very alien at this point.
It's feeling very weird. I've only been working a couple of days a week since mid-February, so I'm at least getting to ease into it, but it feels really strange. I'm hoping when I start a regular schedule next week it will help smooth that out.
ROW80 is interesting! Definitely post those goals 🙂 .
I put them into the ROW80 group, but I think I will put them here, too, just for that extra oomph. Thanks!
I loooooooove making and slaying lists. It's the only way forward for me. It always clears my head and helps me wrap my brain around what's next.
I do love when I've finished everything on my list. It feels so good! And I also find that putting things into a list really clears my head--they give me so much space!
I am a master of “the listsâ€. I make lists about lists. It is the only way for me to work.
Lists are so good! And they can be so many different things. Brief or more detailed, digital, on paper, on sticky notes. I do them all the ways.
I so relate.. so many things to go on my list, but if i cant tick them off i get all stressy so best I don't make the list, then i get annoyed as i forget things! Im trying to stick to my 30 days blog, my 30 days art challenge, and "anything else i have to do"
Yep, you definitely have to find what works for you. I have friends who make really long lists and happily carry things over to the next day. I've found that I get stressed out if I do that too often, so I make my daily lists pretty short, and I don't do them every single day. But it took me a lot of experiments to get to something that seems to work for me (although it still needs some tweaking).
I'm a list maker when I have a lot of things to do and then I prioritize the list making sure to denote what has top priority. I hit the high notes and then I frequently either forget or lose my list! It's been a lifelong cycle for me! I try to be better about it each time, yet I face the same issue over and over. I suppose it's a good thing I enjoy making those lists!
I have lost lists, too! I'm a little better now because I tend to put them on index cards which are slightly harder to lose--lol! I like the idea of putting everything on the list and prioritizing. I think sometimes I forget smaller things because I only put the biggest on the list.