Hi Friends,
I hope you are all having a great start to your week! This week is a little strange for me because my little buggy bear (aka my daughter Ellie Grace) is visiting my in-laws (Andrew’s parents) for the entire week. It’s been eerily silent in my house this weekend, but I’m adjusting to it. I wanted El to get some time with her grandparents since they live so far away, and I also had several major projects to finish. I’m completing deadlines for The Ellie Project and working with my web designer to complete my new website! I’m also doing a lot of other things that revolve around starting your own business and, of course, buying and wrapping Christmas gifts. In the past, I would plan to do all these projects and then let my schedule fill up with lunches with friends, extra rest, reading a good book, etc. All fun things, but they were not helping me reach my goals.
This weekend as I was creating momentum in my projects I wondered if any of you struggle with the same distractions and frustration towards completing projects? I am always growing and learning in this area, but here are some tips I’ve come up with to help us really complete the many projects going on in our lives:
- Make sure you time block each task. For example: if I’m working on building my database, I will give myself one hour to work on that. After one hour, no matter how much I’ve accomplished, I will stop that task and move to the next one.
- Throw in some exercise. I like to start my day off with some movin’ and groovin’, because a.) if I don’t do it then, I probably won’t do it at all and b.) it gives me a sense of accomplishment, not to mention an energy boost. Sometimes in between projects I will take a lap around the block or hit a yoga class. It’s really important if all of your projects are inside to make sure to get outside throughout your day. Just make sure your exercise is time blocked, too, so you can get back on task toward achieving your goals.
- Vary your tasks from mindful to mindless. So for me, one of the projects on my list was wrapping gifts, which is pretty mindless, so I made sure to schedule creating content for my website right after. I do best when I switch back and forth between the two because I can’t personally do mindful tasks all day long, it burns me out. Another fun tip: listen to some upbeat music when you do the mindless activities. I’m currently listening to “Justin Bieber Holiday” on Pandora (don’t judge 🙂 ). I will occasionally have a little dance party for myself and bust a move if I’m really feeling it. This keeps my energy high and my mood positive.
- Eat for fuel. Make sure and eat foods that are going to give you energy and not make you crash. Stay hydrated by drinking water throughout the day.
- Make time for YOU. If you have a project that will take several days to complete, make sure to time block for personal things you like to do (like read in the bath, watch E! news, catch up on people magazine— those are some of my favorite things). I find that if I don’t make time for me, I get burned out early on and lose momentum.
- Cut if off early. Pick a time that you want to stop working on your projects and do some wind-down activities like taking a bath or reading a fun book. I don’t recommend doing anything on your phone or computer. At least for me, it’s too much stimulation. Also, if I read one of my fave kinds of books, like a business book, I get all pumped and my mind will go crazy all night long. So keep in mind that you want to do things that will calm you down because getting a good night’s rest is really important toward helping you accomplish your goals.
These are all tips that I’ve found to help me stay in the game when it comes to completing various projects in my life. I would love for you to leave a comment on what tips help you to accomplish the many projects in your life. I hope this post helps you stay focused, have high energy, and build momentum as you knock out your projects over the holidays. Blessings and Holiday love.
hi bailey! I love reading your blog! I’m a blogger as well – and I just love the community of people you meet / stumble upon! I completely agree with you on baths and fun pandora stations! Currently I’m listening to Whitney Houston Christmas – or sometimes old school 90’s rap! hahaha
Thank you so much Beth for the kind words! I checked out your blog and I love it! I’m going to check out those pandora stations because that is right up my alley!! Thanks for leaving a comment. Blessings.
I love your blog Bailey! I go to PCBC, and can really relate to you! I struggle with depression / anxiety – so relaxation is key for me! I take bubble baths daily and always have a fun pandora station on!!!!
Dear Bailey, Thanks for the tips. Being realistic about blocking time for projects, knowing when to stop and then getting back to them when refreshed helps with completion and quality. It’s so exciting to see how the Lord is leading you. It was neat how you talked about distractions and how important it is to do what you enjoy, also.
Hi Sweet Joan! Great advice about the time blocking. That is a challenge trying to be realistic about how much time each task should take. That seems to take a little trial and error and knowing your individual attention/burn out span. Thank you so much for the kind words and for leaving a comment. Love you sweet Joan! Blessings.
These are super helpful tips Bay!! I am a list maker!! I make my list based on the most important to the least important! That way if I don’t make it through the whole list I still feel accomplished that the most important task were completed and it’s no big deal for the remaining task to move on to the next days list
Great tip Savannah! Thank you for sharing! Love you too!!
I, too, am a visual learner, so lists, lists, lists. I almost want to put “make list” on my list! But I don’t time block the list, so, as you can imagine, I end up frustrated. Working from home is a new life for me, so I’ve got to learn how to budget time so I don’t keep going for the “things I can cross off” instead of the most important things – like writing my copy. hahah
Thanks for the great post!
Merry Christmas!
Hi Jane,
Thank you so much for sharing. I can relate and I’m constantly adjusting and learning how to manage my time best, so that I can get the results I want! Merry Christmas to you!
Working from home is a new life for me, so budgeting my time is important! I am a visual learner, so lists lists lists!!!!! I almost want to put “make list” on my list! I don’t time block my list, though, so I do end up frustrated at the end of the day a lot of the time. That’s a good solution! Instead of writing my copy I often go for the “things I can cross off.” Hopefully this will transform how my days are going!
Very good list, Bailey. I work from home as well. If I’m not careful, hours can go by just sitting at my laptop. So, before I sit down, I set my kitchen timer for 60 minutes (the one that keeps beeping and won’t stop until I get up and turn it off!!!). After silencing the alarm, I drink a full glass of water, do a household chore… then back at it for another 60 minutes!
That is such a great tip Kelly! Thanks so much for sharing. Blessings.