Monday, June 21, 2010

Do One Thing


I seem to be behind on everything at the moment. My sewing room/office is a mess, there is mending to be done and sewing projects not finished. Not to mention cluttery corners which are taunting me.

I have things at work that have been on my to-do list for so long and they directly affect our business, so it’s not good enough that I haven’t done them. Why? I don’t know. Sometimes I’m such a procrastinator. When there are simply so many different jobs/chores/errands to do both at work and at home, often the only course of action is to do nothing. I’m frozen!

Yesterday I thought, I’ll do one thing. I’ll do one piece of mending this afternoon. Not the whole pile, just one. Small bites eat the elephant they say. There’s something to be said for clearing one particular area of jobs, but at the moment ‘do one thing’ is going to be my mantra.

Another behaviour that hasn’t served me well is ‘I don’t have time to do that now, I’ll mend/file/clean it later’ and put it on a pile. Not the right answer! If something won’t take long, I’d do better to tackle it at the time. Otherwise I am doublehandling (and the teetering pile grows bigger).

At work I will also do a series of ‘one things’ within bigger jobs. One step at a time.

Sometimes I really do feel like I’m learning life lessons all over again. All these things I already know, but still haven’t put into practice. Better late than never though, and perhaps stepping through life requires constant reminders.

Sometimes a feel like a failure at Living Well because I have to constantly pull myself up and give myself a talking to. But maybe that's the way humans are. We constantly look for the easy and no-effort way.

5 comments:

  1. dearest fiona,

    thank you for the lovely, thoughtful comment you made on my post today. you are absolutely right. i guess i must rethink my stopping shopping. i have no desire to enter a big box store whatsoever but i do love garage sales and junk stores. those are my weakness. having a blog that centers on decorating/gardening/lifestyle and not shopping is like an alcoholic hanging out in a bar and not drinking. it's dangerous to be sure. anyway, thanks again and i am now off to read more of your blog.

    ~janet

    ps ~ love the name of your blog!

    i'm posting this under anonymous b/c blogger won't let me use my blog name for some reason.

    thegardenerscottage.blogspot.com

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  2. One thing that helps me when I feel inert due to being overwhelmed is to set my kitchen timer for however long -- 30 minutes, 15 minutes, whatever I think I can hack -- and then speed through my house and get as much done as I can. Then I reward myself with tea or ice water and a few minutes of reading. Then, if I feel like I want to do it again, I will. Otherwise, at least I got the essentials done, and quickly.

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  3. Janet, lovely to have you here. Your blog is a real inspiration to me.

    LB, the timer is a great idea since getting started is the hardest part. Thank you for the tip.

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  4. I'm an expert at procrastination, so I have absolutely no advice, or tips to share.
    I may not accomplish anything in a day; but come 5 o'clock, cocktail hour vanquishes my guilt,and to paraphrase Scarlett O'Hara; tomorrow is another day.

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Merci for your comment. Wishing you a chic day!

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