Git ‘er done! This would be another way to say Wisconsin comedian Charlie Beren’s “Keep ‘er movin’.” And it’s a struggle many days with ADHD and a life filled with juggling things. I look back at my younger self and wonder how I did all I managed to do! But working outside the home gave a needed structure to my days to work around and I managed. Even with chasing after three Hobbits for 23 years, I managed to get things done and then some.
Until Hashimoto’s Disease hit me hard. Then I struggled with giving myself grace to get through the day just keeping my Hobbits alive and fed. I’m in remission for that now though so what can be my excuse?
I work from home and my job is not a nine-to-five one. I’m an outside contractor so I can work when I want, if I want. But it is a business so there’s the necessary bookkeeping that goes with that and I did not inherit my certified public accountant numbers saavy from my father. Due to some past finanical abuse there can be stress in dealing with all that. I’m getting better. Then I married a very active, busy, retired man who has an LLC for our now joint property in Germantown, Wisconsin. That involves more bookkeepling and seperate taxes! I write, edit, pay the bills, and keep the house.
My kids are gone so how can I be busier than ever and struggle to get things done? I found a great hack. I make a list. I have a big list and a daily list I make in the morning. I challenge myself to do the things on the list and I break them down into doable goals. Laundry has subcatagories: wash, dry, fold, put away. Yes, it helps! It’s almost like a game.
It’s also been National Novel Writing Month and I felt compelled to do it this year. I wanted to work on two novellas. I managed to stay on track even when we traveled from Wisconsin to Texas! I even wrote on the plane south and twice in the car ride on the way back. Having a tangible goal and accountability helped. At the rate I’m going, I’ll win NaNoWriMo but the second novella I’m currently working on won’t be completed so I’ll need to push myself to get it done in December.
Another issue I have is that I often underestimate or overestimate the amount of time a task will take. Like the laundry. It’s such a big job! (that’s the thought). The folding part would trip me up. But honestly? It doesn’t take very long when there’s just two of us! And writing? I set a timer now and give myself and hour to write. Often I’ve met my goal within that time and I can move on to other things.
Here’s the catch. I can’t be super productive all the time. I do need rest. This past week with Thanksgiving, I actually spent Thanksgiving day cleaning out and reorganizing my freezer, clearing out and reorganizing a messy cupboard all so I could clean off my countertops and have a place for things to go. That needed to be done before I baked three kinds of cookies, made the turkey, the broccoli cheese casserole that is a tradition for us, and the must-have raspberry torte. Oh, I was beyond exhausted! Then on Friday before company came I needed to vacuum, sweep, wash the kitchen and dining room floor, clean bathroom sinks and vanities… after which I made bacon wrapped water chestnuts, mashed potatoes, and gravy, and baked the casserole and warmed up the turkey (it was really moist y’all!)
Saturday I had a hard time moving to do anything. I did get some writing in and a few other small tasks but pretty much sat my butt down in my favorite chair and snuggled my pooch. I’m fine with that. Sunday was church and while I did pick up some groceries it was pretty much popcorn and Christmas movies with a ribeye I split with my husband. Never fear, today that leftover turkey will be in a soup for dinner.
Having a list, and a plan makes it almost like a game. Every time I cross something off it encourages me to get to the next thing. If I miss something – by accident or intentionally, I put a ‘X’ through it. Sometimes that will go on my list the next day. If I do another task that wasn’t on the list? I add it to the list and cross it off! At the end of the day, even if it doesn’t feel like I got a lot done, I can look and see that yes, it was productive.
What tips and tricks do you have to git ‘er done or keep ‘er moving? Let me know!