I posted this series in December of 07 … for the most part I’m still practicing my own advice. What a novel concept! 🙂
I get TONS of requests on info on how I do everything, so … I’m sharing a few Time Management tips for balancing family, hubby, life, job, friends, house, etc. Basically this is how I keep my sanity!
I’ll be sharing advice from my friends and a few things I’ve done that have WORKED…like this:
Deadlines
1. My family used to MOAN during deadline month. They basically never saw Mom. For the last few books I’ve been trying spread out the deadlines. I schedule in daily writing times for every project through the months, and I do my best to meet those goals. If I can accomplish this it’s not as stressful in the last month before deadline.
2. I also work in magazine deadlines. (Again looking at my schedule, I figure about eight hours per article on average, and make space.) If I’m asked to write an article, I realistically look at my schedule. If I can’t do it, I decline.
3. I occasionally will go away with a friend to write for a few days. Next week I’ll be going for four days. I get a TON of writing done if that’s all I have to focus on.
4. I work on a weekly schedule, but daily I ask myself, “What is the most important thing I need to accomplish today?” And I do that first. I then rearrange my daily schedule according to my “most important stuff,” because there are ALWAYS things that come up. I like my electronic calendar because I just click and drag to move stuff around.
5. I also “schedule in” ideas … book ideas, article ideas, marketing ideas. I create a “slot” on my calendar and plug those in. It gets them off my mind until I’m ready for them.
6. If I feel the Holy Spirit laying something heavy on my heart … I will ignore my schedule and follow that leading. In fact, most of my book proposals come from this. If I feel something strong on my heart I ask myself, “Will I be disobedient if I don’t follow this leading, at this time?” If I feel “yes,” then I’ll work on it … even if I had the day scheduled for something else. If I feel “no,” then I’ll jot a note to myself and keep going with what I had planned.
This is so what I need to hear right now. My agent has my first novel, I’ve started the second and b/c I need money, I’ve taken on a regular web column and an AVON business.
Almost had a meltdown last week b/c I was working so hard at getting nowhere. Like a hamster in a wheel – I run long and hard thinking I’m making ground only to find the wheel is bracketed in place.
Oh, and how can I forget being a wife and mom?
ADHD is a huge obstacle I must overcome and work around.
Like how you schedule things. Gotta try it out.
I was just now wondering how to get my articles done this week! I have three that I need to submit. I just need to schedule it on my calendar!