Today, and yesterday, and the day before....I am struggling with WHAT COMES FIRST! I am a listmaker, and the list is long. Seems it always is. There are routine chores, special surprises, business demands, home maintenance, yard details, gifts to buy, trip plans to make, and on and on and on. Trying to pick and choose becomes the challenge. What comes first?
Oh, yes, I try to prioritize, but sometimes that becomes a problem itself. Then I switch gears from prioritizing to procrastinating. Not a good thing!
Finally, this morning I accomplished. I first chose something that would make someone happy (I hope). It was a simple thank you letter to a long-time city employee (with a copy to the mayor) for excellent assistance. This "chore" didn't take fifteen minutes, but had been on my list for about fifteen days. Ridiculous! Other items were checked off, probably because I started by doing a "thank you" rather than a mundane chore.
So, with that in mind, I am reviewing my list. I need to look at these "to dos" in a different light - from a different direction! Perhaps I will mark each with estimated time to accomplish or maybe I will put a star, or two, or three by the "must dos" for immediate attention. And I will keep in mind a trait I so admire in our department manager. Whenever I go to her with "when you have time, will you.....", she doesn't add it to her list, but DOES it! Right then! In most cases, my requests take only a few minutes while I am there to troubleshoot any concerns, and something that would take twice as long later is accomplished. Done! We are never too old to learn, are we?
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Excellent advice! Do it now! I had a WalkAmerica Chairman like that one time. I would say "would you please call this person and ask them to do whatever? and he would turn in his chair and pick up the phone. right then. with me standing there. or in middle of a meeting. right that minute!
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