Invaders of the Lost Week :: A Productivity Challenge

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This week has been all about Mommy - and although very fun, rewarding, and I wouldn’t change a thing… I didn’t get CRAP done on my business.

With school starting, back to school shopping, and my Mastermind Group ending (sob), I had hoped to settle into a productive day yesterday. But we just made some changes to our household wireless network, and I was unable to get online for the entire day (talk about maddening!!). So, good business woman that I am, what did I do yesterday? I resigned myself to my fate and I cleaned. As in, went to Target, bought containers up the wazoo, and organized the heck out of my basement.

I think my challenge as a work at home mom is not that I would rather be spending time just living the stay-at-home mom life. (But I must admit, if RookieMoms was around when my kids were little, I might have been tempted!) No, my challenge is that I love my work so much that the house tends to get, shall we say, a tad bit “unkempt”. And as much as I HATE to do big cleaning projects (or little ones, for that matter!!), I MUST admit that I am MUCH more focused and productive in a clean house than in a messy one.

So. I have an assignment for you. And I want to hear from you on this one:

1. Notice how you feel about your procrastinated tasks. Guilty? Frustrated? Overwhelmed? Just notice it. You are not allowed to beat yourself up about it. Take out your journal or a small notebook and write a paragraph on what it feels like specifically to have so much that you HAVEN’T done.~
2. Make a list. Go with me on this, because it’s NOT a to-do list. Just a list of EVERYTHING that you haven’t done yet. I mean everything that you truly intend to do, even if there is no possible way for you to complete it right now due to available funds, needing help from others, etc. For example, here are a few from MY list:Patch the wall where my coat hook installation project went awry
   Clean out screened in porch
   Organize front closet
   Repair coffee table top
   Put a picture window into the dark front room
   Gut and remodel downstairs bathroom
   Clean out email inbox and respond to every email needing a response

   Walk around each room in your house as you create your list. Also, go through all of your computer files and internet bookmarks/favorites. I’m sure you’ll find a few more things to add from your ‘virtual’ house.

   If you create this list accurately, it will likely take you at least a half an hour, and a few more things will come to you over the next day or two.

   Lastly, I want you to organize your list by the time it will take to complete the task. One week, two days, one hour:: break down the list into time chunks that work for you. Also break out the things that will take money to complete.

   ~

3. With your list completed, I want you to notice how you feel NOW. How freeing does it feel to simply have ALL of this stuff out of your head and down on paper? What part of you is now a bit more motivated just by getting organized with your thoughts? Write one more paragraph on what specifically feels better and why you think that is the case.~
4. Here’s the important part. No pressure to do anything on your list. You are NOT allowed to put any pressure at ALL on yourself. Your assignment was simply to create the list. Relax. Breathe deep. You did everything I asked you to do!~
5. BUT… if you now happen to want to complete anything on the list, that’s fine. Just be sure to reward yourself by taking the time to scratch the thing off of your list (and whatever other reward you feel is appropriate… nudge, nudge, wink wink!)~
6. I will have a follow up assignment for you in one week’s time. Plus, I will even give you some insights as to the psychology behind this assignment, and how you can apply it to your own ongoing productivity.

Do I have any takers? Email me privately or comment below to let me know if you are participating. I’ll even open up my email inbox for free coaching questions during the week for the people who are willing to take on the eMoms Productivity Challenge.

So, what do you have to gain? You get to create a list with more benefits than you probably realize right now (you’ll find the great benefits along the way. Promise!). PLUS, you get to email me with any professional development, personal development or motivational question your little heart desires. AND you’ll get a personal response, with a REAL answer!

So, stop reading. Start writing!