I was seriously inspired today by reading about Kelly King Anderson’s work-life balance experiment last week. Kelly, like me, has a habit of working a wee bit too much. So last week Kelly committed to working only 10 hours (gasp!). Frankly, I thought she was nuts… until I read her post.
And then I got uncomfortable. Really uncomfortable.
I began to wonder if I’m working way more than I need to be. That’s supposed to be an exhilarating concept, I believe. It wasn’t.
I wondered what the HECK I would do with all of that extra time. My oldest just turned 13 yesterday – I won’t be cuddling up with her and reading a book any time soon. My youngest still sneaks into our bed every night – she’s got more cuddle time logged than any 5 year old should have.
But then I thought, this isn’t an issue of more family time – I do make sure we get that regularly. Reading Kelly’s post forced me to realize that even with Monday Motivation I am not nearly as productive in my work hours as I could be *cue skin crawling thoughts*.
So today, I will meet Kelly with her challenge to do more in less time.
For those of you new to Monday Motivation, here’s the scoop:
Step 1 – let us know what you are going to get done today (your to-do list, so to speak).
Step 2 – put it in a comment below or a post on your own site.
Step 3 - let us know what will motivate you to get it done – a reward, consequences, or whatever you need to think that will ensure you do what you say you are going to do. I’ve found that the public announcement and accountability is a particularly great motivator, but throw down consequences if you really need a kick in the pants to get stuff done!
Step 4 - Be sure to think about this long-term as well as what you’re going to accomplish today. How will what you do today help you get to where you want to go?
Here’s what I will do today:
- Clean out inbox of 144 emails
- Post one more blog post
- Clear off 4 things from my personal to-do list
- 4 loads of laundry
- Cook dinner
- Spend 2 hours with family tonight
- Make one necklace + pair of earrings
- Meditate
Here’s what I won’t do today
- Check stats more than 1 time
- Check earnings more than 1 time
- Stay up past midnight to get stuff done
- Eat lunch at my desk
If I don’t do all of this before I go to bed (on time!), or do any of the things I said I wouldn’t do, I will fly one of you out to the Blog World Expo (don’t get your hopes up 
).
So what are you going to get done today?
If you liked this article, you might also enjoy:
- Monday Motivation :: Back in the Saddle
- Monday Motivation :: Do I HAVE To?!
- Monday Motivation :: Summer Focus in a Bottle
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This sounds like me Wendy:) I am up very early to get another blog post up and make sure i have everything done that is physically positive in the next 7 hours before I head to Blog World – I plan to sleep on the plane so I get to have two Tuesdays this week- the wonderful time line
so in the next 5 hours
I will repack , so i don’t take all the things I think I might need
2. I will write one blog post
3. I will walk on the beach and go for a swim if the sun is shining- it’s like a meditation,
4. Make sure the to do before we leave list is checked off.
5. Write in my gratitude journal before nodding off on the plane
If I don’t get these done, today I will forgive myself, and write the blog post on the plane.
See you in Vegas
Is it a little evil of me to think it would be nice if you didn’t get your list done and then I got picked to go to Vegas for free?
? Review new blog and deliver ideas to client. – 30 mins.
? Post for client’s other blog – 45 mins.
? Update “current projects” list – 20 mins.
? Check out the neighborhood – 2 hours
? Post for my Something Good blog – 30 mins.
? Find book for research for client’s articles – 30 mins.
? Develop ideas for client’s articles – 1 hour
? Review homework for Bradley class tonight – 30 mins.
? Go to class – 2.5 hours
If I don’t finish all of these things before I go to be tonight, I will stay upstairs in my cold bedroom tomorrow and clean the whole thing. Yuck!
LOL – Definitely not evil of you. But don’t hold your breath, either!
Wendy, glad my experiment made an impact for you…it certainly has for me. Write a post about what systems you have in place to help you do more in less time. I’d like to hear!
I’m going to finally crack that CSS book open and try to learn something.
I am going to write yet another blog post about evil people.
I could relate to what you said about not checking things more than once. I have such a bad habit of checking things I might be earning money on, or my email 20 times a day! That definately is a bad habit! Thanks for the reminders.
Although I cut it short, I came in 20 minutes before midnight and I did EVERYTHING, including making a new necklace for myself!
Sorry Lorna! I must admit it was tempting to fail just to have a great excuse to see you there!
Glad to hear you made it – but if you hadn’t I would have made you take me with you!!
Doing more with less is definitely a popular theme this week – we all must be feeling a bit out of balance.
ACK! How did you NOT check stats more than once?? I find every reason to procrastinate and see how many people ‘love’ me on the Internet in a day.
I sometimes have to shut down my Feed pane otherwise I tell myself ‘oh what’s the harm in reading something on another blog…’