Sometimes I wonder why I keep doing Monday Motivation – then I think about what would happen to my inbox and I promptly remember why. Monday Motivation isn’t particularly popular or fun, but when I skip it, boy, do I hear about it from some of you. I think it’s a good reflection if the terribly un-sexy part of working at home, the get-through-the-crap-work that nobody wants to think about – myself included.
That all being said, I didn’t get my stuff done last week. I swear that somethings got to give soon, and it just might be my hair as I pull it out in frustration with all the things on my plate right now. I admit it – I am terribly overcommitted and things are slipping through the cracks. And yes, I know you’ll tell me to get a VA, and good god do I need one, but I don’t have the budget for it right now.
I don’t quite know how I could have prevented myself from getting here, but learn from my misfortune and don’t get yourself into a position where working 90 hours a week still wouldn’t be enough (and no, I’m not working that much, but I am working way more than I want to be).
There’s a lesson in here, I know it. And when I find it, I’ll let you know. 
So here’s the Monday Motivation drill:
Step 1 – let us know what you are going to get done today, tomorrow, or this week (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! Unless, of course, you are working towards a new laptop too, in which case I think the reward is particularly motivating.
We don’t care how you get it done, we just want to support you in reaching your goals.
Today before I go to sleep I will:
- Clean out my inbox of 396 emails
- Make To-Do list for the week
And before the end of the week I will:
- Clean my office top to bottom
- Figure out my BlogHer travel arrangements as much as possible
- Post two guest posts
- Finish all new banners & text links for our new affiliate program
- Finalize my course outline
If I don’t get all of this done by the end of the week, I will not Twitter for two weeks. YIKES.
So what are you going to get done today?
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Sparkplugging Founder Wendy Piersall is dang passionate about helping people start & grow a business while maintaining life balance (somehow). 
Easton Ellsworth is owner of 
Wendy, are you sure you’re not being too harsh with yourself?? Sounds like you’re more in need of a reward than a punishment!
Since my blog is about decluttering and beating procrastination, I will keep at my basement project (even if just 5 minutes a day); and finish cleaning out my file drawer.
I need to post before the end of the night, and do some work for pay before the end of the week!!
Ann at One Bag Nations last blog post..In the Organized Kitchen: Five Tips for Efficient Meals
I had planned to get a full quality assurance done on a project I’m working on. But the clients changed some things and it’s thrown the whole thing out of wack. So that’s out.
Instead I’m going to move Monday Motivation to Tuesday and (in the spirit of Ann at One Bag Nation) get an audio edit I’ve been procrastinating for over a month.
I already got today’s list pretty much done. But I need to get one block knit for my design project before bed time!
This week I will..
Get halfway done with the design project. Write 4 blog posts for my Lion Brand Blog, Add a publications page to my blog, get my son shorts and find my kitchen!
If not.. I will turn my computer OFF for 24 hours!!
Wendy yesterday I was so overwhelmed I listened to Debbie Lanes hypnosis tapes for calming and sleep. As I haven’t been able to sleep more then one hour at a time in over a week.
With the untimely passing of Tim Russert. Please take heed to what your doing to your body. I;m convinced part of my cancer is from the ridiculous work and personal schedule I’ve kept for years along with unresolved friend and family issues. Please remember to think about you…when we die as my X husband told me over 30 years ago…there are no U-Hauls…only the friends and family you love..missing and mourning what they can never see or speak with again.
Hugs to a wonderful lady…who needs to reassess her priorities..
My blessing and my prayers..
Dorothy from grammology
remember to call your gram
grammology.com
Dorothy Stahlneckers last blog post..Managing Cancer with help.
I’ve done all more chores for the day…I’m now in need of some “me” time.
I don’t have anything planned this week really so I’m not motivated to do anything.
I’m so envious of the people going to Blogher. This was supposed to be my year. My husband was so sweet and said he would pay my way to go but I can’t ask that of him…not now. He’s so sweet though:)
Have a great week folks!
Loris last blog post..Email Marketing – Building a List
Hi Wendy, it’s been a while since I dropped a line. Hope all is well with you, your schedule sounds as crazy as mine!
Big things doing, and trying to put all the pieces together. This is one of those times where I just need to commit and erode it away until it’s done.
It won’t get all done today, so this week I am hoping to get things off the ground and make big changes in my life. I’ll write again when able, but it might not be for a while. Wish me luck!
No matter how busy it gets, I stop in whenever I can. You do a great job, and we all appreciate it!
One reason I like the Monday Motivation series is that you let us in on what you’re working on, Wendy.
))
This week, I have to make some major progress on a client’s newsroom project. Their deadline? July 1 – two weeks from tomorrow.
Wow! Summer’s flying, isn’t it? Did finish a guest post today and have two posts ready for slight polishing before publishing. So, I’m ahead in some areas. You probably are, too.
Barbara Rozgonyis last blog post..Power of Word of Mouth, Paid Media & the PSA | Making Media Connections Notes
I just joined a forum for VAs and they have two different weekly goal-setting topics, one for health & fitness so here’s what I posted there.
1) Read VA Forums section on SEO
2) Transfer website hosting to paid account & change blog design (WordPress?)
3) Work on press release
4) Organize home office area
5) Complete start up forms
I completed #1 already. #2 is halfway done (I paid for my hosting but haven’t transferred it yet.) And #4 is partially completed. I stocked up on supplies, now I just need to re-organize my work area. And while I’m doing that, I’m going to set up a min-workspace for my daughter because she likes to “work” like Mommy does.
But you know what they say about all work and no play…so I have personal goals this week too.
Today I wanted to find some fitness podcasts to listen to while I’m out for a walk. Done!
I’m also preparing for a garage sale – which I’ll be “co-hosting” with my neighbor who I just met a few days ago – so tonight I got one whole box sorted and ready to go.
And last but not least, I am going to consolidate all of my various to-do lists, calendars, etc. all into ONE place. Part of doing that will be scheduling myself one hour every night of “work” stuff and one hour of “play time”.
I’ve been so busy for the past week and I have a lot planned for this week, so by Friday my brain will be fried!
I have such a long list of stuff to do this week I’m not sure where to begin! And I haven’t started out the week well, I didn’t do nearly as much as I planned for today. My motivation? I just have to do it.
Trishas last blog post..Women’s Health Weekly Review: June 8 – June 14
Ah, like you, I am overscheduled and I bite off more than I can chew.
I recently resigned from a state task force and I felt so good afterwards. I was very conflicted about it but realized that I truly couldn’t give it the time it deserved and I was robbing myself of precious time too.
Cut back where you can!
Karen Putz / DeafMoms last blog post..Welcome to my World, Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Hearing–Entwined
I am going to:
- Go shopping and pick up some packages that have been sitting at the post office for far too long.
- Write two articles that are due today and get a start on the ones due next week.
- Write a blog post on my PLR site.
If I don´t get this stuff done . . . no chocolate for a week. :O
Genesiss last blog post..Monday Motivation: Interview with Brianna Young
Dang, you do more in a day than most do in a week. Go easy on yourself.