Something I’ve been struggling with lately is the efficient, or at least improved, use of my free time. During a weekday, and most often in the mornings on weekdays before I leave the house, I make mental lists of things I’d like to get done when I get home in the evening. I know I’m old, because this list includes things like putting the clean dishes away, paying bills, going to the gym, or doing that laundry I’ve been putting off. I even add fun things like practice piano, cook a meal for myself, or pick up some things I need at Target.
The problem is, my apartment is one big distraction; there’s always something to look at on the internet, last night’s Colbert Report to watch, a couch to nap on, or a book to read (not that this particular distraction isn’t a worthy use of time).
Anway, I’ve found that once I get home, if I don’t sit down, I can get pretty much anything done I want. Getting off your feet is the gateway to evil, uh, I mean, the first step to distraction. I know, I know, it’s silly and obvious, but just don’t sit down.
or put “Relax, since I’ve already worked all day” on your list. Saturday morning is for getting things done. Enjoy your evenings.
I find that sitting down makes it harder to get things done as well. As soon as I get home, I set the timer in the kitchen and then watch whatever I can before it goes off. It’s annoying enough that I feel compelled enough to go and turn it off. Once I’m up, game on.
I totally do the same thing with the list in the morning… and I even go so far as to write it down most of the time. And yes, when I get home and sit down to eat something for dinner, it pretty much takes a crane to get my butt off the couch and get moving again!
I like JPT’s idea about the timer… :)
I just started reading Getting Things Done which seems pretty good. His recommendation is to get all those things out of your head and into a system you trust. His rationale is the brain reminds us to do things when we cannot deal with them.