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PROJECT du JOUR
Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019
Every day seems to have one, or rather – deserves one.
That intended project du jour. The well-meant well-plotted blueprint du jour, a quantified goal and an expected outcome. Sure, right, as if that ever happens….
Just one project. Distraction-free day to work on, to complete it, and then call it done (work rarely turns out this way).
One crucial project, either necessary or near-and-dear, to concentrate mental energy and physical rest/preparedness. Starting a day fueled by rest/sleep, breakfast, and caffeine is like readying a rocket for launch. Then what? We begin without sufficient prior organization – without a clear plan or roadmap, without the slate swept clean the night before.
The question: how do we bring focus to our day so we actually get-things-done in the face of massive riffraff and triage critically important distractions?
But our busy mind competes to squeeze in two, or three, or ten other priorities. More than choosing too much to do (in terms of volume), we retreat from our focus to the chaos of many – as if preparing to self-excuse ourselves for not getting everything done.
My discipline is a ‘work in progress’ in this area – but I am convinced I’ll get it right one day soon.
What sends me curveballs are completely unanticipated sparks!
Like one recent Saturday. I had my day planned. Then the curveball arrived. Not from external sources, no client call or a friend emailing their latest need for services, advice, or friendship. No, this one was internal – came from some corner of my brain and immediately hit me in the solar plexus. Yes, this was it. This was how I was to spend the mid-part of my day – focusing on nothing else. It was 10 AM. By 11 AM I was organized to attack it, spend all morning clearing must-do items re-prioritize for Sunday or Monday. I ate lunch early, just so I wouldn’t get derailed. I’d finished morning papers and my re-laxative inducing pot of coffee – then put on another to keep me hyper-alert while knowing coffee consumed past noon means I’ll have a restless short sleep that night. No matter, this diversion of attention was essential. No, it has nothing to do with short term revenue I need, no guarantee of long-term income either. Not for anyone else, just for me. For now. A challenge of, can I do this. I think I can. I think I can.
And, about finding that distraction-free day to work on any particular project – that takes planning, organization, and focus. I’ve learned, too, when I get prepared for that and make myself completely available for it – one of two things typically shows up; some new thing/idea or priority flies in the door, and I respond to it (sometimes this is just opportunistic procrastination), but as often it is suddenly just not wanting to work on that project that day.
One day projects are hard.
Projects that will take a week, or a month – they’ll crush you.
Big things, little things too, are best eaten one bite at a time.
One day isn’t a project – it’s just a day; to make the most of it, mix some urgent with some mind-numbing dreary, some payday production requirements – lightly tossed (like salad) with play-day attitudes.
Tomorrow is another jour.
Reader feedback:
Many complexities written about here...thought provoking...for beginnings and endings of relationships. If you feel like blowing up a relationship Bridge, something went wrong for way too long...sounds painful for both of you. I have ended relationships, for sure, but subtly, gently, most often no direct comment towards that intent, which leaves the other person’s dignity in place. A kind of ‘goodwill attitude’ prevails for us both that way. After all, it takes two, to be taken advantage of; the giver and the taker. Most often, I have been in the giver role when I realize I am developing a resentment, not healthy for my peace of mind. But who was really to blame? When I go back to the formula of; just give what I want, not more...that works great. Relations are all experiments until on solid ground, SF, Lethbridge, AB
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