There are days, more and more the older I get, when tasks seem to be everywhere I look, piling up faster than I can even capture them; a full dishwasher, dishes in the sink, laundry to be done, an errand list as long as my arm, emails to be returned, papers to go through, posts to be written, articles to be researched, appointments to be made…
When I start feeling…hmmm. Frantic is the word I guess. The only thing I can do is keep repeating over and over “one thing,” “one thing,” a mantra of sorts to remind myself to focus on just one thing at a time. Just one thing…, then the next…, and the next. I started out whispering it in my head, but now I just say it out loud and don’t care who thinks I’m crazy. Crazy or not, it helps…a lot.
One thing…
Put away the dishes – Check
Throw in a load of laundry – Check
Answer email – Check
Write blog post – Check
Conference call – Check
Research article – Check
Brainstorm name and domain for new project – Check
Call mom – Check
Text kids – Check
Make vet appointment for dogs – Check
Do a few errands – Check
Go to son’s track meet – Check
Try not to think about work I should be doing while at track meet – Sort of check
Make dinner – Check
Walk dogs – Check
Check homework – Check
And so on…
One thing…one thing…one thing…
It works for me…Maybe it will work for you…
Repeat after me…One thing, one thing, one thing…
Let me know if it helps!
