Start With a Plan
I tend to be very scattered, jumping from one task to another with reckless abandon, and the attention span of a caffeinated squirrel. Having worked in a project-driven environment for years as an accountant and manager, I learned after much resistance that schedules and deadlines were actually my friend.
A schedule is nothing more than a road map telling you not only where you need to go, but when.
Sometimes, due dates are clearly defined. Someone else is counting on you to provide information so they, in turn can provide their piece of the project to someone further up the line. Though there may be a certain amount of flexibility built in, (you can always finish before the due date) you know what’s expected and how long you have to get it done.
Whose Deadlines Get Your Attention?
Invariably, I met or beat deadlines which affected others, even if, at times it meant working until the wee hours of the morning. But when the only one depending on me to complete tasks was me, I hit a huge roadblock.
In the first place, I’d never learned to make myself a priority, so any deadlines I set felt 
arbitrary and non-binding. I took several online courses trying to learn to do better. All I ended up with was an overloaded Google calendar, tasks I missed entirely, and due dates that slipped interminably or died on the vine from lack of interest or commitment.
Eventually I learned to pare it down to something more manageable and achievable. I learned to leave a lot of projects off entirely as their due dates cluttered up my calendar with no real benefit. I learned to leave white space on my own calendar! Who knew?
You are Your First Priority
In the meantime, I’d been using Trello to keep track of my writing, client work, monthly bill paying, and anything else I wanted to help my energetic but unfocused mind remember. Many tasks, especially with my writing and Facebook Lives sat on Trello forever with no sign they’d be completed and archived in the foreseeable future. Many would still be languishing had I not staged my own intervention.
Ultimately, it occurred to me I needed to take advice I’d heard repeatedly but failed to internalize.
Treat yourself like you’d treat your very best client.
What??? Why would I treat myself like a client?
But then it hit me. I always honor my commitments to other people. Where I run up against a brick wall is when the commitment I need to make is to myself. Somehow, I missed the lesson that says I should be the most important person in my life. Being a good person meant putting other people first, right? Whether it’s children, bosses, co-workers, parents—their needs had to be met before I could take care of myself.
Granted, I learned to bend that a bit when it came to my dancing, but only because if I didn’t make time to dance, everyone suffered, and I do mean everyone. I realized I needed to bend my old rules even further, and for the same reason. If I don’t honor my commitments to myself, I may honor the ones I make to others, but I won’t be happy about it. I will always feel a certain amount of resentment and annoyance, even though it was my choice and my feelings will be reflected in the quality of my work.
Using Tools to Plan and Prioritize
I took a look at my tools again, asking: how can I use them to give myself deadlines I’ll actually 
honor?
It took some trial and error as well as making “check Trello boards” a daily task on my Google calendar, but I’ve accomplished a lot since I figured it out. Each card and item under that card has a due date. The funny thing about due dates is I’ve discovered I feel guilty if I miss one, even if it’s essentially an arbitrary date I set for myself. Somehow, my mind tells me anything without a due date is simply there for future reference. I make no commitment to it, nor even recognize it as a task, but merely an idea.
The first thing I accomplished after setting due dates was to finish the first draft of Rebuilding After Suicide. The second was to finish the re-write. Now I use it to keep myself on track with my blog posts. By setting due dates, I consistently schedule post at least 2 weeks ahead. I’ve decided it’s time to step up my game and move those dates back another week so posts are scheduled at least 3 weeks ahead. Trying to accomplish that goal without changing the due dates has led to weeks of no writing after I reached the invisible goal. Without a due date, it was merely a possibility or a desire, but not a plan.
I also need to set due dates for:
- Marketing studies
- Re-writing Rebuilding After Suicide with the help of editorial notes and new observations
- Monthly client work
- Gearing up for my future speaking career
- Research on publishing options
Keep it Simple
There are many more, but I learned early on the key to my success is to make changes in small steps. Otherwise I overwhelm myself and end up failing spectacularly. The one thing I strive to avoid is setting myself up for failure. Instead, I set myself small but achievable goals which can be increased or broadened once I feel the glow of success.
In a way, setting deadlines is similar to decluttering. By setting hard but achievable due dates, I’m essentially clearing space in my schedule. I’ve removed my tendency to fart around with things that won’t lead me to my goals because I’ve tied up the time productively. Suddenly, I find myself with more time in which I can be productive, and quickly fill it with appropriate tasks.
It all started with putting myself first, and recognizing I had a right to honor commitments to myself. I had to learn taking care of my own dreams wasn’t selfish at all.
Ready to Put Yourself First? Let’s Make a Plan!
Are you tired of struggling? Do the “must do’s” overwhelm you leaving no time for what you love to do? Would you like to take a task or two off your plate? Maybe it’s content creation, or perhaps it’s getting your books in order and creating a budget. If this sounds familiar and you’re ready to streamline your life and give your business space to grow and thrive, CONTACT ME and let’s talk!
About the Author
Sheri Conaway is a writer, blogger, ghostwriter, and an advocate for cats, and mental health. Sheri 
believes in the Laws of Attraction, but only if you are a participant rather than just an observer. Her mission is to Make Vulnerable Beautiful and help entrepreneurs touch the souls of their readers and clients so they can increase their impact and their income. If you’d like to have her write for you, please visit her Hire Me page for more information. You can also find her on Facebook Sheri Levenstein-Conaway Author. And check out her new group, Putting Your Whole Heart Forward.
Be sure to watch this space for news of the upcoming release of ” Rebuilding After Suicide”.
