shifting sands of time
for as long as i can remember, my to-do list rules have been as follows:
* tackle the toughest tasks first (and)
* tackle the most odious tasks first
the rationale behind those rules being, of course, that my catholic-raised, child of an alcoholic self would respond best to a sort of "chores-then-rewards" approach. i would suffer through the crap with the promise of goodness to follow. it would feel great to accomplish the most loathsome objectives-- get them out of the way-- and move on to more entertaining prospects. but you know, so far, that system ain't workin' out so great.
SO, i propose for myself a very obvious, opposite solution:
* start with the easiest items on the list (and)
* start with the most fun items
yes, i realize i am not a genius for figuring this out, and yes, i admit that many people have already suggested that i adopt such a program, but now i am finally coming around. see, i used to be convinced that one had to attack the most burdensome jobs at the onset of the day, because that's when one presumably has the most energy. and, i always figured, so what if i burn out doing the slave labor-- as long as i finish, it doesn't matter if i'm too tired to do the things i'd enjoy more. but that was precisely the problem-- regardless of the amount of time it takes me to check off the tasks i most detest, i am spent when that time comes, and as a result, i never get around to the projects that inspire me.
therefore, i shall now experiment with the theory that accomplishing simple and/or fun tasks will not deplete my valuable energy; rather, they will produce the momentum and confidence necessary to tackle the larger and/or less savory elements on the list. gone will be the days of working in a pile of papers and clutter simply because i view arranging the office as a leisurely, (relatively) easy project. the bottom line is, treating it that way ensures that it never gets done. and furthermore, i continue to force myself to work in sloth, which is far from productive and certainly does not yield warm fuzzy feelings.
i feel like such a moron for taking this long to test drive this theory, but whatever. i can't go back, right? so i'll just go forward and hope that this might possibly be the great enlightenment i think it is. or that it at least gets me up off the couch for the better part of the day.
* tackle the toughest tasks first (and)
* tackle the most odious tasks first
the rationale behind those rules being, of course, that my catholic-raised, child of an alcoholic self would respond best to a sort of "chores-then-rewards" approach. i would suffer through the crap with the promise of goodness to follow. it would feel great to accomplish the most loathsome objectives-- get them out of the way-- and move on to more entertaining prospects. but you know, so far, that system ain't workin' out so great.
SO, i propose for myself a very obvious, opposite solution:
* start with the easiest items on the list (and)
* start with the most fun items
yes, i realize i am not a genius for figuring this out, and yes, i admit that many people have already suggested that i adopt such a program, but now i am finally coming around. see, i used to be convinced that one had to attack the most burdensome jobs at the onset of the day, because that's when one presumably has the most energy. and, i always figured, so what if i burn out doing the slave labor-- as long as i finish, it doesn't matter if i'm too tired to do the things i'd enjoy more. but that was precisely the problem-- regardless of the amount of time it takes me to check off the tasks i most detest, i am spent when that time comes, and as a result, i never get around to the projects that inspire me.
therefore, i shall now experiment with the theory that accomplishing simple and/or fun tasks will not deplete my valuable energy; rather, they will produce the momentum and confidence necessary to tackle the larger and/or less savory elements on the list. gone will be the days of working in a pile of papers and clutter simply because i view arranging the office as a leisurely, (relatively) easy project. the bottom line is, treating it that way ensures that it never gets done. and furthermore, i continue to force myself to work in sloth, which is far from productive and certainly does not yield warm fuzzy feelings.
i feel like such a moron for taking this long to test drive this theory, but whatever. i can't go back, right? so i'll just go forward and hope that this might possibly be the great enlightenment i think it is. or that it at least gets me up off the couch for the better part of the day.