This week I've found the old pattern of distraction returning, but in the Procrastination book last night I went over a section that should help, because it modifies something I do all of the time.

She says to make a list each week of the things you want to accomplish, but only put five things on it, and if they're big things that might not get finished, then put only three things.

Don't make the list so long that it serves as a distraction or that it reminds you of all of the things you didn't finish. I had a couple of things I wanted to do today, one is an appointment I'll get to on time, but the other was more general, and I kept getting side tracked. The distraction was something to do with work, but something that didn't necessarily need to be fiddled with right now. When I come in this evening, I may sit down and finish the first thing because it shouldn't take that long* and it will mean I can cross it off of the list I wrote this afternoon.

You can do a list every day, keeping it very short, but a weekly list may give more of a feeling of organization in the workplace. The Monday list, and if you finish things, cross them off and add another, if you want, but even if you don't add more, by Friday you should feel good about finishing what you planned.

Now, to finish dressing and head out the door to get to my photo shoot on time.

*'Shouldn't take that long' is one of those "scripts" that she warns us about, that sometimes it is true but often it isn't. So if I don't finish, I won't beat myself up, but I'll get as far as I can within an hour or so, and then I'll resume the work tomorrow. It is something I want finished and in everyone's mail boxes by Monday.

SRS