Too much?
Ever have that moment when you look at your calendar and realize things are finally starting to slow down because long-term projects are finally coming to an end? Or revel in that precious moment when you can sit back in your chair and breathe a much-needed sigh of relief? Then you just happen to shift your eyes on the calendar to the next week . . . and scream.
Yep. That’s me, too.
Since I have a tendency to have projects stretched all over my calendar (paper or digital), I get lulled into a false sense of security by organizing on a day-to-day basis. Because of this, I have to make a habit of creating a Project Overview list to check in with myself. Here’s a partial list of what’s currently on my plate:
- Grading student final exams and projects
- Completing a PowerPoint presentation for the National Career Pathways Network Annual Conference (I’m getting an award for “Best Teaching Practices” for an InDesign course curriculum I created and teach during the summer–Woot!)
- Chemistry and Stats courses (I’m a nerd at heart—ye-yah! But did I mention I’m a mathephobe?)
- Getting ready for the Florida Writers Association (FWA) Conference (I’m also helping orchestrate the publishers/agents interviews and critiques)
- Becoming the FWA Assistant Web Master
- Finish Illustrating a picture-book for my hubby
- Write copy for a corporate ID project
- Construct a shed-roost for our horde of chickens and geese
That slowing down I mentioned earlier . . . Yeeeeeah, don’t think so.
But if your to-do list starts to get so long that you start to hyperventilate, or get writer’s cramp before you get to the end, it’s probably a good sign to start cutting and/or prioritizing.
You only have so much time in a day and years in a lifetime, so if there is a project you can do without, let it go. If you can’t let it go, is there flexibility in its deadline? Can you hand the project over to someone else? If you can hand it over to someone else, DO IT. Just don’t add more to the list later–unless you know for sure you can handle it. Let go of the Yes Man gripping tightly on your back, or . . .
All work and no play . . . can turn you into crazy Jack Nicholson
Constantly saying yes to projects and working all the time doesn’t get you very far. Without some occasional peace time to cull workaholic-traveling-at-the-speed-of-light behavior, you’d go bonkers like Nicholson in Steven King’s The Shining. To balance out your inner Crazy Nicholson, make sure to create some fun time for yourself.
My current fun projects are
- Grab a quiet spot to just chill, sip on some coffee, or read
- Begin writing on a manuscript for a YA book idea
- Complete illustrations for my own picture book
- Read about and study other illustrators and writers I admire
- Find workshops for illustration to update my skills and meet others in the field
My Fun List is kind of long but I don’t plan to do all of the items on it at once; however, a little variety goes a long way. Your list can be as complicated or as simple as you want it, depending on what works for your schedule, of course. Try not to make the mistake of creating more work for yourself! The goal is to create fun. Not reasons to run.
Becoming a Yes Man—for yourself
I know balancing your time can be difficult. Especially if you have difficulty saying no to most things asked of you, have familial demands—I’m right there with you. But know that it must be done.
At one time I was a member of the Just Say Yes club, constantly pushed my wants to the back in favor of helping others meet their needs . . . But I learned to stop. My world didn’t come to a screeching halt, and I discovered the process wasn’t as hard as I expected. The benefit? More time for me. Who doesn’t want more “me time”?
Don’t get me wrong. In itself, wanting to help others isn’t a bad thing, but when helping others interferes with your ability to achieve your own goals, it most certainly is.
So, in honor of the late Steve Jobs who had a voracious appetite for discovering, setting and accomplishing goals, “Stay hungry. Stay foolish.” You’ll be happier and more satisfied in life if you do.
April
