Do It: Continuing Adventures in Productivity

    As you may have observed, productivity has been on my mind lately. Last time I wrote about how to stay “On The Jazz,” or motivated, when you really don’t feel like it. This time I wanted to continue to riff on this topic, but focus on one dreaded, abused and often misused tool: 

THE TO-DO list. 

    If you’re like me, then you probably have a to-do list. And it sits there…

...Or on your smart phone screen.
...Or a scrap of notebook paper.
...On sticky notes.

    Days go by and the things on that to-do list don’t get done and I can’t help but ask myself,

“Why?”

    The answer is simple:
    We aren’t utilizing this amazing tool properly.

Let’s fix that, shall we?

Write it down

    At night, before your head hits the pillow, write down the things you’d like to accomplish the following day. Before you get too far, let me warn you….you really don’t want to bog down your Daily To-Do List with too many tasks. It can be overwhelming to look at your list for the day and see 50 things that need to be done.

    As someone who succumbs to this on a regular basis, allow me to suggest an alternative: 

    Try creating a Master List of all the things you would like to achieve, so that those ghouls, I mean goals can stop haunting you. Then split the Master list into categories such as Work, Home, Books I Want to Read…whatever makes sense to you. Then, each night as you’re creating your Daily To-Do List take a peek at your Master List and see if there’s anything that could be added.

    For the Master List, I suggest using a program that will allow you to easily track your long-term goals. Find one that works for you. Here are some suggestions I’ve come across in my travels…pick your poison:

Evernote
Remember The Milk

ToDoIst

Trello
Workflowy
Wunderlist

    For your Daily To-Do List, you can use a program, even the same program that you use for your Master List OR you can go the old fashioned route and use paper. I actually prefer pen & paper because there’s something that sparks the mind about physically writing down tasks. In recent days I’ve been trying out something called Bullet Journaling. While I initially dismissed the idea, it's been working pretty well so far. You can learn more about Bullet Journal by visiting Ryder Carroll's website. I highly recommend giving it a go:

   

     Regardless of how you choose to record your Daily To-Do List there is one vital rule you must follow:

It must always go in the same spot.

    Dedicate a notebook, a physical to-do list pad, an app for your Daily To-Do List and stick with it. You may have to play with this for awhile to see what works for you.

Get a head start

    Now that you have your to-do list written, it’s time to evaluate it. Prioritize items by urgency and logistical constraints.

    Look for anything that might try to sneak off of your list due to circumstances outside your control and plan around them. For example, if it’s the middle of summer and you need to mow the lawn, you’ll want to start mowing before it gets too hot outside, right? See how that works? Just allow yourself to mentally plan ahead.

     Bonus Sneaky Sneaky Trick: See if there is anything small you can accomplish TONIGHT no matter how small. It’s amazing how it feels to wake up in the morning and realize that some of your work for the day is already completed. I usually look for something that will either save me time (like running the dishwasher or a load of laundry while I’m sleeping) or simply the easiest thing on my list.

Get It Over With

    This is where we get to the nitty-gritty. Let’s time travel to the next day. You created your Daily To-Do List the night before and it’s in the same place it always is. You glance at the list and while you already did a small thing, you’ve got a whole list of tasks still needing to be accomplished.

Which task do you do first?

    This is a matter of opinion, and this is mine: The first task you should do is the one you can most easily talk yourself out of. I’m always most easily talked out of working out. So, generally speaking, I do that before my brain has time to focus on anything else. You may find a different way of looking at this, and that's okay. Remember, half the battle is won by learning what works best for you!

Time it

    You may think your to-do list is a benign little inanimate object, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The to-do list is a black hole of time stealing madness!

When we set out to work on our tasks we are striving for our own personal holy grail: the check mark.

    Sadly, there are some tasks that can’t realistically be completed in one day. The solution: set goals & time limits. Set a timer for 30 to 60 minutes and work on a specific task or related series of tasks until the alarm sounds. I like to do this with my cleaning…because seriously, I could clean for 6 hours straight and I’d still find more to clean. By putting time pressure on myself, I’m automatically more efficient. This is also helpful for reigning in tasks that you find more enjoyable than others. (But reading was on my list, really!)

    Bonus: You can also flip this concept around. Sometimes you just need a break: Set the timer and let yourself play video games or watch TV as much as you want…until the alarm sounds! Then get back to work. Boom!

Just Get Busy

    Sometimes the only thing to do is pull yourself up by the bootstraps and get busy. On days when I don’t feel like doing anything, I have to work extra hard to accomplish much. However, the wisdom of my great-grandmother, as passed on to me by my mom, rings in my ears: Just get busy. Do whatever you can. And at the end of the day if you’ve only accomplished one task on your list…guess what? That’s one check mark down.

Now tell me…what is your favorite way to manage your to-do list?

Choose Your Own Adventure: Staying Productive

I have a confession to make.

I’m not always On the Jazz.

In fact, I would go as far as to say that I’m a frequent sufferer of bluedom. It’s not quite as deep or dark as depression, but it’s a relative.

There are many days where all I want to do is sit on my butt, watch TV, eat a bunch of unhealthy food and play on my phone. But to tell you the truth, the days when I sit around and do nothing are the days I feel the least On The Jazz. In fact, I usually feel pretty lousy.

)

Recently, I’ve been feeling convicted about how many days I’ve allowed to slip by me with very little accomplished. And I’m not just talking about work stuff; I’m talking about things that I expressly have the desire to do.

But 

HOW 

do 

I 

find 

the 

kind
of
energy
and
  self-discipline

it
 takes
 to
 shake
 myself
 free
 of
  apathy? 

Maintaining a zest for life certainly isn’t easy, but in the end, my motivation is to create the most beautiful life I can have. Life is a choose your own adventure story…you can choose to waste a day or you can choose to take action.

The following is a list, some tips and tricks that help keep me focused and jazzy. I hope that on your blue days these ideas will help you.

Pump Yourself Up

Getting some exercise greatly increases your chances of having a good day. This is what I start my days with (most of the time.) Not only do I get the benefits of keeping myself healthy and strong, I get a hit from nature’s happy drug: endorphins! Believe me…endorphins are your friends.

Get Ready

When I was a kid and I would be slothing around the house in my pajamas, my mom would say to me, “Why don’t you get dressed?” Honestly, I always resented it when she’d say that. If I had the opportunity to lounge around in my PJ’s why wouldn’t I do it? Well, my mom is a smart cookie and she knows a few things about blue days, too. As an adult, I’ve found that getting ready like I’m going somewhere greatly ups my chances of productivity. Take a shower. Get dressed. Brush your teeth. Smile. You’re ready to take on the world.

Put On Some Tunes

          Music is magical. The things you listen to greatly affect your mood, whether you realize it or not. While sad or angry music has its place, never underestimate the power of happy music. Put on some music that makes you smile! My personal favorites include You Sexy Thing, Get Up Offa That Thing, and Jungle Boogie. Oh! Also Superstition! Apparently funk is a blue day eraser.

Write it Down

           Sometimes the thing that keeps us from wanting to do anything is not having a clear picture of what we need or want to do. If your mind is a swirling vortex of tasks it can be overwhelming to choose to do even one of them. The simplest solution to Taskmageddon is to make a to-do list. Simply writing down your goals for the day will allow your brain to calm down and more readily focus on something.

Environment Matters

Let There Be Light!

           Make sure you have some natural light. Many people suffer from the Winter Blues or S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder) but don’t realize it. I used to live in a basement apartment that only had one window.  For the 2 years I lived there I struggled and couldn’t fathom what was wrong with me...until I moved to an apartment with windows galore! It was as though I was different person…sunlight made all the difference.

Clean It Up! 

You’re gonna hate me for this, but let’s get real here. Make sure your workspace is clean. (I’m guilty of this one.) Trying to accomplish much in a messy space is an uphill battle. I’m not suggesting that you have a perfectly organized and flawless work space...but a little cleaning goes a long way.

Get Out of the House

            Get some fresh air. Take a walk. Soak in a few rays. Even if it’s just 5 minutes, being outside can be incredibly rejuvenating.

            Another option is to take a project to a local library or Starbucks. There’s something focusing about isolating yourself with one task out in public.

[Addendum 3/30/14: I just found this little tid-bit on another blog. Someone agrees with me!]

Take the Day Off

         If you just can’t seem to get your butt in gear, go with it and allow yourself to have a day for you, but make it a day about uplifting self-care. All those things that you “just don’t have time for” might be on the agenda:

1. Read a book
2. Journal
3. Create something
4. Write an old fashioned letter
5. Give yourself a pedicure
6. Use that gift certificate you’ve been saving for a rainy day
7. Watch that movie you borrowed from your friend a couple of years ago…

The possibilities are endless. You might just need a day off.

Celebrate

        This is my favorite one. Positivity is infectious. Likewise, apathy begets apathy. So, fill your mind with so much gratitude that apathy and negativity can’t get a foothold. This can be a bit tricky, but all you need to do is look around you and find things you like. For those of you who are scoffing at me, let me tell you a story:

        Once upon a time I woke up in the Worst. Mood. Ever. I was stomping around grumpling about how much I hated everything and kept saying that I “hated my life.” I got in my car to leave for the day and stopped short. “Self,” I said, “If you keep talking about how much you hate everything, this is going to be the worst day ever. How about we focus on things we like?” During my 15 minute drive I began to list the things I was grateful for, starting with the dumbest little thing I could find and continued until I was bubbling over with gratitude and laughter!

        This has become a way of life for me, from “celebrating” seemingly small things, like my socks or a smooth rolling pen, to the big things like a roof over my head or the people in my life.

Never underestimate the
POWER
of self-talk.

        You know that old phrase, “What’s wrong with this picture?” Try flipping it around: “What’s right with this picture?” It may just change your life.

Now, GO! 

Choose your own adventure and stay 

ON THE JAZZ!

Now tell me...What will you celebrate today?

Howling Meme Murdock

I've been thinking about Murdock a lot lately, and so I made this little meme for him. <3

I might add other Murdock memes to this post as I create them. :)

Embrace Your Inner Murdock

I recently had an epiphany about what I do as an actress.  It’s intrinsically a part of my genetic makeup.  My entire life I’ve been trying to get people to see the other side of the story.  In the past I’ve referred to myself as a peacemaker…but really I’m just gifted at standing in someone else’s shoes and realizing what the other side of the story is.  (Of course I’m flawed and when it gets too personal I’m as narrow minded as the next person.)  But that is why I have to act. I want to be the storyteller – the medium between the freaks and geeks.  An ambassador to every kid who thought she wasn’t cool – to tell her that the coolest thing she can be is herself.  To show her that you can grow up to be awesome, achieve your dreams and make a difference.

 

That’s what Murdock taught me. 

Howling Mad Murdock is the certifiably insane pilot from The A-Team.  He was my favorite everything growing up.  As a kid I dressed like him, tried to act like him, and basically wanted to be him when I grew up.  Looking back, I think I was captivated by how funny he was.  He was almost like a live action cartoon with his impersonations and crazy shenanigans.  However, as an adult I realize that he instilled something much deeper in me.  See, Murdock marches to the beat of his own drum and is never afraid to express himself.  To be honest, I’ve lived by that principle my entire life.  Not perfectly, of course, but the times in my life when I’ve felt the happiest and the most alive are when I’m just being myself, no apologies.  Truthful.  I want to share that with people and speak truth into the characters I play.  God willing, I could be someone else’s “Murdock.” That is my dream.

I often talk to myself.  Many times I get in my car and forget to put on music because I’m so busy telling myself something.  I shall call it…verbal journaling.  Sometimes I’m not talking to myself, though.  I speak to specific people that I’d like to meet, or imagine that I have students that I’m teaching, or that I’m giving an interview.  During a recent imaginary conversation I was expressing some of my feelings about my acting career and I referred to my board of directors.

Wait.
What?
I don’t have a board of directors.

Suddenly, clear as day, I realized that my board of directors was very dear to me and very real.  My board includes all four members of The A-Team, with Murdock being the Chairman, Algernon & Jack, several of The Doctors, Lucy Van Pelt, Miss Piggy, The Warner Brothers (and the Warner sister,) Gandalf, Dumbledore, Aslan and a slew of other well-loved characters.  They are all pieces of me and I turn to them when I’m searching for direction.  Not like idols or anything.  Just reminders of who I am.  It’s funny, because I remember people being concerned that I was so wrapped up in fictional characters, but I needed them while I was growing up.  And every now and again, as Sarah says in Labyrinth, I need them.  As I grow and change, there are more characters added, but seldom does a character resign from the Board.  They’ll always be a part of me.  That’s how powerful storytelling is.

And that is why I must be a storyteller.

A typical Board Meeting.