Planning 2018

I've been working on my bullet journal for 2018. I've been coming up with ideas about the new year and how to make things work. I've been thinking about the things I can do with the kids. And, about things I need/want to accomplish. I'm getting excited. I'm trying to get closer to living a half way normal life. I still miss Layne - yet, at the same time trying to get used to doing things on my own. I know if I'm able to get a plan going - I'll be able to accomplish a few things. I feel like the last little bit I've had some days when I've been able to get a few things done. That feels good. I want to keep the momentum going.

Figuring It Out

I was getting ready for the day wondering why I wasn't quite able to get things done. I was feeling like something was wrong with my brain...again. I have always struggled with accomplishing things, being productive, and procrastinating. I was wishing my brain worked differently. It was a moment of questioning why others are able to be productive and move through the tasks of their day. Questioning why I'm not able to do that. I can't seem to get a handle on the 'to do' list...right now I'm not even managing regular routines very well. As I was thinking all of this - a thought came to my head. It was a very clear, "There's nothing wrong with your brain. You just need to figure out how to use it.". I think most people might be offended if they were told they needed to figure out how to use their brain. It might be taken as a not so subtle hint that they weren't using their brain at all. For me, it made sense. It gave me some hope. I was being told that I am capable and just need to figure out strategies that work best for me. There is nothing wrong with my brain. It just doesn't work the same as those I see around me accomplishing their daily tasks, their annual goals, and their 'bucket lists'. Truthfully, most of the time I'm just trying to make it through the day. I don't have annual goals or a bucket list written down. I have thoughts about what I'd like to have happen - but, not really sure what to do with them as I make my clumsy attempt to make it to the end of the day. So, my new thing is going to be figuring out how my brain works and what strategies will work for me to conquer the world.

Strategies

I had several thoughts today about some different ways to keep track of tasks and projects. I need to figure out something. I am determined to figure out a way to be productive and motivated. I'm going to attempt to find a strategy to organize tasks for projects so that I can move forward with a few. I really do want to get things done. I get excited about possibilities. I seem to do better with the planning part than the execution part...which is a bummer because the planning is supposed to be the means to the end of getting the project done. Someday.:}

Pro Napping

So, I did an experiment today. I took a nap...this morning. I realized that my eyes were already trying to close. I caved. I decided it would be better to take a nap than it would be to just try to ignore it and half heartedly get not very much done. I worked pretty well. I slept for about an hour and was able to tackle the day with more energy. No huge 'being productive' miracles happened. But, I did decide that from now on I will take a nap if I'm not really functioning and I'm able to carve out a few minutes...I'm going to do it. It ends up being much more productive in the long run and I feel better about what I'm doing and who I'm doing it with when I'm actually coherent. So...I guess there's that.

Current Thing

I've been tired lately. It makes it hard to get things done. My current 'thing' is to find a way to work with it - somehow push through anyway. I'm not sure what that will look like. My first line of attack is to attempt to get a decent night's sleep. I'm hoping if I can do that it'll help with energy and motivation during the day.
I decided that after all of the strategies I've tried to come up with the be productive I better just start with where I am - get to the basics of getting things done. So, here I am...at the bottom...and ready to work my way up.

Moving Forward

I need to get my act together and figure out how to make being productive work on a daily basis. I have in my mind something like this: "Someday Today!". I need to make an honest effort to just get something done each day. Something is better than nothing. There's too much to do. I also feel as if I could be more energized and productive if something was actually getting done. I think that's how it's supposed to work - the more you accomplish the more you feel like accomplishing. Anyway. It needs to happen.

Productivity

I've been doing a terrible job of being productive these days. It might be because of the holidays. It might feel like life needs to be slow right now. I know it has to be bad when the nine year old states that we need to get back to doing jobs. She's completely right. I've been thinking to get back to routines next week.

Project Management Skills

5/27/15
today i noticed that in the case of working on her purse our oldest daughter has done a fabulous job of  consistently working on it each day and coming up with a plan for the next session each time she finishes for the day. i have never been like that. it's odd to me that she has done this because she is one of my kids that struggles with other things that signal executive functioning issues. so, not sure what to think. on the other hand, she loves to plan things - especially events and productions. so, like i said, not sure what to think. i told her today that i was impressed with her project management skills. i've been talking with her brothers about learning to follow through with a plan and be consistent. i think we're going to start calling it project management skills from now on.

Productivity

I need to figure out a way to be more productive. There are so many things that need to get done and so many more things that I'd like to do that I just can't understand why I feel like I'm not able to accomplish things. The problem is in the days when I have time to be flexible with...to work with so to speak. I don't know if I ever learned how to structure my time or what. But, I need to figure something out in order to accomplish a few things and feel like I am capable of accomplishing something. I've heard the rumor/theory that if you accomplish a few things you start feeling 'accomplished'. You begin to have the confidence it takes to finish the next project or task. I'm not sure how to make that work for me. I've never learned it and still haven't figured it out. Maybe that journey is more of what this blog is about...how to actually accomplish - no matter how small.