Narrowing Your Focus

by Steph Beth Nickel

Despite the craziness that is 2020, many of you have even more balls in the air at this time.

• Working from home or in the community.
• Learning new tech, like Zoom.
• Diving into a new entrepreneurial endeavour.
• Fulfilling volunteer responsibilities.
• Facilitating your children’s schooling like never before.
• Juggling your budget.
• Getting used to being together with the same people day in and day out.
• Trying to figure out how to stay in touch with friends and family you can’t visit.
• Obeying the protocols when you do get together.
• Figuring out what Sunday worship looks like.
• Figuring out what the holidays will look like.
• Arranging drive-by celebrations.
• And on and on the list goes.

For months (years?) I’ve been thinking of setting aside specific days of the week for each of my many eclectic pursuits. Well, I finally did so. Mondays are for fulfilling my intern responsibilities and developing my Nurture and Inspire brand. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are for editing, which, for now, will be my primary source of income. Thursdays are for writing. Fridays are for fulfilling my doula recertification responsibilities. Saturdays are for creative endeavours (writing poetry, practicing modern calligraphy, learning to create poured paintings). Sundays are for worship, reading, and resting.

This isn’t a rigid schedule, but it does assure me that I will be able to get more done when I’m not trying to do a little of this and a little of that each day.

Here are nine things to consider if you want to set up a schedule that will help you accomplish more by paring down your To Do List:

• Consider what you truly need to do every day.
• Remember that you’ll get more done if you don’t switch from one responsibility to the next to the next.
• Ask for help. You don’t have to do it all on your own.
• Create a flexible and achievable schedule, leaving margins of time for those things beyond your control.
• If at all possible, focus on 1-3 main things each day.
• Leave time in your schedule for adequate sleep, meal prep, etc.
• Offer yourself grace and permission to make changes to your schedule as needed.
• Make time for rejuvenation, possibly something as simple as closing your eyes and taking a few deep breaths.
• Do something fun every week. Every day?

So, how about you? Do you have a daily schedule? A weekly schedule? I’d love to hear what works for you.

Tweetables

Despite the craziness that is 2020, many of you have even more balls in the air. (click to tweet)

A weekly schedule assures you you’ll be able to get more done when you’re not trying to do a little of this and a little of that each day. (click to tweet)

Make time in your schedule for rejuvenation, possibly something as simple as closing your eyes and taking a few deep breaths. (click to tweet)

Steph Beth Nickel is a freelance editor and writer and an author. If you would like more information about her services, you can contact her at stephbethnickelediting@gmail.com.

You’re invited to visit her website: http://stephbethnickeleditor.com/.

You can join her Editing Tips Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/418423519384351.