By Dixie Good intentions are, just intentions without action.
Today is the day you are going to get some stuff DONE!!!! So you sat down with a cuppa coffee, fired up the Ipad to take a quick look at Facebook…and two hours later you are still scrolling. House still isn’t clean, work you planned on doing isn’t even started, but by gosh a mighty you did see about a hundred videos of Wally World shoppers wearing size 4 Daisy-Duke shorts on size 3X Big Bertha behinds. At least they were getting their shopping done. Sigh.
And those danged towels aren’t going to wash themselves, and last you checked the boss doesn’t appreciate how many “likes” you get for a post about Puppies with Unlikely Friendships. What to do? It’s so easy to waste time when you have a list of boring chores to do.
Here’s a relatively painless way to, in the words of Larry the Cable Guy, Get Er Dun. Read on, my procrastinating Facebook friend:
1. Get your coffee. And while you are in the kitchen, get a timer. Set it for five minutes. Drink, check Facebook. DING! Turn off Facebook. Even if there is a blooper video about toddlers with baseball bats. Spoiler Alert: The Dad is going to get hit in the yammas. Every time. Now you don’t need to see how it ends so Turn. ‘Er. Off.
2. Grab a piece of paper and a pen. Doesn’t matter if it is an envelope, or part of a paper bag. This ain’t no invitation to a party.
3. Start a list of everything you want to get accomplished today. Write down anything that takes more than 5 minutes–even “Take a shower” or “Wipe the kitchen counters”. Seriously, everything.
4. Prioritize your list–a #1 is most important to get accomplished, #10 not so much. Do this quickly. What can you realistically get done today? (Hint: you really cannot re-sod the yard, paint the house and clean out the garage in one day. Promise.)
5. In order of priority, put a realistic time next to each chore or task. For example, a shower will involve drying your hair, putting on clothes (hopefully) so overall it will take you about 15-30 minutes for a shower. Unloading the dishwasher, although it seems like it takes two hours, really only takes 5-10 minutes. (Seriously, time yourself one time. You will be surprised!) Put actual clock times, not just minutes. For example:
Breakfast: 6:45-7:00am
Gym (include drive time): 7:00-8:30am
Take garbage out: 8:30-8:45am
Strip beds: 8:45-9:00am
Remake beds: 9:00-9:30am
etc. etc. etc.
6. START! And be sure to mark through each task after you complete it. Three reasons: helps you come back to see what chore is next on the list, keeps you on schedule, and gives you a brief sense of accomplishment. Hey, it ain’t like winning the lottery, but does give you a little happy dose to keep knocking tasks off that list.
7. Anything you don’t get done, just move to tomorrow’s list.
8. Sit back and turn on Facebook. See? Those toddlers are still there, waiting to show you how to make a grown man cry.
Good job! You Got ‘Er Dun!
