What's on Your Must-Do List?
As my workload steadily increases, I am looking for ways to better utilize my time. I have found myself giving up a number of the things that I used to enjoy in order to squeeze in the things that need to be done.
As I continue to fine-tune my schedule, I find myself wondering what other people do each day. As I have mentioned previously, I like to be pretty structured to make sure that I don't forget anything. Now, however, remembering things is less of an issue than deciding which things I want to accomplish on a given day.
I like answering comments that I get here at Wealthy Affiliate, greeting new people, thanking people for following me, and all that stuff, so I try to do that every day but it eats up some time that could now be used on other tasks.
What do you have on your must-do list that you never miss, no matter how busy you get? What are the most important parts of your day?
Recent Comments
59
Hi, Craig. Was wondering how that strict schedule you had planned was working out for you. I just posted that I can't keep up with all the posts, new follows, newbie welcomes, etc.
I'm not going to quit reading posts from my friends, asking questions, or checking for important emails. But I'm spending way too much time reading and commenting on posts that don't really have a lot to do with what I'm working on.
I usually do emails first, but have had to start using my kitchen timer to keep from spending all day on the job of reading and responding to everything, not getting any of my housework done, or any progress on my training.
Today I spent about 3 hours finding images that will work for my website and trying to learn how to get them on my posts. It looks so easy on the video, and I've watched it over and over, but still have trouble. I don't understand why it's so much different on my computer than what Kyle does on the video, but I can't find the same screen that he uses that makes everything work so well.
I've been very frustrated trying to learn to put images on my website, and need to get that squared away and finish up the certification course before I spend as much time on the community as I have been doing.
Carol
Image use was quite the bugbear for me as well...
My schedule is in flux, partly because the one I had in mind was made before I committed to a bunch of extra work, so now I need to rework everything.
email eats up a lot of my time. I am going to have to set some real limits on myself to keep it from getting too out-of-hand.
Congrats on the extra work. Happy for you. If you need a back up, PM me, and I'll be happy to help you out. I've had to limit my time on email to an hour because it was taking too much of my time. The biggest thing on my "Must Do" list is getting my housework caught up. I've been slacking off on it to work on WA, and need a better balance.
Mine, too. But I was so proud of myself today when I actually vacuumed the whole house at once! Made myself finish it before I did my email. Didn't get floors mopped, but that's a start in the right direction!
First and foremost is prayer and time reading the Bible; I refuse to step foot outside my door without reading the Bible even if it's just a few verses. I remember being in a business meeting for an MLM company; one of the ladies said that you don't have to believe in GOD, but you better find something higher than yourself to cling to if you expect to make it! Of course, that was just her opinion, but I wholeheartedly agree!
I've slowly stopped exercising in the morning, something that I'll be resuming.
In terms of WA, I always respond to comments to my posts, follows, PM's and any other personal emails first. I'm actually still piecing together a schedule for myself; not sure if I want to attempt to do a little bit of everything every day (keyword search, writing, social media, checking email, etc), or have specific days to do specific tasks. I think I'm leaning more towads the latter of the two.
Hmm... Good point. I have always tried to do a little bit of everything each day, but maybe having specific days for specific tasks would work better.
I guess many or even most of us just sort of figure it out as we go along, but it's a bit trickier when your workload keeps shifting. I went from not very busy at all, to fairly busy and now to crazy-busy in a pretty short amount of time, though I know most of my problem is due to not being as organized as I should be, especially after having a rather long stretch of unemployment and taking it easy at home.
As for everything else, well, you know that me and the Dude chat regularly. Ha ha
I've been "going with the flow" for so long, but it hasn't gotten me anywhere or anything, so it's time to adopt more structure. But of course, I'll have some "wiggle room" so I can make adjustments along the way.
I usually spend the first hour of my day going through emails, deleting, unsubscribing as needed. The next hour is spent on WA, reading and commenting on posts, welcoming new members. The rest of the day is up for grabs, depending on if I have to work or not, errands or other plans.
I don't like clutter, so it's important for me to clean up my emails first, then I'm more able to relax into WA.
Great post, Craig.
All the best,
Sue
That describes how I usually approach things, but I am flipping it now to get the more important work done first, THEN check the emails (although I do a quick run-through in the morning in case there is something urgent).
I am still working out my exact schedule for each day, trying to see what works best.
I guess we have to work and rework how and when we do things. I'm still trying to figure out what works best. Starting with a clean slate first, for me, really helps.
Craig, the mistake I've made in the past is having more on my to do list than was realistic for the time I had available.
I have for some time used the calendar in Gmail where I schedule everything I want to do for the actual time I have available. If there's no time slot for it, it does not make it to my schedule.
I also use a timer to ensure I don't go over time. It sounds like a school classroom approach but then I was a school teacher and it works for me. :)
~Mark
I try to keep two lists, one with the must-do items and the other with the want-to-do items. That way I don't become discouraged if I don't get to everything.
My weakness is in not sticking to my cut-off times. If I give myself an hour for email and PMs, I will often go over. I need to learn to stop and leave the rest for later.
I fully agree on the timer Mark.
That trusty old egg/kitchen timer is worth its weight in gold to me! Hubby says the constant tick-tick-tick drives him mad, but oh my goodness, it rushes me on, since I can HEAR the time ticking!
And if I do get into a rabbit hole and get lost in something, at some point the tick-tick-tick of the timer will pierce through into my consciousness and remind me that I am actually chasing that clock and better get back on track! ;-)
My motto is that whatever it is that works for YOU.... ;-)
Peace to you! ;-)
Sharlee
I currently have mornings to work on WA. I try and spend some time ever day interacting and reading blogs and welcoming. Then I either write some content or do lessons. I have found spending more time in the community helpful. Just as informative as the lessons. Although my ranking seems to have gone a little wonky. Not sure what happened there.
They re-worked the algorithm for ranking. It got wonky for a lot of people. Lol
I used to do all me email stuff first, but now I find it eats up too much of my time, so I try to do it twice a day, for shorter intervals in an effort to get more time for the more important things.
Family is number one and yes WA is a different Family, and I find myself like you spending time responding to comments, liking posts, etc. There is so much good information in the comments and blogs that are written on a daily basis, that I am reluctant to stop. I have tried to pair it down though.
Yes, I feel like WA is my extended family....
There are a number of great posts each day, and I feel bad because I would love to read them all, but it is simply becoming impossible now, so I have to pick and choose what to read.
Family is always #1 so I do my WA work in the morning and afternoon. When my granddaughter gets home from school at about 3pm it is hard for me to get much more work done. I read posts, comment, give help when I can or know the answer and work on my websites.
Tried and true
Elaine
I try to get as much done as possible when my kids are at daycare/ school and my wife is at work. I can't always finished everything I want to do though, so it's hard. I am trying to build up an online business to provide more for my family, but that means that right now I have to sacrifice some family time.
I am not too fond of that, but I am hoping that it will pay off in the long run.
Hello Craig,
I rarely miss meals, sleep and isotonic/isometric exercise no matter how busy I get. There is something magical about WRITING your goals down and then getting them done commencing with the most important. Stay busy all day from the moment you get up to the moment you go to bed. Don't waste time. Time is precious. You will be surprised how much you can accomplish in one day.
I'm getting better at accomplishing things, but I know I could still use my time more efficiently. I agree about writing down your goals. I love being able to cross things off my list. It's strangely satisfying to watch as each item gets a line through it.
I do try to respond to comments, answer whatever questions I can, like good posts, etc. I consider it being a responsibility and a privilege as part of the WA community. I also try to do something for my site everyday. Somedays there's a lot of time, some days there isn't much, but there's always enough to do at least something.
Yes, I have certain things that I like to do each day, but sometimes it's rather difficult.
Yes, I know what you mean. I am firm with myself, but I don't beat myself up if I don't get everything done in a day. At this point in time in my life, it's not necessary to add that one top of everything else.
See more comments
Hi Craig, you will not learn much from me on this one. Today is typical of most days for me lately. They don't get to busy, sometimes they get more enjoyable.
TODAY - My must do list, it changes some days. This pattern will change when I have websites up and running.
I answered messages, read WA posts and I take pleasure in doing so. I think may be close to 80 + replies today?
My typical day is greet the day with a great big thank you! I like the gratitude road and I appreciate everything that is coming.
I Try and meditate for 5 minutes or just some conscious breathing. Repeat through the day if I need or want.
Drink a glass of Wheat grass (for it's chlorophyll properties), coffee or two, oatmeal breakfast, avoid stress (some OK, but not to over do it), get out on the motorcycle, walk beaches (walk about 5000 km + per year), I'm in the land of massage so 2 or 3 hours a week,
Occasional beer sun-downer in the afternoon, stay in touch with family frequently, I keep enough quality friends in my life and friends I have that go back to childhood and friends where I am living now.
I eat a lot during this day as well. To much in fact!
There is always something to do at the house. Last week I replaced the water pump on the roof, replaced some plumbing. I re-grouted the floors 300m2 and it took two months.
I recently joined WA, as I said above I dedicate slots of time at the moment but I anticipate dedicating more time to the business in 2018.
I try and do things I enjoy without being selfish. I have been travelling a lot. I traveled since I was 18. As I say in my bio it's not always been a bed of roses. Roads have been rocky and rockier ones coming for sure.
I did work for companies that gave me 2 month holidays which was helpful, just in the last 17 years that is.
I have always lived a life doing things that I had to do, I have turned that around a little. It's more relaxing this way.
You do some great posts Craig and I do enjoy reading them. I can see where all your time goes, these things do take time. When you do a great post, you get a huge response which ties you down in replies? I don't understand the whole process yet, so many things I am missing?
You probably do a lot more than you give yourself credit for. If you are not getting it all done, then my guess is that you have to much to do? You don't say where all your time is going?
This is about your business and it certainly is about your life. Hard work is nothing if you love it. There is balance to everything though.
Emails I agree take time. I flick through my iPhone and I have a very old laptop, very slow. However working them together speeds things up.
I set 1 to 2 hours for email, my first job and 1 hour if necessary in the evening.
I start writing posts and lose momentum at the moment and of course I still have to have my website up and running. I will bring these things together.
I have signed up for the boot camp with Kyle. I anticipate my day becoming more fuller. I will re schedule my day accordingly.
I will be honest I couldn't do WA, if I still held down a full time job. My job was to demanding on the mind.
WA is something I can say is the first thing I have enjoyed for me for a long time. I like the bosses and I like the people - it may even lead somewhere?
This is a typical day. It must be enjoyable as much as is possible, I can't have everything my own way.
Wayne
That's a great response.
I also try to follow a path of gratitude. I am thankful for everything in my life, though I must admit that I am not always giving thanks consciously, which I need to work on.
Sounds like you have a very full schedule, but the fact that you are enjoying WA is great. I love it here and find that simply reading some comments or seeing the success posts of other members is a great boost. Checking in here will always be part of my day.
My time is spent on several things, including WA, of course, but also my other work (I do some paid blogging), looking after my kids, and a number of side projects.
I am glad to be busy, though. I have no real complaints because I know that this will lead to better times in the future. My only real issue is getting myself a bit better organized.
Thanks for responding!
You are a great inspirer Craig and thats wonderful for us all. Your last sentence is perfect "this will lead to better times in the future", it's something that many don't see and often worried about the future.
Thank you for a great reply. Keep writing and we will keep learning!
Wayne