Time Tells

I have found the best way for me to have a productive day is to plan to have a productive day.

Sure, I enjoy being a panster when it comes to creating memories. Spontaneity is fun—that sense of freedom and flexibility. But at the end of way too many of those days, I look back and am in awe . . . of how much I didn't accomplish.

My inner tension climbs to new heights, and coils, ready to heap all kinds of negative affirmations in my direction.

This isn't good.

I spent years in Corporate America. My schedule was filled with appointments and meetings and Must-Get-It-Done-Now paperwork. Even though for the most part, my day was mine to plan, it definitely required planning.

No time for panster behavior in the business world.

And no time for panster behavior in the writing world—at least as far as organization is concerned.

My day is scheduled. Even if the schedule falls apart for whatever reason, I stand a much better chance of looking back on my day with satisfaction if I have it planned out.

Here's today's schedule: 6:30-7:30 Check emails/Personal Reading; 7:30-8:00 Walk; 8:00-9:00 Shower/Breakfast; 9:00-11:00 Blog post/emails/Spanish Lesson/telephone calls; 11:00-12:00 Study; 12:00-2:30 Slush Time/Lunch/Errands; 2:30-3:30 Review RW (what I've previously written in Rough Waters)and current critiques; 3:30-5:00 Finish Scene.

A couple of notes . . . by scheduling email time, I'm not as tempted to hang out there more than I should. Slush Time is important to me. It allows me freedom without guilt. I can read a book for pleasure, or study. I can watch a silly movie or clean out the pantry. I can write. Whatever I want to do during Slush Time is fair.

Time for my Spanish lesson.



CR: Life Expectancy. (Will I EVER finish this?)

Working on: Well, you've got my schedule.

It's all better with friends.