How to Achieve Scheduling Zen

/

www.freefoto.comLooking at my day timer, it is apparent that I am losing the scheduling battle. Today I flipped to March and was all but blinded by the numerous appointments I've written down and highlighted in hot pink.Who the heck scheduled all this stuff when I wasn't looking???

Some appointments are practical in nature - a hair cut or visit to the allergist. Some are work related - speaking at a writers' workshop or attending a Toastmasters meeting. Some are monthly obligations - my radio show, board meetings. Some are weekly exercise dates - hill runs on Mondays and trail runs on Thursdays, and yoga 2-3x/week. Still others are social in nature - dinner and a play with friends, a jewelry party, brunch with friends we've not seen in some time. And then there are the random events - our classes on Egypt, sub-committee meeting with the Animal Protection Society, speaking to middle-graders about proper pet care, a meeting with a local writer who wants advice on how to submit to magazines, a mastermind marketing meeting.

But it boils down to rarely if ever having a free day where I just sit down and work, focused and non-stop. I realize few people have the type of job where they work uninterrupted but I'd make the argument those type of days are rather vital in the life of a writer.

The fact is, we all lead busy lives. And that's not going to change. I try to look at it as the things I'm "signed up" to do are there because they're important to me. Staying home 24/7 doesn't broaden my understanding of the world. The more I'm out in the world, the more I have to write about.

But I'm considering setting aside at least one day a week as a "non-schedule" day. Just crossing it off the calendar so I know that day there is no exercise, no meetings, no phone calls, no doctor appointments, no drive time. I'll treat it as an "out-of-office" day and just disappear as if I'm at an all-day conference and can't be reached. 

The issue is figuring out what that one day should be. Fridays are actually looking promising, although I prefer to be available to clients that day in case we need to touch base before the weekend. Wednesdays are an option... if I can juggle a few things around.

How do you all manage your schedules--doctor prescribed medication not included?

Dena

Funnier Speeches

/

Click image to go to the siteIf you're ever in need of humor for a speech or presentation, you simply MUST contact FunnierSpeeches.com. I met co-founder Ron Culberson years ago at an Erma Bombeck humor writers contest. We e-mailed a bit then lost touch. About three years ago I was an instructor at a National Speakers Association weekend retreat and ran into Ron, a member (with their highest designation of CSP) attending the retreat. We knew we knew each other but couldn't place how. It took us almost 30 minutes to come up with it. But since then, we've stayed in close touch, editing one another's work.

Thank God I got in on the ground floor. Ron is heading for the big time with his speech writing but has been kind enough to grandfather me in. Never turn away a funny writer willing to read and comment on your work! Some of the funnier lines in my articles (I'll never tell which ones--NEVER!) were written by Ron. I like to think I've helped him a time or two as well, but as I'm having him critique my latest book manuscript, he's definitely putting in more hours than me.

Just FYI, there is a fascinating sub-culture of writers helping writers, all done behind-the-scenes. I know I've got my "set" group of 6-8 people I can turn to for help, and they in turn can rely on me. For all it's competitiveness, I've found the writing sphere filled more often than not with talented, generous individuals willing to share their gifts.

Ron is at the top of the list. Funny and nice. What are the chances there would be two of us in the  world?

Winning the Lotto

/

What would you do with the money if you won the lotto? This was the question posed by someone on Saturday in our group of runners. We were munching on bagels and sipping hot coffee after a particularly chilly run. I don't play the lotto but the question still intrigued me. What would I do?

 It took me a few minutes to come up with an answer. "Build the animal shelter in Rockingham County," is the first thing that came to mind. And build it right - full spay/neuter clinic, huge dog runs, cat room with toys, window, sun and climbing spaces. Free clinic, meet and greet room for potential adoptees to bond with pets... I could go on.

After that I came up with pay for college for all nieces and nephews, hire a personal trainer (every runner in the group came up with that one), and do a few upgrades to the house. But I was pleased at how I struggled to find an answer. There's isn't much I would actually change in my life. I wouldn't move, wouldn't stop writing, wouldn't suddenly abandon this life for a new one. That tells me I'm on track with where I need to be. 

As we discussed it, everyone said that while they might leave their current job, they wouldn't want to sit around and do nothing. Instead, they would look for work or volunteer positions that fulfilled them - work that made them feel they were making a difference.

This confirms my belief that no one really wants a free ride in life. We all want to feel useful and productive. Laying in bed for 18 hours a day isn't anyone's dream. Meaningful work, interactions with people, and the opportunity to explore and engage in whatever tasks or activities make us happy--that's what people want in life.

My wish is that we all don't have to wait for the lotto to go after it. What is your "dream life?" What one thing can you do today to bring you closer to living it? If you feel like sharing your answers, I'd love to read them.

Dena