So I am reminded once again how much work school can be. Each semester I tell myself I will not let school interfere with work, family, exercise, writing and GGE. Each semester I crash and burn in at least one of those categories. Work and family usually make it through okay. The others suffer a bit.
Yesterday I worked, went home and napped (I have a cold) got up to study, skipped my workout to study, caught one episode of Star Trek with my sons before crawling into bed.
Maybe if I move the work out to early morning? It's so easy to stay in bed.
Thoughts on scheduling? Anyone else juggling a hundred things? Let's share some tips.
Showing posts with label time management. Show all posts
Showing posts with label time management. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Holding it together
Well, one month into 2011, and some things have gone great and some not so great. I have managed to keep my work out going, but I have also been living a bit of an indulgent lifestyle so while I have maintained my fitness, I have only dropped 1 pound of holiday weight. Then again, if I drop 1 pound a month, then by the end of the year, I will be thrilled and maybe I can move a little quicker than 1 pound a month if I get focused.
I have done better with school. Rolling along in school and inching closer to my Master's Degree, though it will still be a year or so (and I'm glad it will be - not ready to repay my student loan).
Writing has been minimal, unfortunately. I wrote some on my ever-evolving Pendragon Story. I made some notes for 2 metahuman stories, I sent all of the finished properties off to Green for editting. I did get some art going again on Danger Guild and I am hopeful that I can get that one moving. In fact, I feel better about DG now than I did last year so hopefully some samples will start to appear. Right now it looks like it will be a full length graphic novel in B&W though color might be an option. If not for the first release, then definitely as a re-release.
I have been reading a lot. I have kept up my regimen of 1 non-fiction and 1 fiction book at all times. Finished a couple so far. Almost finished with "Gates of Fire" (I don't think those 300 Spartans are going to make it!)
So, as I grade my first month of 2011, I would give myself a C+ or a B-. I need to up the writing and production of GGE properties and that would get me to at least a solid B or B+.
I have done better with school. Rolling along in school and inching closer to my Master's Degree, though it will still be a year or so (and I'm glad it will be - not ready to repay my student loan).
Writing has been minimal, unfortunately. I wrote some on my ever-evolving Pendragon Story. I made some notes for 2 metahuman stories, I sent all of the finished properties off to Green for editting. I did get some art going again on Danger Guild and I am hopeful that I can get that one moving. In fact, I feel better about DG now than I did last year so hopefully some samples will start to appear. Right now it looks like it will be a full length graphic novel in B&W though color might be an option. If not for the first release, then definitely as a re-release.
I have been reading a lot. I have kept up my regimen of 1 non-fiction and 1 fiction book at all times. Finished a couple so far. Almost finished with "Gates of Fire" (I don't think those 300 Spartans are going to make it!)
So, as I grade my first month of 2011, I would give myself a C+ or a B-. I need to up the writing and production of GGE properties and that would get me to at least a solid B or B+.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Four Burners
I was reading Chris Guillebeau's blog over at "The Art of non-Conformity" this morning and I wandered across this post about work-life balance.
In it, he talks about a quote from David Sedaris that says that all of our lives consist of four "burners" (in this case, our life is metaphorically a stove top). There is a burner for friends, one for family, one for health and one for work.
The quote then goes on to say that to be successful, you have to turn off one of the burners. To be really successful, you have to turn off two.
The thought is anathema to a lot of people (me included). I have always sought a life in balance. I can, however, see how turning off some burners would help one succeed in the other areas.
I am just selfish enough that I want success in all areas.
The comments on the post offer some valuable insight (proving once again that blog readers are usually smarter than blog writers - though sometimes they are the same people).
Anyway...one piece of valuable advice is to combine burners. For example, run or bike with friends or family and thus combine health/family. Or make friends and family a single burner.
Another bit of advice says to turn down one burner for awhile and then come back to it later. This one begs a "juggling" metaphor.
For me, and for many of the creatives I hang out with, there is a fifth burner. The fifth burner is our "art". so I have a work burner that I have to keep going and I have to be successful primarily for the benefit of my family and health. Work also finances my art. So, I have to be successful at work, but I also have to leave time for writing, creating, etc.
I know, for a fact, that if I stopped producing my art, even at the snail's pace at which I work, I could devote more time to work and quickly become one of the best in my field. I could be much more recognized. I could give presentations at conferences and I could make a lot more money.
The thing is, my work is not my passion. My art is. So I have to balance 5 burners, not 4. A lot of you are in a similar boat.
So, do we need to cut off a burner? two? Or is there a way to juggle things better?
Just a glimpse into my life, right now, I do a decent job at managing all five. I get up early, get to work before most others. I then get to leave a bit early, get home and do family stuff. I keep 2 nights a week to hang with friends. I work out after the kids have settled down for the night, usually around 9:30. And then I spend an hour or so writing before bed. Some nights, I squeeze in some pure relax time just for me (lately there has been more relax time as I bought Starcraft 2 and I am addicted to it - this is a pattern I endure when I get a new game. I don't get new games often, but when I do, I surrender to an intense addicted phase and then I am done for a long while).
Whew...long post I know...how do you guys and gals handle the 4? 5? 6? burners in your lives?
In it, he talks about a quote from David Sedaris that says that all of our lives consist of four "burners" (in this case, our life is metaphorically a stove top). There is a burner for friends, one for family, one for health and one for work.
The quote then goes on to say that to be successful, you have to turn off one of the burners. To be really successful, you have to turn off two.
The thought is anathema to a lot of people (me included). I have always sought a life in balance. I can, however, see how turning off some burners would help one succeed in the other areas.
I am just selfish enough that I want success in all areas.
The comments on the post offer some valuable insight (proving once again that blog readers are usually smarter than blog writers - though sometimes they are the same people).
Anyway...one piece of valuable advice is to combine burners. For example, run or bike with friends or family and thus combine health/family. Or make friends and family a single burner.
Another bit of advice says to turn down one burner for awhile and then come back to it later. This one begs a "juggling" metaphor.
For me, and for many of the creatives I hang out with, there is a fifth burner. The fifth burner is our "art". so I have a work burner that I have to keep going and I have to be successful primarily for the benefit of my family and health. Work also finances my art. So, I have to be successful at work, but I also have to leave time for writing, creating, etc.
I know, for a fact, that if I stopped producing my art, even at the snail's pace at which I work, I could devote more time to work and quickly become one of the best in my field. I could be much more recognized. I could give presentations at conferences and I could make a lot more money.
The thing is, my work is not my passion. My art is. So I have to balance 5 burners, not 4. A lot of you are in a similar boat.
So, do we need to cut off a burner? two? Or is there a way to juggle things better?
Just a glimpse into my life, right now, I do a decent job at managing all five. I get up early, get to work before most others. I then get to leave a bit early, get home and do family stuff. I keep 2 nights a week to hang with friends. I work out after the kids have settled down for the night, usually around 9:30. And then I spend an hour or so writing before bed. Some nights, I squeeze in some pure relax time just for me (lately there has been more relax time as I bought Starcraft 2 and I am addicted to it - this is a pattern I endure when I get a new game. I don't get new games often, but when I do, I surrender to an intense addicted phase and then I am done for a long while).
Whew...long post I know...how do you guys and gals handle the 4? 5? 6? burners in your lives?
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
How do you find the time?
Last night at my house was a frenzy of picking up children, feeding children, dropping off children, homework and housecleaning.
After that, there was 45 minutes to run on the treadmill and then I had to attend to my own studies (working on a Master's Degree). After that, I read a little while to unwind (Storm of Iron, by Graham McNeill)
Finally, I had an hour or so to write. It took me well past a reasonable bed time. This didn't leave much time for relaxing with the wife or little ones. I am suffering through a sore throat and I'm wondering if that is not from burning my candle at both ends and the resulting exhaustion.
So, I manage to write still and I'm proud of myself, but it's pretty darn difficult. How do others find the time? Any tips, tricks, techniques out there? Let's share.
After that, there was 45 minutes to run on the treadmill and then I had to attend to my own studies (working on a Master's Degree). After that, I read a little while to unwind (Storm of Iron, by Graham McNeill)
Finally, I had an hour or so to write. It took me well past a reasonable bed time. This didn't leave much time for relaxing with the wife or little ones. I am suffering through a sore throat and I'm wondering if that is not from burning my candle at both ends and the resulting exhaustion.
So, I manage to write still and I'm proud of myself, but it's pretty darn difficult. How do others find the time? Any tips, tricks, techniques out there? Let's share.
Friday, February 5, 2010
One project a year
So, I am reading Linchpin by Seth Godin and one point he refers to (he is actually referencing another writer) is to focus on one great work per year.
I have historically done that. Sometimes it is tempting to get side tracked into working in various areas and actually getting nothing done. This year, I am focusing on Danger guild right now, a Grimaul Graphic novel next and the second Warchitect novel after that. Maybe I will get to all of that in a year. There are some side projects...call them stretch goals...that I will work on if time permits.
I guess the first challenge though is not to limit one's self to just a single project. The first challenge is to work on a project at all.
There are so many distractions we can indulge in. Some are obvious time wasters, like Reality Television. Some are not as obvious, like checking email and facebook fanatically.
Seth talks about an internet diet where he only allows himself to check his internet stuff (email, FB, blog, etc) 5 times a day.
Of course we all need R&R and we all need some guilty pleasures (like Dog The Bounty Hunter) but at the end of the day, we only have a finite amount of time. We need to spend it wisely! Putting off writing or exercise to catch a Burn Notice marathon might not be the wisest move.
I have historically done that. Sometimes it is tempting to get side tracked into working in various areas and actually getting nothing done. This year, I am focusing on Danger guild right now, a Grimaul Graphic novel next and the second Warchitect novel after that. Maybe I will get to all of that in a year. There are some side projects...call them stretch goals...that I will work on if time permits.
I guess the first challenge though is not to limit one's self to just a single project. The first challenge is to work on a project at all.
There are so many distractions we can indulge in. Some are obvious time wasters, like Reality Television. Some are not as obvious, like checking email and facebook fanatically.
Seth talks about an internet diet where he only allows himself to check his internet stuff (email, FB, blog, etc) 5 times a day.
Of course we all need R&R and we all need some guilty pleasures (like Dog The Bounty Hunter) but at the end of the day, we only have a finite amount of time. We need to spend it wisely! Putting off writing or exercise to catch a Burn Notice marathon might not be the wisest move.
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