It has been a couple weeks since I posted a blog here. I had not planned to take a break from posting but when life pummels you with one thing after another, you have to pick your priorities and be honest about your limits. The problem is, organization and those well laid plans tend to just fly out the window when that wrench gets thrown into the cogs. But that doesn’t need to be the case. You just need a plan for when your plans don’t work out.

This month I was forced to restructure my work life, I got sick, and ended up with a bigger workload than expected all while working on a new collection of art. Suddenly I found myself having to choose between keeping up my on-line presence and other really important things, like sleep.

Instead of flailing about trying to make it all work, I was able to shift quickly into a plan B because I had already determined my priorities. I decided long ago that I would not compromise the quality of my work by regularly operating sleep deprived so I made sure I was getting 7-8 hours a night. I had also decided that the completion of the new artwork by the end of this month was a priority over all my other work so I headed into the studio first thing every day to be sure I would get done what I had slated for that day. All my other usual activities were relegated to later in the day the most important ones being done first and if bedtime rolled around with a few things still not done, they were at least the items that I already knew I could manage to do without.

If I had not had a clear idea about what was most important for this month and long ago had resigned myself to not being Superwoman, the many unexpected interruptions could have completely thrown off all my plans. Being prepared enabled me to complete some great art work and as a result I won Judges’ Choice for best body of work at the Mile Hi Art Show I participated in this past weekend.

Life is one long string of interruptions. Things do not usually go as planned so if you expect to make your long term plans work out, you need to have your priorities predetermined and know what you will be willing to give up when necessary. Then, once you get through the unexpected detour, you can get yourself back on track knowing you have had some success, which will keep you motivated and on track for the long haul.

I am a busy person. Always have been. Give me a free afternoon and I will immediately overfill it. I have too many interests and too many things I want to do and try before I leave this world. But just getting done the things I have to do, not everything I want to do, can be a challenge. So I’ve tried many tricks and techniques and oddball processes to get more time out of my day, but I have never found anything more useful than this one simple thing: The priority list.

Even if you don’t believe yourself to be a list maker, you need to try this. It’s very simple, very easy to do, and astoundingly effective:

Every night (or morning, although I personally sleep better if I make the  list the night before so I don’t lay awake worrying about all I have to do) make a list of all you must get done and want to get done the next day.  I dash off my to do items on a wipe off board, then using my pda phone because I have it on me all the time, I make a list from most important to least. Make this list however it suits you, but make it a list organized by priority and have it on something you can carry with you all day, like a piece of paper (oh, how novel!).

Next day, after your morning rituals, you do the first thing on the list. When that’s done, you do the next thing. And after that, the next item, and so on until you are either done with the list or your day is over.

Sounds too simple to be effective? Well, if you try it, actually follow your list, you will find you can get done amazing amounts of things, more than you ever have before. Why is this? Because when we don’t know what we’re going to do next, when we don’t have a focus, we are easily distracted and dally about (often on-line or at the refrigerator door, right?) while we figure out what to do next. Plus there is all that catch up and repair time spent on things you remembered or waited to do at the last minute and now you’re playing catch up or picking up after the bedlam your mad rush caused. Working randomly is simply inefficient.

Just try it for one day. See how exciting and accomplished you will feel when you look at your list at the end of the day and see all those items crossed off and no longer hanging over your head. If it works try it again the next day. By the end of the week you’ll see just how much more you’ve gotten done, and you’ll be hooked.