Comments on: To Do: Hats & Priorities http://www.writersroundabout.com/2009/01/to-do-hats-priorities.html The Craft and Business of Fiction and Freelance Writing Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:33:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: 5 Tips for Dealing with Rude Remarks and Negative Opinions » Blog Archive » Writer's Round-About - The Craft and Business of Fiction and Freelance Writing http://www.writersroundabout.com/2009/01/to-do-hats-priorities.html#comment-17230 5 Tips for Dealing with Rude Remarks and Negative Opinions » Blog Archive » Writer's Round-About - The Craft and Business of Fiction and Freelance Writing Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:01:24 +0000 http://www.writersroundabout.com/?p=814#comment-17230 [...] than I’d have liked it to. But I know deep in my heart that these people simply do not understand how many hats a freelancer wears. I remind myself of that—sometimes [...] [...] than I’d have liked it to. But I know deep in my heart that these people simply do not understand how many hats a freelancer wears. I remind myself of that—sometimes [...]

]]> By: The Writer-Mother: Two Full-Time Jobs » Blog Archive » Writer's Round-About - Freelance Writing Collaborative Blogging Project by Rebecca Laffar-Smith http://www.writersroundabout.com/2009/01/to-do-hats-priorities.html#comment-9519 The Writer-Mother: Two Full-Time Jobs » Blog Archive » Writer's Round-About - Freelance Writing Collaborative Blogging Project by Rebecca Laffar-Smith Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:17:03 +0000 http://www.writersroundabout.com/?p=814#comment-9519 [...] Know that some stages need to be completed before others. Make sure writing is one of your high priorities but forgive yourself if you have to take the night off to attend your son’s soccer game (you [...] [...] Know that some stages need to be completed before others. Make sure writing is one of your high priorities but forgive yourself if you have to take the night off to attend your son’s soccer game (you [...]

]]> By: Stay Sane While Multitasking – A MJSS Diagnosis » Blog Archive » Writer's Round-About - Freelance Writing Collaborative Blogging Project by Rebecca Laffar-Smith http://www.writersroundabout.com/2009/01/to-do-hats-priorities.html#comment-8678 Stay Sane While Multitasking – A MJSS Diagnosis » Blog Archive » Writer's Round-About - Freelance Writing Collaborative Blogging Project by Rebecca Laffar-Smith Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:45:00 +0000 http://www.writersroundabout.com/?p=814#comment-8678 [...] 24/7: We always have e-mail, we always have assignments, we always have ideas sitting in files, and we’re always juggling different projects and activities. Sometimes we can feel like we’re losing our sanity as it piles up and seems overwhelming—like [...] [...] 24/7: We always have e-mail, we always have assignments, we always have ideas sitting in files, and we’re always juggling different projects and activities. Sometimes we can feel like we’re losing our sanity as it piles up and seems overwhelming—like [...]

]]> By: F-O-C-U-S on Writing Part IV » Blog Archive » Writer's Round-About - Freelance Writing Collaborative Blogging Project by Rebecca Laffar-Smith http://www.writersroundabout.com/2009/01/to-do-hats-priorities.html#comment-8247 F-O-C-U-S on Writing Part IV » Blog Archive » Writer's Round-About - Freelance Writing Collaborative Blogging Project by Rebecca Laffar-Smith Sat, 12 Sep 2009 11:42:03 +0000 http://www.writersroundabout.com/?p=814#comment-8247 [...] writers who utilize quotes in pieces they create, maintaining accurate and updated information on facts and their sources is necessary.  If you resell a piece to a different magazine, the editor might [...] [...] writers who utilize quotes in pieces they create, maintaining accurate and updated information on facts and their sources is necessary.  If you resell a piece to a different magazine, the editor might [...]

]]> By: Rebecca Laffar-Smith http://www.writersroundabout.com/2009/01/to-do-hats-priorities.html#comment-4079 Rebecca Laffar-Smith Sun, 22 Feb 2009 00:40:13 +0000 http://www.writersroundabout.com/?p=814#comment-4079 I love lists too. I use them as an easy way to keep things off my mind. By writing down what I want to get done it helps improve my focus on what I'm currently doing. As someone who is easily distracted by new ideas keeping lists has been wonderful. Instead of leaving one idea incomplete to chase another I can keep track on a list and then choose from those ideas which to work on after completing one. I love the idea of using an A, B, C, priority system. There are times when one activity must wait on the completion of another. In these cases the priority is straightforward. The trick is then determining which of the A priorities should come first. ;-) I think our to-do lists, schedules, and other time management techniques will remain works in progress. One system does not work for everyone and we are constantly making adjustments and tweaks to those that do work for us. I love lists too. I use them as an easy way to keep things off my mind. By writing down what I want to get done it helps improve my focus on what I’m currently doing. As someone who is easily distracted by new ideas keeping lists has been wonderful. Instead of leaving one idea incomplete to chase another I can keep track on a list and then choose from those ideas which to work on after completing one.

I love the idea of using an A, B, C, priority system. There are times when one activity must wait on the completion of another. In these cases the priority is straightforward. The trick is then determining which of the A priorities should come first. ;-)

I think our to-do lists, schedules, and other time management techniques will remain works in progress. One system does not work for everyone and we are constantly making adjustments and tweaks to those that do work for us.

]]> By: Stephanie http://www.writersroundabout.com/2009/01/to-do-hats-priorities.html#comment-3991 Stephanie Thu, 19 Feb 2009 23:19:26 +0000 http://www.writersroundabout.com/?p=814#comment-3991 I have a newly invented way of managing that I recently discovered. It is called THE LIST. I say newly discovered because I now use it in a completely new way. Before I would have all these things to do and would stress that I wouldn't get something done or something would get missed. Running the list over and over in my head. (Very mentally exhausting.) Or I could have done it more efficiently in a different order. eg doing dishes, pulling the plug out of the sink and running out the water, then finding that there was pots on the stove that I hadn't done yet. I know you have all done that too. lol or finding dishes in another room ... (you too !) Errand Day would have me backtracking to places to do another errand that could have been done while there but I had to travelled 10k back again because I wasn't in any order. Worst still I would get home having missed a couple of errands. Then I learned to not only write a list but also prioritise the order in which the list was done. Well that saved me heaps of time backtracking and it helped me work out that A had to be done before B because B was dependant on A being completed. eg B washing carpets but A was to vaccume the carpets first. But best of all it took it out of my head. I could stop trying to remember all those items because I now had it out of my head and on written paper, which I could add to and cross off as I went. This left me with a more peaceful mind-set and way less stress and worry in my life. I discovered that life was more pleasent when I wasn't worried about the trivial things. No more preoccupation with 'scanning' my list to see what was next while trying to concentrate on the job at hand. I could be fully focused, hense complete each job precisely and in a timely manner. The upside of THE LIST is that I became more present with what I was doing now and so enjoyed the current experience. Well, for what my opinion was worth. Cheers Stephanie I have a newly invented way of managing that I recently discovered. It is called THE LIST.

I say newly discovered because I now use it in a completely new way.

Before I would have all these things to do and would stress that I wouldn’t get something done or something would get missed. Running the list over and over in my head. (Very mentally exhausting.) Or I could have done it more efficiently in a different order. eg doing dishes, pulling the plug out of the sink and running out the water, then finding that there was pots on the stove that I hadn’t done yet. I know you have all done that too. lol or finding dishes in another room … (you too !)

Errand Day would have me backtracking to places to do another errand that could have been done while there but I had to travelled 10k back again because I wasn’t in any order. Worst still I would get home having missed a couple of errands.

Then I learned to not only write a list but also prioritise the order in which the list was done. Well that saved me heaps of time backtracking and it helped me work out that A had to be done before B because B was dependant on A being completed. eg B washing carpets but A was to vaccume the carpets first.

But best of all it took it out of my head. I could stop trying to remember all those items because I now had it out of my head and on written paper, which I could add to and cross off as I went. This left me with a more peaceful mind-set and way less stress and worry in my life.

I discovered that life was more pleasent when I wasn’t worried about the trivial things. No more preoccupation with ‘scanning’ my list to see what was next while trying to concentrate on the job at hand. I could be fully focused, hense complete each job precisely and in a timely manner.

The upside of THE LIST is that I became more present with what I was doing now and so enjoyed the current experience.

Well, for what my opinion was worth.
Cheers Stephanie

]]> By: Michele http://www.writersroundabout.com/2009/01/to-do-hats-priorities.html#comment-3221 Michele Sun, 25 Jan 2009 22:41:22 +0000 http://www.writersroundabout.com/?p=814#comment-3221 Yeah, the VA would be nice - if it was in the budget. :-) Well, we gals can dream, eh?! *smiles* Michele Yeah, the VA would be nice – if it was in the budget. :-)

Well, we gals can dream, eh?!

*smiles*
Michele

]]> By: Rebecca Laffar-Smith http://www.writersroundabout.com/2009/01/to-do-hats-priorities.html#comment-3169 Rebecca Laffar-Smith Fri, 23 Jan 2009 10:51:55 +0000 http://www.writersroundabout.com/?p=814#comment-3169 I know a lot of writers hire a Virtual Assistant to take charge of many jobs they don't need to be hands on with and to streamline their work load. The trick is to earn enough to be able to afford one. I'd love a housekeeper, cook, and babysitter too! ;-) Thanks, Michele! I know a lot of writers hire a Virtual Assistant to take charge of many jobs they don’t need to be hands on with and to streamline their work load. The trick is to earn enough to be able to afford one.

I’d love a housekeeper, cook, and babysitter too! ;-)

Thanks, Michele!

]]> By: Michele http://www.writersroundabout.com/2009/01/to-do-hats-priorities.html#comment-3168 Michele Fri, 23 Jan 2009 01:54:43 +0000 http://www.writersroundabout.com/?p=814#comment-3168 You know, I've been thinking about all this lately. When you consider it all at once, it's a little - or a lot! - overwhelming. :-) My perfect solution? A secretary! ;-) Of course, that's a fantasy - not a reality. Oh, and a maid and an accountant... LOL LOVE the pics, Rebecca! *smiles* Michele You know, I’ve been thinking about all this lately. When you consider it all at once, it’s a little – or a lot! – overwhelming. :-)

My perfect solution? A secretary! ;-) Of course, that’s a fantasy – not a reality. Oh, and a maid and an accountant… LOL

LOVE the pics, Rebecca!

*smiles*
Michele

]]> By: Rebecca Laffar-Smith http://www.writersroundabout.com/2009/01/to-do-hats-priorities.html#comment-3119 Rebecca Laffar-Smith Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:05:59 +0000 http://www.writersroundabout.com/?p=814#comment-3119 @ Web Betty: *grins* When I was looking for images to put with this post I considered a few juggling balls precariously. I know the feeling of having all those balls in the air and just hoping I manage to keep juggling without dropping any. Or, at least if I drop one I like to make sure I do it spectacularly. ;-) In a way it is comforting to know others are doing their own feats of organizational gymnastics. It might be stressful but we're getting by. @ Jakill: Wow, your laundry is near the top of your list??? *blushes* Mine is near the top of my laundry room. *chuckles* I must make note to fix that priority more firmly because, as you said, we need clean clothes. Me time is very important. It is hard to put aside the guilt but it can be done. Thanks! @ Web Betty: *grins* When I was looking for images to put with this post I considered a few juggling balls precariously. I know the feeling of having all those balls in the air and just hoping I manage to keep juggling without dropping any. Or, at least if I drop one I like to make sure I do it spectacularly. ;-) In a way it is comforting to know others are doing their own feats of organizational gymnastics. It might be stressful but we’re getting by.

@ Jakill: Wow, your laundry is near the top of your list??? *blushes* Mine is near the top of my laundry room. *chuckles* I must make note to fix that priority more firmly because, as you said, we need clean clothes.

Me time is very important. It is hard to put aside the guilt but it can be done. Thanks!

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