Do It Now When You Actually Have the Time
I spent most of last year trying to “catch up” on blog posts. I had a huge goal to stay one month ahead on blog posts and I miraculously did this for most of the first half of the year. I eventually slipped, however, and spent the rest of the year trying to play catchup and I know the quality of my posts suffered.
Always one to look back and try to improve, I did just that and tried to figure out, what can I do differently?
When I was behind, I would have cram work into small spaces that it didn’t fit in. Instead, I know that if I start early and do it in small bites, I can fit work on the blog into spaces when I actually have time.
For example, let’s say it takes 4 hours for me to write a good blog post with pictures and links and quality content.
If I wait until the last minute, I need to get the post done in 1 – 2 days. Maybe in those two days, we have a few sports practices that overlap and I only have 30 minutes of free time (if any at all). Maybe I end up needing to work late for my 8-5, which can happen without any notice.
Suddenly, I’m trying to cram those 4 hours into small 5-10 minute blocks. This means a less polished post, maybe no pictures or links, and frustration.
Let’s try it again but I take it in baby steps 4 weeks before.
I find myself with a free hour after work but before dinner and I start an outline. Then a few days later, I’m waiting for my husband to bring home takeout and I get a burst of inspiration and I start a draft. A few days later, I’m waiting for soccer practice to finish and I do some editing. Finally, it’s a Sunday night and my kids have gone to bed and I put some final touches on the post and add my pics and it’s done.
Then, the next week, that busy week hits. Work is busy and I’m putting in evening hours and the kids both have concerts and practices. But the post is DONE. I may have a few minutes to add some details, I may not, but it doesn’t matter. Because I started early and fit in the work when I was not rushed and actually had time, I don’t need to force myself to find time at the end.
I literally wrote the outline to this post one Sunday morning when the rest of the family had finished breakfast and we were all lazing around before starting our day. Boom! Then, the following Sunday, while I was waiting for my husband to return from the grocery store and for a load of sheets to finishing in the dryer, I took that outline and turned it into this post.
Then, in the next week, I will use those small minutes I find to edit and improve this post instead of cramming it in. Done.
Now, to just get myself to re-read this post every time I get behind. I wish us all luck on that – learning from ourselves!
What do you procrastinate on that you know would be much easier to take in baby steps?
