Trying to achieve balance

It’s been quite a while since I’ve posted.

It has been fairly intense lately – not insane, but intense.  I’ve had to determine what my priorities are.  Maybe my priority should be shorter blog posts.  ;->

In any event, it’s been since the middle of last month since I’ve blogged.  I’m still buzzing out on doing weekly reviews (although I’m trying them on Monday mornings now), and still loving the fact that I am getting things done.  I am on top of my workload, have delegated major projects without micro-managing, and am also trying to organize an office move at the same time.  I still love the pace, but I’m try9ing to find enough balance where I can include blogging once or twice a week.

I’ve been trying hard to achieve a lot of balance.  I’ve cut down on the mindless reading that I’ve done online, and have focused on just a few sites that I scan every day or two.  I’ve cleaned up my page here, and it should do nicely for the next while.  I’ve really focused on my family, and creating a hard edge regarding my work and home balance.

This will actually be much easier once we move offices as well, as my commute will be much more sensible.  But until then, I will be busy planning, reviewing, working, and generally trying to get things done.  Pardon the pun!

A long time between posts, and a lot of progress

A long time between posts, and a lot of progress.

It’s been before Christmas since I’ve posted, so Happy New Year.  It’s been a great year for me so far, and if this is a sign of things to come, bring it on!  I have to say that making the decision that GTD was “right for me” has been one of the greatest gifts I have ever given myself.  Not only did I find a system that I can implement, understand, and not feel guilty about, it is simple, allows (allows?  Encourages!) the use of gadgets, and lets me sleep well at night.

I’ve taken to calling David Allen “my cult leader”.  I read a lot of GTD blogs, and I will update list shortly.  SWMBO has even started to read GTD, although she admits that the first section of the book is kind of hard to wade through.  Not like the molasses of wading through The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, but still wading.  (I have to admit, I’ve read the book three times, and I think Getting Things Done should have the first and second sections switched around.)  But at least she is reading it.  I’ve recommended it to a co-worker in another of our branch offices, and even one of our clients who has noticed “something” different about the way I’ve been working.

My inboxes?  Still clear.  My desk?  Still uncluttered, except for the working stuff I keep all over.  I know that I should change, but I’m using 3 wire baskets, side by side, as my “In”, “Out”, and “Pending” buckets.  I like it, they work for me.  (Sometimes, my in-basket has to take 3 inch thick files, so I need a sturdy, deep one.)  My files?  The new ones are all labeled thanks to my Brother P-touch 1280; the rest of the files will be taken care of during our upcoming office move.

I’ve managed a couple of weekly reviews, however, only at the runway level.  They seem rushed, like I’m trying to find out how they work.  It seems like all I’m doing is making sure that everything that should be on my lists is there, and everything that has been done has actually been checked off.  I’m sure that I haven’t got everything on my list yet – I have 95 taks, including 12 projects, but I’m working on it.  I will keep at the weekly review, and try to put more and more into them – goals, long range planning.  I’m likely to change when I do them – maybe Sunday evening at my dining room tab le just isn’t the right time or place.  The thing is – I really have a good feeling about what I’m doing, irrespective of the weekly review.  

So I’ll keep at it.  I’m really quite satisfied with how things are going.  I’m quite happy with where my priorities have moved to – and that’s probably why.

The "busy" season

Let me start off by saying that once I figure out what is going on with the picture, I'll get it fixed. (See below - it's a great shot, you will have to trust me!)

It's the time of year that I never plan for well enough. We always go away for the holidays, as we have family both back east and out west, so getting ready to go away, especially at work, is hectic. Shopping this year was easy and done early. Shipping was done not-too-early, but was cheap. I can't figure out from Canada Post if the delivery of both items was made, but oh well.

I managed not just to un-stick a major project, but to work on it for about 5 hours yesterday. That got it to the point where I could hand it up the food chain for approval, which was like a monkey off my back. It meant I had to do a proposal tonight, while on vacation, but the thing is done. Handed off to one of our support folks for printing.

I'm through to Chapter 10 in my re-read of GTD. I fully expect to finish the book before Christmas, and also have "Ready for Anything" with me, which is perfect - 52 chapters, 52 weeks in a year.

I won't be posting much over the coming few days, but I will still do so occasionally. Have a Merry Christmas and all the best for 2006.