Many Tasks, Little Time
Is the clock your enemy? Do you intend to write and then get sidetracked? Do your plans to promote your work get overruled by the needs of your children, your spouse, or your employer? Boy, do I sympathize. It happens to me all the time.
Recently my mother experienced a heart episode that had me at the hospital for the better part of week. Needless to say, I didn't get much writing done. While I focused on my mother's health, I was aware that I had a deadline to meet for my publisher, neither of my blogs were updated, and my plans to work on promotion projects were sidelined.
Simply stated, I felt guilty. I wasn't doing my job. In point of fact, I wasn't doing any work of any kind. I didn't go to my day job, I didn't write, and I didn't get the dishes done.
Obviously we all have times when we are required to do things that were not in our schedule. Sometimes, these unplanned events interfere with conducting our business. So what do we do when life interferes? First, try not to be too hard on yourself. Do what you can when you can and let it go at that. Hopefully you are working with people who will understand and support you.
I am happy to report that my mother is home and doing well. My new novel made it to the editor a week late but in much better shape than if I had tried to work on it when my mind was at the hospital. My employer just stacked things on my desk, knowing I would get to it as soon as I could. And the dishes got done, too. Three cheers for dishwashers.
My point is this - give yourself a break. One part of managing your business is understanding and accepting that there are times when all your plans are for naught. It's your reaction to the chaos that may determine how quickly you recover your stride and move forward.
Recently my mother experienced a heart episode that had me at the hospital for the better part of week. Needless to say, I didn't get much writing done. While I focused on my mother's health, I was aware that I had a deadline to meet for my publisher, neither of my blogs were updated, and my plans to work on promotion projects were sidelined.
Simply stated, I felt guilty. I wasn't doing my job. In point of fact, I wasn't doing any work of any kind. I didn't go to my day job, I didn't write, and I didn't get the dishes done.
Obviously we all have times when we are required to do things that were not in our schedule. Sometimes, these unplanned events interfere with conducting our business. So what do we do when life interferes? First, try not to be too hard on yourself. Do what you can when you can and let it go at that. Hopefully you are working with people who will understand and support you.
I am happy to report that my mother is home and doing well. My new novel made it to the editor a week late but in much better shape than if I had tried to work on it when my mind was at the hospital. My employer just stacked things on my desk, knowing I would get to it as soon as I could. And the dishes got done, too. Three cheers for dishwashers.
My point is this - give yourself a break. One part of managing your business is understanding and accepting that there are times when all your plans are for naught. It's your reaction to the chaos that may determine how quickly you recover your stride and move forward.
Posted by Linda Mickey at 10/4/2011 3:50 PM 
Categories: General Business
Tags: time management unplanned interruptions planning for chaos reactions to interruptions sidelined plans
Categories: General Business
Tags: time management unplanned interruptions planning for chaos reactions to interruptions sidelined plans
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