Connecting the Generations

Connecting the Generations
Happy feet...a great investment!

Thursday, October 13, 2016

True Emergencies Don't Ding

I had to clean the sink thoroughly and then purge the refrigerator of spoilage to help clear my mind and get rid of negative feelings this morning.  I went on to procrastinate my day some more by cleansing and organizing the produce drawers.  I find that I am much more productive when my environment is in order.  And I also have more positive energy when I don't have visual reminders of my failure to keep up with my responsibilities like chucking food that has been stored for more than 5 days and placing unwanted leftovers in the garbage disposal.
While doing these kitchen chores, I listened to a chapter in a non-fiction book about strategies for changing long standing self-destructive habits.  While I am not trying to quit smoking or lose weight or stop drinking, my personal goal has been to be more focused so I can get my housework, work work (for my business) and passion work (my writing) done with more regularity and efficiency.
One thing I noticed about my productive pattern breakdown is that I recently stopped using my daily agenda.  Of course without a top 5 priorities list I wander from one activity to the next, whether it is the right thing on which to focus my energy or helping someone in need -- usually one of the kids or a friend who needs to talk -- I have been anchor-less without my agenda, easily falling victim to the next thing that pulls me.
I at least got in my 1 mile walk this morning because the dog needed me.  That helped me start my positive pattern for the day.  I quickly jotted my to do list in today's agenda and checked off the first two priorities on the list.  Getting these 750 words written will be my 3rd priority to check off the list.  It's a good feeling.
After this is done, I will tackle the next two items simultaneously as one can be in process while the other is in progress.  This leaves me with the 6th priority on my list hanging in the balance for the end of the day, which is very possible, if I can be efficient with priorities number 4 and 5.  Already I have a good feeling about also getting to number 6.
However, the only way it will be possible is for me to turn off my phone as soon as I finish this post.  You see, the biggest reason I even stopped using my agenda book in the first place has been the darn phone.  I trash every opportunity to be efficient by allowing each notification to interrupt my flow.  I realize my most productive days are when the phone has run out of battery power and it is nowhere in sight.  I can move forward instead of constantly being sidetracked.
Why are notifications so important when I am not expecting most of them?  Everyone checks their messages first thing in the morning, especially if they are working against a deadline on a project.  Yet I find that almost all of the messages I open could have waited an hour or two or three until I break for lunch.  There is no logic in our human need to reach for the phone when it dings.  The most important reason to do so is to respond to an urgent call.  A call, not a ding.  You know, the kind of alert where someone is physically waiting on the other end of the line to speak to you?  This is why a school nurse or family member under duress would truly need you to immediately pick up the phone.
I imagine sitting in an office cubicle while all of these type of interruptions physically stop by my doorway.  It is ludicrous how many times I allow myself to become distracted during the day.
I am going to try an experiment.  I will put my phone call ringtone volume on maximum and silence the notification and other phone volume options.  If someone really needs to reach me but I don't respond to their texts right away, I know he or she will call me.  This way, I can work without interruption and when I have a natural break, that's when I'll check to see if anyone needs an urgent reply.
All of this technology is very useful but it also has succeeded in making me feel a bit too self-important.  Everyone needs me now.  No they don't.  Time to get back to work in my productive bubble.