I’m still struggling to get control of my time after retiring last month. That beautiful forty hours each week freed up with that decision somehow haven’t converted into additional productivity. It seems like, instead of getting more done, I am actually getting less done.
Right now my challenge is getting a rhythm and a pattern going that makes sure that I get basic things done each day and move forward on the things that will make me some money. I am putting in the time but I am sure that I could be managing much better.
For example, I dithered today trying to find a way to sync my windows mobile phone with a web based calendar like Google or Thunderbird. There doesn’t seem to be anything. I would probably have used my time better to just enter my appointments both places and forget about it but I keep thinking that there has to be something. So that is just one example of how time gets wasted.
It is always better when I find a solution from one of the clear thinkers on the web. Today it is Chris Brogan with his post on a farmer’s list. Put simply, a farmer’s list is those tasks that must be done every day or else. Farmers don’t have the luxury of postponing tasks. Milking has to be done every day or the cows stop giving milk. You can’t put off harvesting wheat or it shatters and falls to the ground. So Chris uses a farmer to help understand what kind of tasks need to be on the list. He gives his list – and it is a good one. I would like to say that I am doing everything on his list but I am not Chris Brogan – at least not yet.
So for today this is my list:
- Blog Post up for today.
- Draft tomorrow’s blog post.
- Check emails and respond.
- Read 30 minutes or more.
- Respond to blog comments.
- Check my blog follow list and comment when possible
- Work on income producing projects.
It is not as good as Chris’, but it does include everything that I know I have to get done each day. When I get this list under my belt then maybe I can add more.
What does your Farmer’s List look like?
Originally posted 2010-01-22 09:24:34. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
