Finding the Time

When we were kids, time…went…so…slowly.  In early elementary school I remember thinking about the YEARS ahead of me.  The years before I would be released from prison.  And it did feel like that.  Not to pretend I know what a real prison sentence feels like, but I can tell you, the day I graduated from high school I felt like the kid that measured the time felt a final sense of freedom.  

OK, I’m going down a track I wasn’t prepared for.  ANYWAY, yeah, kids.  Waiting for Christmas, waiting for summer vacation, waiting for your birthday to arrive seemed eternal. 

Most adults I know can’t find the time to do what they need to do, let alone  indulge in leisure activities.  I am no different.  I try to put everything in my iCal.  And on each of those dates I write notes in the little note space thingy.It helps.  But it certainly doesn’t solve my time management issues.  I’ve embraced the fact that I may always struggle with organization and time management.  But, I have found other tools.  One cool app I use is called Scapple.  It’s a mind-mapping tool.  In fact, it was very helpful in the birth of this business.  Here is what the Scapple for my business looks like right now:Cool, huh?

Do I look at this thing every day?  No, not at all.  But it was the creation of this thing that helped me figure out how to proceed and develop and order that made sense.  At any given moment I could be off on a YouTube bender, or ranting on Facebook.  

I try to start first thing in the morning.  “Go to work” I say to myself.  And I generally do.  Distractions are everywhere.  Even in the work.  I’m working on my website (which includes this blog).  I can go down so many rabbit holes at any moment (“well, maybe I should take the space out from under that jpg.  But how do I do that?”, “What’s up with the horrible resolution on those PNG files?”).

It’s work. It’s saying “no” to people who don’t realize you are working even though you are home.  It’s saying “yes” to your life.  You know, the one that’s been waiting for you for decades?  Yeah, that one.  Get yourself some Scapple time, make it happen.