My working time

I was having a brainstorming session with myself yesterday, trying to stop and take a deep breath and refocus on what my goals are for like, my life -- my side business, my writing, etc. Sort of without intending to, I created something that I think is going to really solve a lot of the problems I've been having with feeling guilty about how I manage my time every day, and doing/not doing what I "should" be doing at any given point during my evenings, mornings, and weekends.

I get so few pockets of free time during the day, around my kids, home, and family, and my day job, my side biz, and my writing plans. Almost always, when I sit down to start working on one thing, I can concentrate because I'm still thinking about all the other things I should or could be doing instead -- I need to work on this outline, but I also have dishes and laundry that I probably ought to get started on, etc.

I was trying to single out the times of day that I could, in theory, carve out for myself to do work -- side biz or writing -- and scribbled out a quick draft of a weekly schedule. Almost the second I finished it, it dawned on me -- not only is this a schedule for when I COULD be doing work, but it also, effectively, becomes the schedule for the only times in which I'm ALLOWED to do work.

MY WORKING TIME
M: 5-7a; 9-1030p
T: 5-7a; 9-1030p
W: 5-7a; 9-1030p
Th: 5-7a; 9-1030p
F: 5-7a
S: 5-7a; optional 9-1030p
S: 9-1030p

Anything outside of these hours I'm allowed to not think or worry about anything to do with building my business or my writing career. In the process of creating a set, structured work schedule for myself, I've also created the time around that schedule as specific non-work time.

I feel suddenly so free and less stressed. Having these set times of the week that are dedicated purely to work takes the stress off all the rest of my time, and lets me focus on other things without guilt. And knowing that I have "off" time outside of my new office hours allows me to focus on the work I'm doing within those hours guilt-free as well -- dishes and laundry and family time will now get my full focus, when it's their turn.

Of course, I haven't implemented this schedule yet. I crafted it on a Friday afternoon, so I won't be able to put it into practice until this evening. But I'm really excited about it, and about seeing what it does to my productivity levels. I'll keep you posted!

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