Tag: do it now

Categories
positive thinking

15 Minutes

15 Minute Limit

Even 15 minutes can seem like forever when trying to work something new into an already-busy schedule. If 15 minutes seems like forever, try setting a timer so you don’t have to watch the clock tick by.

This could be a:

  • Kitchen timer
  • Alarm Clock
  • Oven Timer
  • Cell phone alarm
  • Cool Timer (free download for your desktop)

On the other hand, 15 minutes could seem like not enough time to get anything done.

Here are some things you can get done within 15 minutes:

  • Bake a potato in the microwave
  • Clean the bathroom
  • Fold a load of laundry and start a new load in the washer
  • Walk a mile
  • Take a shower
  • Talk to a friend
  • Write in your journal
  • Drive just about anywhere if you live in Rochester NY
  • Read a chapter in your book
  • Read an entire children’s book (or two)–read it to yourself if you don’t have kids—trust me—it’s fun
  • Vacuum a few rooms
  • Listen to your favorite music
  • Take pictures of someone you love (could even be yourself)
  • Tell as many people as possible that you love them

I found this great 15-minute exercise video that involves nothing more than your body, a wall, and a chair. That’s my kind of workout!

How will you spend 15 minutes today? Do It Now! Go!

Categories
positive thinking

List it, Date It, Prioritize it, Time it, Do It, Check It

A To Do list isn’t much help if it’s only a list of things to do that never get done. I actually have a To Do book where I keep a perpetual To Do list. Most of the time I just keep adding to the list, and checking things off as I do them. Sometimes I write the same thing down again (sometimes several times) so I don’t have to flip back as many pages in my book. I might even star something that seems really important. If it’s vitally important, I star it and write a note that says “#1 Priority.” Today I did something a little different.

If stuff on your To Do list never seems to make it to your Did It Now list, then try doing this:

List It: Make a list of everything you need to do. Deadlines don’t matter. If it’s in your head, get it out of there and on paper.

Date It: Give each task a deadline. Does it need to be done today, or next week, or next month?

Prioritize It: For all the things that need to be done TODAY, prioritize each item in order of importance to YOU. Continue numbering with items that can wait a little bit.

Time It: Sometimes the reason I put things off is because I think it’s going to take longer than it actually does. Estimate how much time you think it will realistically take for you to complete, and assign a time value to each item. Then actually time yourself for a reality check. Does it actually take an hour to unload the dishwasher? Nope! It takes 3 minutes!

Do It: Start with #1 on your list and work your way down. Do it now!

Check It: Once complete, check it off your list, and add it to your Did It Now list at the end of the day.

By the end of today, I’ve checked off 6 of the 16 things on my list (#1, 2, 3, 5 [which I delegated], 10, plus one that I forgot to number, but it was starred). Number 1 & 3 have been on my list for weeks. Feels great to have them done!

Of course I did do more things than the 6 things I checked off my To Do list. I will capture those on my Did It Now list, because I’m happy about getting those things done too.

Tomorrow I’ll add more things to the list, reprioritize, and start all over again.

Do it now!

Categories
Uncategorized

Did It Now List

Sometimes I get to the end of the day and wonder what it is that I got done. My To Do list seems to go on forever. As I try to get one thing done, five more things might get added to the list.

What I like about the Do it Now challenge is that I’m doing some of the smaller things quicker and the bigger ones seem to get done too.

I’ve always kept a To Do list, but the last few days I’ve also been keeping a “Did It Now” list. At the end of the day I write down what I accomplished. It feels good to get to the end of the day and see in black and white what I’ve done.

Here’s a few of the things I’ve done so far, big and small:

  • Customer website updates
  • Pulled a snail off of a window
  • Called 2 potential customers
  • Took out garbage
  • Dishes
  • Took a leisurely drive down Routes 5 & 20
  • Rented movies
  • Killed flies
  • Created a lightbox for a customer
  • Learned more about WordPress
  • Designed a customer website
  • Went to church

Now it’s your turn. What will be on your “I Did It Now” list at the end of the day today?

Categories
Challenges

Do it Now!

Try It For 21Is there something you’ve been meaning to do, but just haven’t gotten around to doing it yet? Procrastinate no more!

The next 21 days are about ACTION! The challenge: Do something you don’t want to do (or that you think you don’t have time to do), that will ultimately improve your life, for 15 minutes each day.

Some examples might include:

  • Exercise
  • Call an old friend or family member
  • Clean the basement, closet, garage, or other area
  • Write out your goals
  • Write a book
  • Balance your checkbook
  • Try a new hobby
  • Pamper yourself
  • Have fun

The point is that when you want something done, you don’t have to do it all at once. Just take 15 minutes/day for 21 days. At the end of 21 days, you will have spent 5.25 hours improving your life. If your new habit continues, by the end of one year, you will have spent 91.21 hours moving closer to your goals. Sounds much better than where you’d be if you spent no time (which is nowhere).