A Creature of Habit, Disrupted!
The human brain likes ritual - at least my brain does. Predictable punctuations of the day provide structure, they tell me where I am, and why, and hint at what I should be doing next.
My life is a bit short on structure under ordinary circumstances: I work at home and make my own schedule. I’m married to a night owl whose hours shift according to the whims of the boss and what marvels of astronomy are visible on any given night. As a result, predictable routines around here rely purely on my own self discipline - which, you might have noticed, is not my strong point.
Over the years, the computer has become key to my daily structure. It’s sort of the touchstone/constant that grounds my life in place. So when it crashes? My world sort of comes apart at the seams, too.
That’s what’s happened these past 2 weeks, since my system caught a nasty virus…
Things just sorta….. crumbled.
Sure, I quickly set up alternate access for the crucial stuff… email access for business and financial stuff, and so on. The bills got paid, the packages got shipped. But me? I was just off balance and out of sorts. My creative flow was disrupted. I didn’t have access to the programs, resources and info I’m used to. The timing was off. The keyboard was wrong. The screen was at the wrong height. .
This wouldn’t have been more than a mild inconvenience if I’d had more general structure in my life, or if the tasks I use the computer for were themselves more structured, and less dependent on creative flow. But I don’t, and they aren’t.
I know…. Whine, whine whine!
What’s the point of all this?
As I work to get my main system back up and my most crucial rituals back on track, I’m also looking for new ways to provide daily structure for myself, Structure that, hopefully, won’t rely purely on technology that is pretty danged untrustworthy.
So over the next few weeks, I’ll be reviewing various organizational systems, and, hopefully, setting up something that works for me. And yes, I’ll be dragging you, dear readers, along for the ride. So hang on, it’s going to get a little bumpy! But before we get started, I’d like to get some input:
How do you organize *your* life?
Is it structured around outside time-tables, work/school schedules? Do you have specific tasks for specific days? Use a DayPlanner, a Palm, 3×5 cards? Are you a fan of GettingThingsDone, depend on web-based systems that dont rely on your computer, or old fashioned job-jars?
Let me know how YOU do it… ’cause I really, really need the help!
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Well you could hire me as a personal coach for a month and I can introduce you to the hundreds, and I mean hundreds of different planning strategies I have up my sleeve to suggest to new clients on planning, goal setting, “various organizational systems”.
However I coach people using neuroplasticity techniques in coaching pioneered by David Rock and you may be surprised at what I suggest. Thought this would mesh nicely with your theme of MindTWEAKS. Interested?
Here’s an even better deal. I will coach you for a month for free if you blog about our experiences and results. If you see improvement. If there IS an improvement by readers and your standards you hire me for three months.
Tori,
It is good to see you back. I guess I speak for all when I say we were a tad concerned at the silence.
There is nothing like silence from an erstwhile garalous person, that creates a great deal of concern. We ask why. Our brains fritz out and then go into overdrive as we conjure up mental pictures and tales of horror like you and Mr Tweak being swept away by a typhoon etc etc.
So, it is good to have you back albeit somewhat confused and out of sorts like a grumpy rabbit fixed in the bright glare of headlights from oncoming traffic on Route 66.
My suggestion to get you back on track and delivering the goodies? See what freebie samples Maureen can chuck your way…! Haahaahaa!
Oh c’mon Maureen do us all a favour and throw a lifeline to Mrs Tweak and get her dusted off, manicured, pedicured and cured and sitting at the PC with a straight spine instead of the slouch that has taken over her posture of late.
Robert: I did throw her a lifeline. Free coaching for a month and access to what I have for getting organized. Then she can keep everyone updated on what she is experiencing and what she finds that works the best. I’m just waiting for Tori to respond. She might not have complete access to a computer yet.
well my life is not hung up on technology..yea its structured and it revolves around my work , and things are very predictable and routine..thats for sure..i think if you remove the fixed routine of coming to work during most of my waking hours thats 10 am to 9pm from my life..my life will fall apart at seams..would not know what to do with myself..so you can say it revolves around my work at the moment..a bit of a loner..so dont have many real friends i hang out with or have fun..besides being a workoholic..i like finding interesting people online..reading good blogs and articles..one of which is yours..and visiting forums..hope your system gets back up soon the way you want it..all the best!
@Maureen Awesome, I knew someone would toss out some great stuff. I’ll drop you an email and we’ll see what we can work out
@Robert Oh I do so apologize, I did not mean to fritz your brain!
I do feel a bit like the grumpy rabbit you described, but I am safe from typhoons in land-locked Central Texas… for the moment at least! (What with rising sea levels, who knows?)
@Rincy Thanks for sharing your routine - reading your comment and your “loner” description, I think it would be interesting to see more organizational/productivity systems built around personality/temperament types, and how we interact socially. I’d ponder it more deeply, but I have to go email Maureen
Ah Rincy, I could be of assistance to you, that IS of course that is what you wanted. You sound contented. Anyway watch Tori and see if this is something that would work for you.
Maureen,
Well actually am not contented..the rut is getting to me..and i sometimes feel like screaming..feel like a square peg being pushed to fit in a round cog..still very much confused about what type of work would actually give me pleasure..since although am trained for marketing..i hardly get a change to interact with people now..its more back end and support work at my new place..am giving myself a year to see how it goes..dont want to flit from one place to next..but seriously i never plan or map out my whole day..i just tackle one thing at a time and try to get down to the bottom..so i guess i fall under the disorganized category now..how can you help me?? would be interested to know about that..
Email me *email address edited* and we can talk.
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Administrator’s note: I’ve edited Maureen’s email to keep the spam bots from capturing it. I’ll gladly provide it to Rincy or anyone. Just leave a comment with a valid email, and a request for Maureen’s contact info, and I’ll provide it!