So this coronavirus/shut down thing has been going on for what – about two months now, depending on where you’re living? And, depending on what your job or 9-5’ish gig is, the majority of your day – or at least the part that used to be semi-structured is, well, not anymore. And you know you’re supposed to be doing something productive – you know, ‘carpe diem’ or whatever, but it’s - just. not. happening. So what’s a 2020 quarantini to do?
Before I give you pandemic-life-altering advice, let me start by telling you it’s normal to be a little (ok, a lot) stunned. This came as a shock to all of us, the scale of it is pretty incomprehensible, and getting straight answers as to how to handle it is ambiguous at best. So let’s start by accepting that this is truly extraordinary and cutting ourselves some slack, alright? Seriously, stop reading, take a deep breath and remind yourself that you rock when you know WTH is going on. Then, follow these simple steps: 1. Brainstorm. Get out a piece of paper (if you’re old-school) or start voicing a list of anything you want or need to get done without leaving the house – and I mean anything. The rules with brainstorming are: no judgment, get it all out, take as long as you need in one sitting. 2. Take a look at your list and cross out/delete any that are totally impossible. 3. Look at what’s left and start grouping. See if there are any similarities between your items or if anything triggers a strong emotional response. For example, maybe you have four items on your list that relate to finally getting a garden started, or maybe ‘finally writing a book’ jars something in you in some way. Hell, even if it’s just ‘learn how to make eggs Benedict,’ have at it! Just listen to what your mind and body are telling you. 4. Rewrite your list with what’s leftover and think realistically about which of these you can truly accomplish. (I know it’s weird because our time table for going back to normalcy is wonky, but don’t let that stop you.) Narrow it down to three or four. 5. Think of next actions and make a plan. ‘Building a garden’ is a large project (especially if you’ve been sitting on your couch for a month) but ‘measuring’ and ‘buying dirt’ are not. Breaking jobs down into manageable steps is the key to getting s*^t done. Plus, the sense of satisfaction and the buzz you get from completing small steps will springboard you into completing the next step and the next step and, well, you get it. And, for all of you devil’s advocates out there, if completing the first few steps only lands you back on the couch, then chill out and try something else – that first project just wasn’t meant to be. 6. Do it. Take your action steps and go rock your new pandemic work ethic! I knew you could do it! This article is also available at yourtango.com.
Aubrei Krummert is a Certified Professional Organizer in Athens, Ohio. She specializes in Home Productivity and works with clients across the United States, doing on-site and virtual sessions. Contact her now.
Photo by elizabeth lies on Unsplash