Get Shit Done Mode

mug found here.

I need to get shit done today.

And tomorrow. And this week. And for the rest of ever basically.

I’m not sure when my focus “problems” started exactly, but boy oh boy do I have issues concentrating on one thing at a time. I can’t even write a to-do list because by the time I get to #2 or #3 I’ve already gotten distracted by something else that popped up in my head while I was writing said to-do list.

I’m able to get stuff done eventually, but it takes me awhile and I’m not nearly efficient as I should be. For example I’ve been writing this post for two hours now because I’ve stopped 100 times when I remember something else I have to do.

I’ll remember an email I have to respond to, or I’ll want to check an item on nebrowse, or follow up on a made-up Instagram task- basically I’ve found thousands of ways to distract myself. Also the new GIF keyboard on Facebook? Killing it. I can’t stop playing with it. GIFS entertain me more than they should.

But that has to stop this week.

I need to work harder at everything I do in my life. Literally everything. I’ve been feeling like a hamster in a wheel lately. The wheel is moving, but it’s going nowhere and I’m just circling around like a silly little hamster does hoping that a cat doesn’t come along and eat me. I have no one to blame but myself for not moving my wheel forward.

The reason for my Monday Motivation lies behind two things:

1. 2016 is going to be the most expensive year of my life. I’m getting married and several of my best friends are getting married. Weddings are wonderful and I love them, but they’re expensive.

Anytime I think about money this year my throat tightens and I feel this imaginary weight on my back push down just a little harder. And since I refuse to work for someone else, that means I have to work twice as hard for myself. Do I sound like Tony Robbins today? GOOD!!!

2. Shonda Rhimes is telling me to stop dreaming and start working.
I’ve been reading her book, Year of Yes, and it’s speaking to my soul. Shonda is the Queen of television writing. You might know some of her shows, Greys Anatomy, Private Practice and Scandal. Her book came into my life just when I needed it. Here’s one of my favorite quotes so far,

“Dreams are lovely. But they are just dreams. Fleeting, ephemeral, pretty. But dreams do not come true just because you dream them. It’s hard work that makes things happen. It’s hard work that creates change.”

So that’s where I’m at today.

MUST DO ALL THE WORK.

To-do list people, I know you’re out there. Have any tips to share? Or apps you like? Or anything that can make a distracted person like myself actually stick to one? Share below. Thank you!

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44 Comments

  1. January 18, 2016 / 10:37 am

    I'm 100% a to do list person (raised hand emoji). I get a secret thrill out of writing things down and checking them off. Write down everything you do for a week – a column of things you planned to do and a column of things you did but hadn't planned to do – you'll be able to keep track of what you're getting done and see what you're not getting done in exchange for what's actually getting done. (That was a huge run-on sentence.)

    Alyssa
    Feathers and Stripes

    • January 18, 2016 / 11:47 am

      Oooooh I never thought of organizing it like this, but that would be so interesting to see! I might do this for work as well, so people can see how my time is being divided…. I like…

  2. January 18, 2016 / 10:43 am

    I was DEFINITELY way more motivated, task-driven, and accomplished in high school. Back when everything was regimented, I had a strict schedule, a really sweet agenda to-do book given to us at school, and NO SOCIAL MEDIA! Man, the 90s and 2000s were GREAT for productivity for me.

    I have told myself I NEED to do the following in order to bring that back:
    – USE my expensive as fck Day Designer agenda (and get a cheaper one when this one runs out) and not leave days blank. SUCH A WASTE OF MONEY.
    – stay the hell off social media during work hours. (unless your work involves social media, then just use it for your work function and don't get distracted)
    – stick to a schedule, spelling out hour-by-hour if needed

    also – with money – I am being tight as H with my budget. my wedding kicked my financial ass and we're slowly getting out of it – I had to take a loan out, ugh! – but we're getting there. Just track penny by penny and ask yourself, DO I REALLY NEED THIS? and save save save.

    Anyway, that's my $0.02. Budgeted that out for ya, you're welcome.

  3. January 18, 2016 / 10:49 am

    I love that cup!

    Her Heartland Soul
    herheartlandsoul.com

  4. January 18, 2016 / 10:50 am

    I hear you I am the same way, ooh pretty and I wander off. So to help me "To Do", I said "I Do" to a wonderful man who helps me gather up where I left off. Hah! So I was going "To Do" something but your post caught my eye. Laughter and smiles I get from your blog is a "must do" for me. The "To Do" thingie I keep a list on my laptop, love the electronic "sticky note" thingie maybe it is an app, than on my phone I love the Notes connected to my email. I headline important stuff and add when I have the thought, push comes to shove, I grab my notebook with the big "light bulb" on it so I can jot down that idea that I must "DO". Here is to "just doin IT" Congratulations! May your partner be as great as the honey I have. I gotta go 'do" something.

  5. January 18, 2016 / 11:25 am

    My problem is less about focusing and more about just having too many things to do to focus on one thing. Too many plates spinning and not enough hands!

  6. January 18, 2016 / 1:00 pm

    I had a really witty comment but I got distracted… so I'll just say I'm ADD too and I like that mug 🙂

  7. January 18, 2016 / 1:10 pm

    I hear you…I have so much to do and then my focus just stares at that disco ball for wayy too long and then the day is done! Last year I attended 3 weddings and got married so I hear ya. I didn't plan out my finances as well as I should have so this year I'm budgeting like crazy woman. It's all doable except you have to put priorities first and cut back when the time feels right! Good luck with your motivation today!!

    Melanie | Blog: Toots + Dill

  8. January 18, 2016 / 1:26 pm

    The best app I've used to keep myself on track with my long-term and short-term goals and "to-dos" is Hit List. It's a little pricey. But totally worth it. Best way to keep everything in perspective, especially if you like to plan ahead. Go get 'em, girl!

  9. January 18, 2016 / 3:15 pm

    Just come to Hawaii for a week, regroup, the dogs can play, you can feel sunlight in your bones again, and then I'll send you back to Chicago to take on the world.

  10. January 18, 2016 / 3:28 pm

    Can't help you because in the midst of reading this blog post, I clicked away 3 times to check something/do something really quick. It's not you, it's me. And you it sounds like.

  11. January 18, 2016 / 4:14 pm

    2014 was the most expensive and crazy year for me. We got married 4 months after my Best friend got married and then my other best friend got married a month after me, and another friend after that. It was insane! so I totally get you!

    Stay as organized as you possibly can. I have to write everything down. I have my planner – so I can write out day to day, week to week things. and then I have my notebook that I am constantly writing reminders in or ideas. I try to stick to a schedule too. I wake up, drink my coffee while I check emails, social media (instagram, FB, and my blog) and then I put away my phone and laptop, turn on music and get shit done. It's what you have to do. I know i have to do it or it will be 6pm, my husband will be home and I still haven't done the laundry he needs to the next day. LOL

    -Ashlee Michelle
    http://www.makeupandmodifieds.com

  12. January 18, 2016 / 4:39 pm

    I also need to get shit done, but I feel like shit today, so getting shit done is an uphill battle and a steep bloody hill to say

  13. January 18, 2016 / 10:04 pm

    I say make your to do list short with tasks that you know are easy to complete in a day. And put maybe one task that you know is more difficult for you to do . . . and that task may be as simple as make a dr's appt but you just can't seem to get it done. And mark them off as complete when they are done. You may even need to negotiate with yourself – I'll do two before lunch. Two after lunch. And two before bed.

    I also keep a running list of ALL the things to do so I don't forget . . . but to keep my psyche happy, I keep the one front and center short and manageable. And some days I get all crazy and mark off the daily ones and then hit a couple more of the big list. It's really all a mind game! You got this!!

  14. January 19, 2016 / 4:47 am

    Great post!It happens to me too, all of the time! I make a to do list and then I only finish the first two items because I then remember something I should do instead – for example, last friday I finally finished a post I've been writing for the past days!
    I don't have any tips but what has been helping be these days is to write everything down: write once, write twice, write as many times as you need to always remember what you need to do and just do it! See an email – bam responded! See a post – bam commented! See a letter to send – bam go to the mail and send it! if you do everything right away, you will have more time for the things you love!
    xx

  15. January 19, 2016 / 6:25 am

    Great post. It's good you are able to admit that you struggle at focusing. A lot of people deny their problems, which only makes it worse. I don't know what advice I can really give. Maybe when you do a "to do list" write down the things you have to do (make sure you have everything down before you attempt anything on the list), and then knock the things you can do quite quickly off the list. Then prioritise. If you focus on one item at a time, you will get everything done quicker and effectively. Goodluck.

    Sarah's Abode -xx

  16. January 19, 2016 / 11:52 am

    I'm a huge to-do list person. I can't function without them. I use an online tool called Asana for the blog and organizing my freelance work but I have a to-do list pad separated into four categories I'll use to prioritize for the week on the wall in front of my desk. I've been struggling with productivity lately too.

  17. January 19, 2016 / 2:14 pm

    My problem with to-do lists is that I spend so much time making them (because I have so much to do) that I never end up having time to cross anything off. The struggle is real.

  18. May 29, 2016 / 3:13 am
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  33. September 9, 2017 / 6:18 am
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