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| Copyright (C) 2010 by Gus Flores. All rights reserved. "About Time" originally posted Dec., 2008. |
| Favorites from the ARCHIVES : |
About Time
by Gus Flores
Friends and colleagues usually ask: With all the other duties--job, family,
house--when do you find time to write? They continue with: I have a hard
time keeping my head above water. I respond that it's simply a matter of
time management. Let's revisit: "When do you find time to write?"
My dad always said there is always more time than life. And that is
absolutely true. Time goes on forever; our lifetimes do not. So I make it a
point to squeeze in at least three activities that need to be done that day.
How? Prioritizing.
My first thought for the day (after realizing I'm still breathing), is "What three
things do I need to focus on today?" If it's a pressing matter at work, and
according to powers-that-be, everything is, then I list down the things that
need to get done or are schedule specific. For example, if a training is taking
place and the trainer is here for today only, then it's something to focus on,
and so forth.
Once I feel I have completed what I set out to do (my goals for today), then I
work on secondary stuff. When I go home from work, I'm done with work. I
try not to think about it or talk about it. Does that make me less of a
professional? No. Does it balance my life and mental well-being? Yes. Now I
focus on home priorities. What needs to be done around the house?
According to my wife: everything. Again, I focus on three things (to her
dismay). After I've completed my tasks for the day, THEN I work on my
writing. My mind is free from thinking about any tasks and thus I am able to
produce.
Let me also clarify something about the aforementioned tasks: the tasks
don't have to be completed in one day, unless you're meeting a deadline. I do
what is necessary to accomplish the goal. For example, I may complete a
certain report by a certain time, but leave the filing for later, or if it's due two
days from now, focus on it the next day.
One thing to remember. At least in my case, the inspiration to write, or the
right words, or the right "moment" for writing may not be there when I finally
sit down in front of my computer. It is then that I revert to writing words on
the page that I know I'll be able to fix during the rewriting and editing stage
(see article in "Archives" posted Sept. 2008). I also try to write at least
two-three pages per day, and if I can write more, the merrier.
Finally, my day is complete at around 9:00 p.m which allows me time to
relax, sip on a beverage, watch television and so on. In the morning, it all
starts again. So, yes, I manage to find time to write, and equally manage to
find time to do everything else. I figure I have the same 24 hours as the
busiest person or the laziest person. I just found the balance between the two.
Until next time!
Copyright (C) 2008 by Gus Flores. All rights reserved.
by Gus Flores
Friends and colleagues usually ask: With all the other duties--job, family,
house--when do you find time to write? They continue with: I have a hard
time keeping my head above water. I respond that it's simply a matter of
time management. Let's revisit: "When do you find time to write?"
My dad always said there is always more time than life. And that is
absolutely true. Time goes on forever; our lifetimes do not. So I make it a
point to squeeze in at least three activities that need to be done that day.
How? Prioritizing.
My first thought for the day (after realizing I'm still breathing), is "What three
things do I need to focus on today?" If it's a pressing matter at work, and
according to powers-that-be, everything is, then I list down the things that
need to get done or are schedule specific. For example, if a training is taking
place and the trainer is here for today only, then it's something to focus on,
and so forth.
Once I feel I have completed what I set out to do (my goals for today), then I
work on secondary stuff. When I go home from work, I'm done with work. I
try not to think about it or talk about it. Does that make me less of a
professional? No. Does it balance my life and mental well-being? Yes. Now I
focus on home priorities. What needs to be done around the house?
According to my wife: everything. Again, I focus on three things (to her
dismay). After I've completed my tasks for the day, THEN I work on my
writing. My mind is free from thinking about any tasks and thus I am able to
produce.
Let me also clarify something about the aforementioned tasks: the tasks
don't have to be completed in one day, unless you're meeting a deadline. I do
what is necessary to accomplish the goal. For example, I may complete a
certain report by a certain time, but leave the filing for later, or if it's due two
days from now, focus on it the next day.
One thing to remember. At least in my case, the inspiration to write, or the
right words, or the right "moment" for writing may not be there when I finally
sit down in front of my computer. It is then that I revert to writing words on
the page that I know I'll be able to fix during the rewriting and editing stage
(see article in "Archives" posted Sept. 2008). I also try to write at least
two-three pages per day, and if I can write more, the merrier.
Finally, my day is complete at around 9:00 p.m which allows me time to
relax, sip on a beverage, watch television and so on. In the morning, it all
starts again. So, yes, I manage to find time to write, and equally manage to
find time to do everything else. I figure I have the same 24 hours as the
busiest person or the laziest person. I just found the balance between the two.
Until next time!
Copyright (C) 2008 by Gus Flores. All rights reserved.
