At the risk of sounding cliche, I’m beginning to think in terms of goal-setting as we approach the new year. I want more focus in my life. Perhaps this is just how life goes but lately I feel like I’m running in 10 different directions! Dave Ramsey says (yes, Dave says Dave says Dave says, I know, just bear with me) a big part of why the TMMO principles work is because they call for focused intensity. You zoom in on one debt at a time and nail it to the wall. Why not apply that kind of focused intensity to other areas of life?
The first step to accomplishing this is to identify what activities are draining your energy and causing you to lose focus. I’m going to start today by identifying some of those little things that take up a lot of my time.
Internet: If I’m home, I have the laptop open. This isn’t all bad. However, I have several irons in the fire with this blog, the Living Like No One Else forums, Ravelry, MySpace, and now Facebook. Not to mention e-banking through two different banks, constantly checking my e-mail, watching crop prices, googling new recipes, and just googling in general. I’d also like to get back to the Farmer’s Forum a little more regularly.
Cleaning the house: It isn’t so much that I spend a lot of time doing this. More so I feel the constant pressure of needing to get it done. Of course it is never really done!
Git ‘Er Done projects: The end is in sight on this one. We’re down to the wire and I’m spending more and more time on this again.
Knitting: This should be kept only for fun. I let myself feel obligated to make something for everyone and every event. Lately it isn’t even relaxing anymore.
Canning: This is done for the season. I need to find ways to be more efficient next year. I thought about putting an ad on craigslist offering to teach someone the basics in exchange for help. What if I get some weirdo showing up here though? Hmm. Anyways, I spent all my spare time for weeks and weeks canning. I do have a lot to show for it (update still in the works!) but it doesn’t seem like that much considering all the time I gave up. A big part of the problem is that the food I glean for free is not as nice in quality as that which I could buy. For example, it takes much longer to prepare and can apples from our friends neglected trees than it does to peel and slice near perfect apples from the orchard. I love gleaning but I’m going to take a closer look and may consider buying at least apples next year.
The farm: I’m constantly think about the farm, especially the financial aspect. I want to get a marketing effort going and keep putting it off. I spend a lot of time reading on the topic, both online and in print. We really need to take the next steps if we are going to grow a viable business.
There are many more but these are the big ones. If you’d like to participate I’d be interested in what takes up your time.
Computer and books! I pick up something to read (could be a blog, book, magazine, newspaper….) and next thing I know 2 hours have gone by.
I feel pressure to clean all the time, but rarely worry about it unless people are coming over!
Now I’m spending a lot of time on the baby registry and can’t wait to get that out of the way.
Have you ever read the “Earth’s Children” series? I really enjoy those books. Usually I read educational books about farming or budgeting but sometimes I need a break. The series is about the first people back in the prehistoric times, it is a little different but so, so good IMO.
I usually follow your cleaning theory but I get so sick of it not be clean and I always feel like such a loser when people show up unexpectedly and the house looks bad.
Oh, I bet it is tough to select things for the registry, there is so much stuff available!
Computer and books! I pick up something to read (could be a blog, book, magazine, newspaper….) and next thing I know 2 hours have gone by.
I feel pressure to clean all the time, but rarely worry about it unless people are coming over!
Now I’m spending a lot of time on the baby registry and can’t wait to get that out of the way.
Computer and books! I pick up something to read (could be a blog, book, magazine, newspaper….) and next thing I know 2 hours have gone by.
I feel pressure to clean all the time, but rarely worry about it unless people are coming over!
Now I’m spending a lot of time on the baby registry and can’t wait to get that out of the way.
Computer and books! I pick up something to read (could be a blog, book, magazine, newspaper….) and next thing I know 2 hours have gone by.
I feel pressure to clean all the time, but rarely worry about it unless people are coming over!
Now I’m spending a lot of time on the baby registry and can’t wait to get that out of the way.
Computer and books! I pick up something to read (could be a blog, book, magazine, newspaper….) and next thing I know 2 hours have gone by.
I feel pressure to clean all the time, but rarely worry about it unless people are coming over!
Now I’m spending a lot of time on the baby registry and can’t wait to get that out of the way.
Computer and books! I pick up something to read (could be a blog, book, magazine, newspaper….) and next thing I know 2 hours have gone by.
I feel pressure to clean all the time, but rarely worry about it unless people are coming over!
Now I’m spending a lot of time on the baby registry and can’t wait to get that out of the way.
Computer and books! I pick up something to read (could be a blog, book, magazine, newspaper….) and next thing I know 2 hours have gone by.
I feel pressure to clean all the time, but rarely worry about it unless people are coming over!
Now I’m spending a lot of time on the baby registry and can’t wait to get that out of the way.
Computer and books! I pick up something to read (could be a blog, book, magazine, newspaper….) and next thing I know 2 hours have gone by.
I feel pressure to clean all the time, but rarely worry about it unless people are coming over!
Now I’m spending a lot of time on the baby registry and can’t wait to get that out of the way.
Computer and books! I pick up something to read (could be a blog, book, magazine, newspaper….) and next thing I know 2 hours have gone by.
I feel pressure to clean all the time, but rarely worry about it unless people are coming over!
Now I’m spending a lot of time on the baby registry and can’t wait to get that out of the way.
Computer and books! I pick up something to read (could be a blog, book, magazine, newspaper….) and next thing I know 2 hours have gone by.
I feel pressure to clean all the time, but rarely worry about it unless people are coming over!
Now I’m spending a lot of time on the baby registry and can’t wait to get that out of the way.
Computer and books! I pick up something to read (could be a blog, book, magazine, newspaper….) and next thing I know 2 hours have gone by.
I feel pressure to clean all the time, but rarely worry about it unless people are coming over!
Now I’m spending a lot of time on the baby registry and can’t wait to get that out of the way.
Computer and books! I pick up something to read (could be a blog, book, magazine, newspaper….) and next thing I know 2 hours have gone by.
I feel pressure to clean all the time, but rarely worry about it unless people are coming over!
Now I’m spending a lot of time on the baby registry and can’t wait to get that out of the way.
Computer and books! I pick up something to read (could be a blog, book, magazine, newspaper….) and next thing I know 2 hours have gone by.
I feel pressure to clean all the time, but rarely worry about it unless people are coming over!
Now I’m spending a lot of time on the baby registry and can’t wait to get that out of the way.
Hi Jena,
We are using this book in our farm planning class and I like it a lot. It focuses on missions statements, farm planning and budgeting, market research. Just thought I’d mention it in case you want to check it out.
Starting & Running Your Own Small Farm Business (Paperback)
~ Sarah B. Aubrey
Thanks! If it is the one I’m picturing, with a red cover, I have not read it yet. It is on my Amazon list though. Maybe I’ll check the library again and end up buying it. I’m currently reading Guerrilla Marketing, it is a must read for small business owners. It is isn’t what I expected but definitely worth reading.
I need to figure out where all my time goes as well. I know the internet is a huge time-suck for me. That, and household stuff: cleaning and laundry are never done with 3 children, 2 cats and a dog.
The canning- Yeah, it’s a huge time hog during the season but in some twisted way, I really enjoy it. I love the feeling of being able to provide food for my family. Of course, try to tell me that when I’m waiting for the last batch to come out of the canner at 2 in the morning and I’ve got to get up for work at 530 and I may hit you!
Good luck with the farm planning.