A routine that sticks with you...

Walk, draw, write, study, share, read. 

This is my current morning flow. As I've started to take my writing more seriously, I've had to come up with a way to stay focused on making the most of the opportunities God is giving me, in this unique season of life. 

But here's my problem: I get distracted by a host of other things, and I don't like feeling time-boxed. I do fully understand that I have the luxury right now, as a writer and homemaker to not have to have to time-box, and for that I'm grateful. 

I do need to prioritize in order to move forward, though. 

So, here's what I do to stay focused:

I create a daily scrum chart for each Agile project currently on the docket with a corresponding Google sheet that syncs automatically to the calendar that my virtual assistant manages. 

Just kidding. 

If this is you, I think it's really amazing that you can keep up with all of those types of systems for increased productivity and efficiency, but for me, I've found that my best method involves well, a sticky note. 

Currently, I'm working from a four-pack of neon colors, but any kind will do. At the top of the note,  I write the time I am giving myself to work on certain tasks, and at the bottom I list them. That's it. I keep my morning sticky note on a desk organizer so it's right in front of me, and because right now my routine is mostly the same between 8:30-12. 

There are lots of options out there to snazz things up as far as post-it's go, however. Here are a few that I would put on my Christmas list: 

Abstract Art Sticky Notes from Mochi Things 

Daily Plan Sticky Notes

Craft Smile Shop

Around mid-day I make another one for the after lunch and evening things like correspondence, appointments, and errands I need to run.  I will say that I also have a fancy planner that I'm currently using first thing in the morning, but honestly, it's a little too fancy for me. I don't have that many things to organize in my life and I get a little overwhelmed looking at all the boxes and lines and times and tasks that I'm supposed to have more of a life for. 

In this post you can learn more about why I have to write everything down. Maybe it's my age, maybe my artistic brain or whatever you want to call it, but I must write it all down, especially ideas for making and creating things, which is my jam. 

I recommend, however, starting with the sticky's and a simple list for your morning and afternoon. It's nothing new under the sun, but lately it's just a small way I'm trying to keep going, keep showing up, keep taking tiny steps forward. I'm surprised I'm about to write these words, but it's my favorite productivity hack these days. There, I said it. I have a productivity hack. 

Maybe things are starting to, well, stick.