Don't Be an Almoster
By Andrea Merrell
In my last post, we talked about setting small,
bite-sized goals that we want to accomplish this year. Last week, Cindy Sproles
reminded us to complete the writing we set out to do: “Laying it
to the side for when you think the time is right, does not ingrain integrity or
the success of completing a task. Finish the work, even if it’s tiny bits at a
time.”
To help with this concept, allow me to share a
tip I learned years ago. While once applied only to household tasks, this
little tidbit now helps me with my daily writing and editing.
“Don’t be an almoster!”
The lady who made this emphatic statement looked at each person in the room as
if she'd been peeking in our windows. Then she added, “Pick it up—don’t pass
it up.” When she elaborated on her points, I had to admit the truth: I can easily be an
almoster (and a procrastinator).
When cleaning house, doing laundry, and attending
to everyday chores, my tendency is to go into a room to put something away,
spot another task begging to be done, and abandon my initial project (or even
forget the reason I came into the room in the first place). This can happen
several times throughout the day.
The result? I’m almost finished with the laundry … almost finished vacuuming … almost
finished paying the bills … Besides, I’ve passed by a variety of objects, promising
myself to pick them up the next time around.
Do you get the picture? Can you relate?
Even though I learned this principle over thirty
years ago, it's always stayed with me. Now, I find myself applying it to my
life as a writer and editor.
There are many reasons we don’t complete our
projects: time, illness, stress, family obligations, distractions … life. But
sometimes it's simply because we try to multi-task and flit from one thing to
another. This can mean we’re almost finished with next week’s blog post, almost
finished with the article that’s due in a couple of days, and almost finished
with our most current novel.
Almost … but not quite.
If you find you’re always busy but not accomplishing
your goals, try setting aside some quality time—even it's only fifteen minutes—to
focus on one task. The next time you sit down, go back and finish that one task
before you move to another. Give it your full attention. Don’t check your e-mail,
Tweet, or visit your Facebook page until you finish. Concentrate and get the job
done. You can derive a lot of satisfaction crossing an item off your to-do
list.
I once heard a teaching on the “tyranny of the
urgent.” We could call it the proverbial squeaky wheel that gets the oil. Sometimes the
urgent screams for our immediate attention and causes us to lose sight of all
the important matters we need to attend to. When we have a full plate, we need
to take the time to prioritize. There will always be tasks we enjoy more than
others, but when we consistently put them first, the others get pushed to the back of
the shelf.
This year, I challenge you (as well as myself) to
complete that special project you've been putting off. Finish your novel. Read the book that’s
been lying on your nightstand. Send that e-mail or thank-you card (the one that's way
overdue). Make that phone call you’ve been putting off. Update your blog or website. Get involved in a critique group. Start putting money aside for a writers' conference. You'll be so glad you
did.
What's the one thing you’re almost finished
with that needs to be completed? We would love to hear from you.
(Photos courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and Stuart Miles.)
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