How Do You Start Your Day?

[Ankesh]

Thanks Dien.

I think its a better idea to map out your to-do list at the end of the day. Decide what you will do the next day in the last 10 minutes of your day.

So that the first thing you do the next day is dig in and start working.

I try to follow Joe Sugarman's technique - of packing up for the day. Making sure the desk (and the desktop) is clean.

And then make a list of

* What I achieved on that day
* Things to-do the next day

Tool I use: http://www.rememberthemilk.com

[Dien Rice]

Originally Posted by Ankesh

Thanks Dien.

I think its a better idea to map out your to-do list at the end of the day. Decide what you will do the next day in the last 10 minutes of your day.

So that the first thing you do the next day is dig in and start working.

Thanks Ankesh,

I've never actually tried this method... I'll give it a shot and see how it goes...

Cheers,

Dien

I tried the end of day posting thing and found it kept me awake instead of letting my brain drift off into sleep.

I keep my day planner handy on my desk and mark down in it anything that must be done on the appropriate page as the day goes along and it occurs to me. Found it's better than trying to recall everything in one marathon bout. This way large and small items get listed and I don't feel overwhelmed by writing them all down at one time...besides, it frees my mind for other things.

Went back to my usual routine: a (usually brief) prayer of thanks in the morning and a more comprehensive one at night...works like a charm.

Sandi Bowman

[Ankesh]

One thing is very important: you have to make your own rules.

You should own the rules instead of letting the rules own you.

Having said that - there is a solution Sandi.

Roy H. Williams has written a story in one of his trilogy books:

A friend asks Roy how he can detach himself from work when he leaves the office. How can you stop thinking about work-work-work?

Instead of answering, Roy asks the friend to look outside the window at the garden for 5 minutes. He then asks him to stare at a blank wall for the next 5 minutes.

While the friend is staring at the blank wall - Roy asks: are you thinking about the garden now?

You have to focus on something more interesting than blank wall or your mind will wander back to the garden.

(Written from memory - so there may be errors about details. But the idea behind it remains intact)

Get a hobby that is more exciting than work. This way, boring work and to-do lists won't keep you awake.

Ankesh...thanks, I think...

Prayer works for me...it allows me to put the cares, worries, hassles of the day into a basket and set it aside, in good hands, so I can sleep.

Don't see the logic in the hobby suggestion you made (my plate is so full I can't find it now) but no problem. You've provided lots of good ideas since we 'met' online years ago. Oh...a chance to say 'thank you'...so....THANKS!

Sandi Bowman