So, yesterday was a pretty crappy day. A few loose ends had become frayed from neglect and required my full attention. Spinning them back into resolvable strands I could tie up took all morning and most of the afternoon, leaving me exhausted and depressed. But every terrible experience has its lessons to teach, so here's what was reinforced in my mind yesterday:
Don't put off unpleasant tasks. Deal with them. Or they'll seem worse over time and you'll begin to loose sleep. Schedule time each week to deal with crap you hate to deal with. I'm supposed to take care of unpleasant tasks on Friday mornings -- but it's been weeks since the last time I did. Staying on top of matters, and out in front of potential problems, will make your life happier. Organization is key. Don't put an important piece of paper on the corner of your desk because you're "sure you'll remember that's where you put it." At the very least, keep a file folder for papers that need dealing with. Name it something like "Friday Folder" (or whatever day of the week you deem 'Unpleasant Task Day'), or "Deal With Me, Dammit!" and keep it in a prominent or visible place on your desk. And the most important thing I remembered? I'm human. I make mistakes. I get lazy, choosing to do the stuff I like to do over shouldering my responsibilities. And it's okay. I made a couple nice messes with that behavior, but I worked it all out. I'm still healthy and alive. The world is still spinning. (And no, I am NOT responsible for that massive snow and ice storm some of you are dealing with today.)
But I can do better. And I will. Promise.Do you have anything hanging over your head you should have dealt with like, um, last week? Why not take care of it today. You'll feel better, and you may even sleep better tonight!
