I wanted to get so many things done, little personal projects that have been waiting a while. The other half had similar plans. I have friends who, like myself, have had projects on hold or barely touched for years. We look forward to holidays like Christmas because we feel sure that we’ll make good use of our free time. Instead, we take it easy or rush around visiting relations or a dangerous combination of the two.

I remember when I had almost no time off over Christmas. I longed for a better break and the opportunity to get more done and then it flies right past me. And what about the people who work over Christmas too? When do they get a chance to get on with their projects? It’s enough to make you feel guilty about taking a break!

Perhaps it’s time we learnt something from all these missed opportunities. Perhaps it’s time to realise that waiting for the holiday’s is not the answer. Maybe all we need is better time management skills so that we can divide our time more effectively between work, ’secret projects’, rest and play. Let’s face it, not many employers will be willing or able to adopt Google’s 20 per cent rule. It really is down to us.

So how about a new year with no excuses and no dodging responsibilities? Learn to manage your time and motivation and Get It Done!

*(That’s the plan anyway)

The snow is stunning, the cold, energising. There’s something about winter that makes me feel fantastic. I want to be walking through crisp leaves and fluffy mounds of snow or huddled up by a fire. I want to be writing and singing and baking bread and making soup. I want to learn how to dance again.

Is it because it’s nearly Christmas and I’m a big kid at heart? Is it because I met the love of my life at this time of year? Is it because the cold weather has an effect on my brain chemistry? Is it because the snow reminds me of Aberdeen and all the fun I used to have there? I don’t know but whatever it is, I hope it lasts!

Every time I see snow I get excited, I want to tramp about in it, I want to throw snowballs, I…yes, that’s probably enough effervescence. I know it’s a pain too but surely I’m not the only one excited about the snow?

The list might say something like this:

• Complete SEO report for X
• New site copy required for Y
• Marketing collateral – copy to be finalised with Z

What I see is:

• I can’t finish that because I’m waiting for X to get back to me.
• There’s no point even starting that until I can discuss it fully with Y, who is currently unavailable.
• This project has been rumbling for months with no real progress but I don’t have the authority to action anything myself. I need to talk to Z and get it happening!

Unfortunately, I have no control over X, Y or Z and some days it’s difficult to see anything on my ‘to do’ list that can be crossed off. I like to think I have a pretty good relationship with my clients but even the best working relationships aren’t enough when X, Y and Z are too busy.

On Facebook I updated my status to “In need of clarity”. Clarity for the projects I’m part way through. Clarity for my thoughts as they whirl around all the things I should be doing but can’t get on with, and clarity to decide on the best course of action in these circumstances.

Any thoughts?

Over the past couple of weeks I’ve had more than my usual share of both. I’ve taken on new responsibilities. I’ve done things like becoming commissioning editor of an audio magazine, accepting a role as contributor for media140, training for the Adidas 5k challenge and becoming part of a top secret project. I’ve also continued existing responsibilities like organising the Cheltenham Social Media Cafe and my regular client work.

Each of these has required me to take responsibility and as such they’ve come with associated risks. I could break some recording equipment, run out of good topic ideas, sprain my ankle or fail in an entirely secret and mostly anonymous way. At times I have questioned the sanity of taking on all of these things – especially as they’ve all come at more or less the same time.

Don’t get me wrong – I don’t imagine for a second that my situation is unusual or more difficult than anyone else’s. But it’s enough to make me worry about some of my new ventures.

Yesterday I went to train at the gym with my personal trainer. She made me run faster than I’ve ever (knowingly) gone before. I started at 9.5km p/hr, and then went up to 10.5. Finally she pushed me up to 11.5km p/hr. After three minutes at that speed she asked me how I was. I couldn’t speak but I was starting to panic so I shook my head, hoping she would drop the speed. Instead she told me “Just do one more minute instead of two”. When I finished the next minute she said, “OK, one more minute and then you can have a four minute break”. By this time I felt really bad. My breathing wasn’t relaxed; my temperature had sky rocketed; a sense of panic was threatening to take over. My trainer kept talking about the wall and how I could keep going through it. Even as she was telling me that my mind could overrule my body inside I was telling myself it was no good, I couldn’t do it. At the same time I really wanted the four minute break. I was desperate for any kind of rest.

I completed the final minute.

Never have I been more grateful for the speed to drop on my treadmill. I leaned on the handrail and gasped for breath for about a minute, wondering if I’d pass out. Actually I was fine. I recovered surprisingly quickly and managed another five minute run (albeit at a slower speed) after my four minute rest period.

It’s a lesson I’ve had to learn time and time again. On this occasion, my trainer put a different spin on it. She told me that:

Even if your body feels like it’s falling apart and can’t go on, you can continue. The ‘wall’ is an illusion. It’s a work of fiction that you just need to bust through.

To do that I should:

Break larger goals down into smaller tasks

And:

Don’t use negative words, even in your mind e.g., instead of saying “I can’t make another five minutes” say “I’ll run for another minute”, or “I’ll run to the next tree”.

It’s good advice. As with a lot of good advice, it’s easier to know than it is to do but that doesn’t mean we should stop trying.

At the gym this morning I started to think about the children that made me want to run. I hate running. At worst, I think of it as evil. At best, I consider it unnecessary. I chose the 5k run because it was a serious challenge for a good cause. Since that cause is my sole reason for doing this I thought I may as well spend some time thinking about the people I want to help to encourage my progress.

I started out remembering my own communication difficulties and thinking about all the children that were born with similar problems. Then I thought about the children who had an even tougher time. I tried to imagine how a child that was deaf and blind would learn to communicate and how it would affect their life. I don’t believe it’s possible to comprehend some of the things people go through but that’s no reason not to think about it or try to help. Human beings are an amazing species. We can cope and adapt and evolve in ways that constantly baffle and astound me. It’s a big thought to hold onto while your feet are hammering into a treadmill but it does a much better job of keeping me going than the awful music they play at the gym!

As I started to get uncomfortably hot and a bit out of breath I thought about how the training would benefit my health. It would be a shame to let my fitness level slide after the charity run, especially if I get a taste for them and decide to do more. So maybe I’ll start running regularly and add a couple of years to my life? Imagine getting to 100 and still feeling sprightly (albeit with some new knees I expect). When people ask how you did it you can tell them, “it all started when I decided to raise money for charity”.

I wouldn’t have started running just to benefit my health but to help other people, sure, why not? Lots of overweight people struggle to find the willpower to diet consistently but often they will agree to do it for charity. Maybe they’ll volunteer to do a 5k challenge like the one I’m doing and they have to get fit and lose weight for that, or they’ll get sponsored just to give up donuts or something. So they lose weight, get fitter and help their chosen charity at the same time.

It seems strange that we can get so motivated to help others and yet we’d never do these things just to help ourselves. Not that I’m complaining! If you can help others and benefit yourself at the same time that’s a double win.

If you’d like to support me on my challenge please visit the donation page at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/RachelPictor

If you’d like to share your thoughts about charity challenges or even plug your own event or dire need for sponsorship feel free to comment!

This means that many everyday tasks which cause most people to glaze over their eyes, fall asleep or tear their hair out with anxiety or annoyance are actually enjoyed by the ‘happy’ people. Perhaps you think of them as cartoon characters like Ned Flanders or other fictional creations like Mary Poppins. Maybe you don’t think these people even exist?

That’s because nobody actually says “Okaly doakaly” or “spit spot” but it doesn’t mean they’re not out there! These people are optimists. These people are enthusiastic about life. They get things done. They feel happy most of the time.

Sounds good doesn’t it?

I am not Ned Flanders or Mary Poppins. I am a real person trying to be an optimist and get things done. I used to be more like Moe the bar tender or Mr Banks. Actually scrap the bit about Moe – I don’t need that kind of association! But I was a bit like Mr Banks, plodding along, not seeing the joy in everyday life and set in my ways.

Now I alternate between the two. Some days I’m Mary Poppins and I get lots done. Some days I am Mr Banks and I trundle through my tasks like a reluctant school girl. Most days are Poppins days and I’m glad.

You can’t always choose what happens but you can choose your response and you can also choose to be proactive. Sometimes, like Mr Banks, you might need someone or something to give you a push in the right direction.

If that’s you then start looking for that push right now. What have you got to lose?

Have you ever realised half way through the day that you’re spending a lot of time thinking about and doing things that you don’t really want to be doing? These are the things you do because you should.

I should clean my car out

I should finish the DIY

I should write that blog post

I should finish that book

I often catch myself saying these things in my head. When I want to do something, I normally just do it straight away, or as soon as possible. I don’t use the word ‘should’. Instead, if I think about it, I say “I can’t wait to get home and finish my new book”, or, “I hope the client gets back to me soon so I can start that blog post!”

There is a world of difference between ‘should’ and ‘want’. Life would be a lot easier if we could organise ourselves so that we only do things we want to and there are no ‘shoulds’ in sight! One problem: unless you are an extraordinarily happy, upbeat sort of person you will never get rid of the ‘shoulds’. That’s why for most people a day at work is a bag of mixed blessings. You hated the early start but you loved the weekly catch up meeting. You were depressed by that phone call but you enjoyed learning about saving kittens.

But what about those days when everything is a ‘should’ and you’ve forgotten what it was you ever wanted?

Perhaps it is time to change your career, or take up a new hobby. But before you act, take a little time to reflect and ask yourself some serious questions:

1. Why did you take the job?
2. Have you ever enjoyed it?
3. Is there anything at all you still like or enjoy?
4. If you left, how would you cope financially and what could you do instead?
5. Is it reasonable to do what you want for a career? (I.e. can you make enough money while living your particular dream?)

Sometimes people feel stuck in their career- especially in the midst of a recession and it’s not always possible to quit and follow some crazy dream. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t think about it. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to find a way to balance out the ‘shoulds’ and the ‘wants’. Maybe you think that’s impossible, but have you really considered the options? We don’t always have to stand still.

It’s reasonable to expect a little rough with your order of smooth but when the rough becomes the main course, not a side, it’s time to rethink!

So what do you want?

I know – we’ve all heard it before. Just because everybody says it doesn’t make it true. But it is true!

Thought you couldn’t pick up a new language? You can! Thought your writing/reading/painting/drawing/maths/science skills were doomed to be terrible? They’re not! Even if you are the worst rugby/tennis/football player ever born, guess what!? You can do better!

If we all set aside a little time and make the commitment we can learn new things and get better at doing stuff. So go and do some stuff!

This time last week I was thinking about being more proactive and worrying about what would happen. I’d been putting the idea of proactivity on hold for months while other events overtook my life. I wanted to get off the bus, I wanted a break and I was scared to seek out new opportunities.

You know what? Last week sucked. This week feels much better.

It’s occurred to me that I basically have two operating speeds. Really fast, and stopped. Yesterday I was flying through chores and getting heaps of praise for my speed and accuracy. Today, well, today is sunny and I feel like a break. I still have work to do but I feel like a break. I think I’ll take a walk.

It’s important to remember, that even with ten twitterfeeds, gazillion blog feeds, copywriting, proofreading and SEO to juggle it may be necessary to have a half hour outdoors. This will give you the fresh air you need to wake up your brain and also give you the opportunity to scream somewhere safely away from colleagues. If you’re in a 9-5 job this may have to be during your lunch break. For lucky freelancers, nip out when the sun is shining!

How do you manage your workflow?