Progress, not Perfection

Not so much.

Perfection is overrated. Perfection is a form of pride. The only perfect person was Jesus, and His grace provides for us because our performance will never measure up. So lighten up on yourself!

Here are some dangers of perfectionism in your home:

You'll have a hard time delegating. You'll have a specific way to do things in mind and can't trust others to "do it right."

Your home atmosphere may look great but feel tense. It's very hard for people to enjoy themselves when someone is constantly cleaning behind them, or expecting them to be perfectly neat.

You'll fear making mistakes. Even if you get your house to look perfect, you'll walk on eggshells (not literally, since you'd never leave them on the floor) trying to keep it that way. You'll always be fearing the thing that will ruin the perfect image.

You'll wear yourself out. Things always decay, thus you can't rest long with a perfect house. Trying to keep it that way will wear you out physically, mentally and emotionally.

So, instead of seeking perfection, aim for progress. Progress means you are moving in a positive direction, and making improvements regularly. Perfect? Not so much. Progress? Realistic and attainable.

Why I Use the Outlook Task List (Most of the Time)

I'm on Outlook a lot. It makes sense to use a system that you are in front of frequently. If you sit at a desk or in front of a mobile computing device as much as I do, using it to manage tasks is logical. For you, using a steno pad for an ongoing list, or a small portable notebook may be best. The key is to use something with which you are already comfortable.

I can easily create a task out of an email. Since I utilize email a lot, it is helpful when I can drag an email into a task and create a deadline for it. This not only puts it into my task pipeline, it removes it from my in-box (I like to keep my email inbox at zero!)

I do a lot of recurring tasks. I love how Outlook lets me set a pattern for repeating tasks. I'd say that about 3/4 of my tasks repeat regularly (weekly, monthly) By setting up a pattern, I know the reminder will show up again the next week (or after the programmed period of time.)

I can include details. The notes field allow plenty of space to put notes, links to the websites I'll need to use for that task, etc.

I can look ahead. When I know I have an event or other plans that will keep me away from my desk on a certain day, I can look ahead to that day and either do that day's tasks (working ahead) or discard or reschedule them. That way, when that busy day comes, its task list is already empty (or nearly so!)

I mentioned that I use Outlook "most of the time." I keep tasks related to one part-time workplace on that desktop. I keep tasks related to home and home business on the desktop at home.

For the remaining 10-20%, of the time, I use two apps on my Droid. Taskos allows me to make a list of things I need to do in the "third space" of errand running (primarily.) This also syncs with Google tasks if I happen to want a copy "in the cloud."

Bug Me Lite is a little post it note app that allows me to make a quick note in handwriting using my finger. It's not great for long tasks with details, but if I can scribble something that I'll remember, it works fine. I set a custom alarm for the note to pop up on my phone when I am at a place where I can complete the task (such as at my desk at home or my job.)

I also sometimes use VocaNote, which allows me to record an audio message that is translated to text and sent to my email box. This is good for thinking of something on the go that I want to do or remember later.

What have you found helpful for keeping track of your tasks?

Bumper Pads for Adults

Today's practical tip is nothing new, if you've read or heard other time management material. Sometimes referred to as adding a cushion or margin to your day, let's think of it today's tip as "bumper pads."

When someone welcomes a new baby to the home, they often set up a lovely nursery. One of the components is a crib that is lined with soft, pillow like material called bumper pads. This is meant to protect the baby from getting caught in the rails of the crib, and provide a soft barrier from the hardness of the wood.

We need bumper pads in our lives, too. To manage time well and stay organized, you need to strategically place bumper pads in your day, that will absorb the inevitable interruptions and distractions that can hit the day hard. Here are some practical ways you can add bumper pads to your day:

Add at least 10 minutes to any drive time/commuting you expect to do (more, depending on where you live.) This will help with traffic jams, detours, etc. If you live 30 minutes away from most places you need to go, plan for a 40 minute drive.

• Cut your to-do list by at least 25% after you write it out for the day. Put the lesser-priority  list in a different spot that you can go to if you happen to have an extremely productive day and want to do more. 
• Overestimate how long a task will take. If it usually takes you 15 minutes to fold laundry, allow for 20 to 30.
• Expect, and plan for, interruptions. I'll write more about techniques for this at another time, but watch for "pattern interruptions" such as visits, phone calls, coworker chats, and the like that tend to happen frequently, and determine a plan to avoid them from throwing your entire day off track.

Speaking of patterns, do you see one here? It comes down to "expect less." We expect way too much of ourselves in terms of what we can get done in a day. It is not healthy to continue to have such demands on our minds and souls. Prayerfully consider what are realistic expectations for the day, keeping your relationship with God as highest priority. He will guide you if you ask for wisdom. (James 1:5)