Survey #289—Full Response from Katherine
| Pronouns | She/her |
|---|---|
| Describe a day on which you were busy, but you still felt as if you didn’t accomplish what mattered most. | I got up with an hour to spare for breakfast (and feeding the cat and getting dressed) before I was scheduled to begin work (telecommute). I sat down at the computer ten minutes behind schedule and spent most of the first hour checking news and emptying my work AND personal email boxes (taking the messages in order and following up all the links that came in them, finishing each in full before moving to the next). Started first official work assignment on the day’s list, which was expected to take 2-3 hours. Was interrupted halfway in by a call from my mother’s nurse, requesting medical clarification. Answered politely while inwardly fuming at the interruption. Returned to work assignment. Was interrupted several more times by the “ding” of new emails and texts, mostly unimportant, some of them group texts that didn’t even have anything to do with me. Grew increasingly resentful and anxious, checking the clock constantly and fretting over the still-in-progress assignment. Cat pestered me for personal attention, getting increasingly in my face (sometimes literally). I chased her out of the room and closed the door, feeling angry and guilty at the same time. Took a break before lunch for my favorite game show. Rebuffed cat’s attempt to sit on my lap because I was running to the work room during every commercial break to get just a little more done. Rushed through lunch with one ear on the phone for additional email alerts. Went back to work, finally finished assignment after another two hours. Mom called midway to ask if I wasn’t picking her up for an appointment this afternoon. I reminded her through gritted teeth that the appointment was TOMORROW. Sent in work assignment, feeling it wasn’t everything it could have been and that, though no one else would know the difference, I hadn’t done a thing in years to further develop my natural skills. Decided I deserved a break to play a computer game “and while I’m at it, I haven’t played THIS game in a while or THIS one… and I’d better add a few more to make it an even 10.” Hurried through them too. It still took another hour. Had another, shorter assignment to complete. The cat was begging for attention again: threw a toy and extra food at her to buy peace and quiet. Felt guilty again because she looked chubby from overfeeding. Finished short assignment an hour after official work time. Turned off work computer and threw dinner together from the refrigerator and cupboards. Watched one more game show, multitasking with a crossword puzzle and feeling bad that I wasn’t doing three puzzles a day anymore. Ran out to “get some exercise” with an evening walk. Hurried through that too, now racing the sunset. Got home, hurried through “tidy up” chores, including emptying the cat’s litter box. Yelled at her for getting in my way and trying to follow me out to the trash can. Showered, shut the cat in the kitchen for the night, remembered I hadn’t touched my reading list today. Hurried through a few pages before collapsing into bed fifteen minutes later than intended. Took over an hour to fall asleep, feeling like a failure as an employee, daughter, pet parent, time manager, and human being. An all-too-typical day in my life now. |
| What challenges keep you from getting things done? | Interruptions. Bad habit of getting small things “out of the way” before starting big (read: overwhelming-looking) tasks. Emotional pull of “manageable/controllable/finishable” items, whether or not they’re important or even necessary. |
| Describe a project on which you struggled to start—or to finish. | Forming a caretaker team for my mother. Getting back to freelance writing. (I get paralyzed with indecision, especially on projects that require selling others on getting involved.) |
| What tools for managing your activities (calendar, task manager, etc.) are the most or least helpful to you? | Mostly I just use the iOS Calendar app. Though I’d love to find an AI organizer where I can input my work style and priorities, and get a more or less complete recommended schedule. |
| Please complete the following statement: “I never seem to have enough time for _____.” | Pleasure reading (which actually dominated my daily schedule for years). Writing blog posts/poetry. Special events. Professional development. Just BEING with people (or pets or my own self). |
| Our guest for the January 13 webcast is Karen Baker, a productivity consultant and professional organizer. What question would you like us to ask Karen during the live webcast? | How do I avoid relapse into old habits? (If you say “human accountability,” the follow-up question is: How do I find effective accountability when I have zero experience in making persuasive requests, and have lived my whole life going back to the same few people for whatever I need or want?) |
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