Lori – I wondered how things went for you – but you know how I don’t like to nag! : ) Thank you for checking in! And YAY for your discoveries!

On your wandering away – my theory is that the creative process is 80% space and 20% production. We do need to ponder, chew, ruminate and dream before the *stuff* happens. Not good or bad – it just is.

Thanks for playing! I’m so glad it was helpful! If you happened to blog about it, please post the link!

Sherri – Yup yup. I may end up making actual time goals for FB and Twitter so I don’t have to chastise the time I am on – and I also have permission to be there and jump in without distraction.

I probably ought to write a post about this, because I think sometimes our “overuse” of tools like these means they’re serving another purpose besides the face-value one… Hmm. (thinking) I better go write that one down. : )

I found a very interesting pattern in that every time I start to write something that requires a little thought, I open the (e-mail, web, Word, whatever) window, write a sentence or two, then get up and wander off while I think about how to proceed. Not sure what to do with that info, but there it is.

And I spend waaaaaaaaay too much time composing perfect replies to e-mails that really don’t need to be so perfect. I need to just keep ‘em short and sweet and move on.

I do check e-mail and social media probably more often than most, but I seem to be pretty good about scanning for anything that needs action and leaving the rest to deal with later.

Thanks for letting me play along!
Lori Paximadis´s last blog ..tidbits: avalanche edition

Meredith! Wow! How cool! What a great example of making a tweak that really helps you. And better boundaries while you’re at it. Go you!

Allison – Ooo. Shiiiiny! : )

Crispy – Wow. That is awesome. What a fantastic discovery. I’m not that clear, but it’s where I’m headed. (Keep meaning to mention that I want to interview you sometime!)

I finally figured out that if it’s morning, and I can’t focus on one thing, I should write.

If it’s midday, and I can’t focus, I should talk to people. Preferably face-to-face or on the phone.

And if it’s late in the day, and I can’t focus, it’s probably time to do some intense problem-solving because I’m really awake then.

It’s a rhythm thing. Gotta go where it goes.

And cats can’t type… so they make terrible assistants.

I tried something new this week:

Usually, I work in “tabs” in Firefox. So, I’ll open a few tabs related to my regular work, but also have my blog and my personal Twitter page open in two other tabs.

I’d be working away at my day job, but my eye would gravitate to the other tabs and I’d just have to check in with them. That would take 5 minutes, but, more than that, break my mental flow.

So, this week, I kept one window open with tabs that were solely related to my day job. I kept the other stuff in tabs in another window that I visited just twice, once before lunch, once before quitting for the day.

Overall, I was much more focused and productive. I think I’ll keep at this new system.
Meredith from Penelope Loves Lists´s last blog ..Get ready for tax time: I wish this were fun

And a big Me, Too regarding the cats. They are certainly NOT productivity allies – but while having them try to walk on the keyboard is no fun, and typing with a 19-pound cat on your lap is a challenge, having them curl up and sleep in the office, keeping me company, is very nice indeed.
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