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As a sequel to the editorial team’s What Works for Us article, here are a few things that our Editor-at-Large would love to share about her own scheduling and work habits:
Alpha Allanigui (COO for New Media and Editor-at-Large):
Productivity is such a big word and busyness is close to spelling it with S-T-R-E-S-S. A lot of us are consumed not just by our jobs or school but also with the demands of our familial and social roles.
As I still am a work in progress, especially in the department of discipline in time and task management, here is a list of what makes me do what I do:
1. Set the non-negotiables on an annual, monthly and weekly basis. Time is the only thing that we can not buy or get back to. If time is gone then, we need to make time with what was gone. Making time for what might be a lost opportunity, is not being hard on oneself. In fact, but it as a way to pivot our way of thinking to gain what was lost. In setting ones non-negotiables or the things you truly need to accomplish is pretty much like a DIY travel plan. It is listing an itinerary but putting a star on the ones you must really visit no matter what happens. We all have a tendency to write down the many places we wish to visit and squeeze it in a day. But in reality, time may not cooperate, so you opt for the ones that is really in your bucket list. If you have to ditch what is in the list, be content that you are you able to put a checkmark on your non-negotiable. It is tagging what is important or urgent and important.
2. Know what is controllable and uncontrollable. As much as we want to be in control and drive ourselves to the dot, there are just some things that is not within our control. Let me ask you, “Have you ever set a vacation for the family and for some reason something unfavorable happened to a family member?” Your plan for a grand bonding moment is now spoiled. The uncontrollable factor may be an accident or an illness. The controllable factor is if you will still go on vacation with one member left behind. Do not cry over things you have no control over. Do something with what you can work on.
3. Plan and be agile. “The failure to plan is planning to fail.” “Whatever can go wrong will go wrong.” Plan, plan, plan -whether it pushes through or not, be it major or minor, and make several plans for various scenarios. When you think of various scenarios then there is room to swivel, halt or stall, or completely stop and do another plan. The world we live in is dynamic and we can’t be wearing horse blinders because we need to scan and scope what is essential to get the job the done.
4. Focus and just do it. I sometimes dislike the word, focus. But it is inevitable to not focus because it is when we are really focused that we get to do the right things. When my mind is wandering to neverland and other more fun distraction, I pause for awhile and think of why I am doing something and for whom.
More often than not, when I think of other people benefiting from what I am doing, then, I can’t help but just do it.
5. Review and reward. Remember in prep school, when you get a star stamp and you go home to show it off to your mom and dad? And then, they will ask, “What did you do to get that star? “.
As a kid, I remember narrating the scene and the conversation in school with such gusto when things are to my favor.
Now, as an adult, I do not expect a star or a letter from the teacher or the boss or colleague. So, as a practice, at the end of day or after an important task, I tend to do a review of what transpired . More often than not, I find myself saying, “I should have” or “I could have”. But if I sulk with the thought of “what if” then that is such a let down and wallowing is not a pleasant thing to do.
Instead, I keep tab of how I can make things better. So part of the review and moving forward with fervor, is that I take a look at mini-triumphs.I do it by writing down my daily accomplishments instead of to-dos. My thinking behind this is that when I think of accomplishing things instead of the long “list of to-do” then, there is space for breathing, for reflection and for reward.
Rewarding oneself does not have to be extravagant. A reward can be as simple as taking longer shower time or dining with the family or longer quiet time. A reward can mean a simple prayer of thanksgiving for making me survive the day and that I look forward to tomorrow.
After all, productivity is not just about doing the task but doing it well. When all else fail, I ask, “ Who are you doing it for?”
Personal Favorites:
Mobile Phone – Google calendar, Notes, Phone Alarm, and Waze to plan a drive. I also have several notebooks but I prefer the unruled ones. And my default would be talking to the person or people involved in a task I need to do and ask them to remind me so I am accountable.
Alpha Gracias C. Allanigui describes herself as “a learner and lover of life, a marketing strategist by profession with a creative heart and a philosophical mind, an extroverted introvert, the queen mother of two young men, a sister to sibs and friends, a daughter to a couple of spritely individuals, and a proud child of God.”
