Digging Out

It is amazing how often and how quickly my life spins out of control. Before you make any assumptions about that statement, let me place a few modifiers on the term "out of control." First, let's eliminate any associations related to drugs, alcohol or illegal behavior, and, except for the occasional food binge, basic self control is still operational.

So, what is chaotic and out of control relates to tasks, memory, organizational skills, executive function and the like. Things begin to pile up and I am terrible at prioritizing, so I end up spending tons of time on things that happen to catch my attention, but at any moment, I can get side tracked into one or more other undertakings. Often, I can't remember if or how much I have done. As time passes, disorganization and clutter mount until there is complete loss of control and I am buried.

I am now trying to dig out from just such a condition. I spent untold hours getting organized on my computer, iPhone and planner, however somehow completely forgot that there were a number of things I had promised folks (including me) I would do, which, of course have not been taken care of. For example, I was to call Michael Sunday evening - I just found the note. I stopped and pondered why I was to call him. Finally, I remembered that it was because I had not called him as promised back in June! I must stop making promises!! Or find a better way to track them. I have an iPhone, I can make the note right away and always have it. 

I feel better already.

Also, today I realized that I am supposed to go to the gym every day. I stopped going when we went on our recent trip and it somehow never entered my mind to resume my daily workout. I'm going back in the morning. I made a note in iCal (my Mac planner) which will sync with the iPhone and I also wrote it in my low tech, paper planner. The iPhone which I wear all day, rings to remind me to check my planner, which is stored right there in the phone itself. Ingenious!

I am not naive enough to believe this system will solve all my problems with spinning out of control, but it has at least made me feel like I am actually digging out and regaining control so that I can better focus on what is truly important in life.

And my day was like this...
14:33 After Bible class, we lunched at Doughmonde. Very good! Now, it's back to work...
18:36 Catching up on personal & financial paperwork. Computers were supposed to simplify work, instead folks just set higher work load goals.