To do or not to do? What to do?

So much has been happening in the recent past and I feel that I haven't been able to keep up with everything. I try to. But I haven't been able to do so. Well, to be honest I m trying to keep up with everything, trying to give my best but there is just one of me and only 24 hours in a day. I feel that I have been taking on too many things on my plate. 
So how do I fix it?

Slowly, very slowly, I am dropping a few things from my plate. 

Step 1: List it.
Make a list of things I have to do and things I am engaged in. 
Step 2: Classification of list.
List down (i) How the group benefits from me present and (ii) How I benefit from the group. While for pending tasks (like writing and sorting through kind): (a)List down deadlines; (b)What is most urgent; (c)What can be done later and the World will not end if I don't do it right now?
Step 3: CRUNCH TIME. 
Making the cuts. Now The tough decision(s) of what to give my time and energy to and what to withdraw from. 
I have been telling myself that my withdrawing from a project or group/organization I am not QUITTING; I am simply making the leadership decision that I can't do everything and others things require more time and effort from me. So, rather then letting the group down entirely I am saying "Sorry guys, I need to step back because right now I can't commit to this". This has been difficult because I feel like I am letting the group/project down. But to be honest sometimes we need to realize that we can't do everything. And things we pop up that will mess up our plans/schedules. 
Step 4: Emotions. 
Don't feel guilty about things you have had to let go from your list. If it was a group you had to withdraw from, write to them nicely and tell them why you are withdrawing and that you would appreciate their understanding. If it is something from your to-do list that you feel you can't do now; strike it out and say bye to it. Think about the other things on your list that you can give more time and effort to now and enjoy that. Somethings on our lists become out-dated because we didn't do at the given time. Don't worry about it. We are not superHuman.  (although I like to think I am). 
Step 5: Time Management
Now that we have redone our list it is time to manage our time wisely and get things moving on this 'new' list. Give yourself time frames for each point and if your pass the time you can't go back to it. This may motivate you to actually do the task at hand and not procrastinate. For example; You have to write a blog article about '16 days of activism' and this needs to go out by 24th Nov because 16 days begins on 25th Nov. If by the evening of the 24th you haven't done this task there is no point doing it two days late when 16 days has actually started. Give yourself a few days before actual events as deadlines and work towards these with passion. If you are lacking the passion then it may be safe to say that it shouldn't be on your list of things to do. 
Step 6: Picking up the slack. 
Once we start to manage our time better we will be getting back on track with things. I for one feel refreshed and happier when I meet deadlines and strike things off the list as DONE! I reward myself with some 'social media' time; with chocolates or cookies and sometimes with a movie treat :-) we are becoming too caught up with gadgets. Being glued to the screens of our televisions; cellphones; tablets or even laptops/desktops are eating away precious time we can spend doing something more constructive. So let's pick up the slack. 
NO MORE!!! I SHOULD do this/that. It has to become I WILL do this/that. 

Let me know how you manage your to-do or DONE list. 
How do you handle the multiple group associations.?
What motivates you to get things done? 

Until next blog...

When your job becomes a task

Enjoy your job:

Many times we get into career paths that were dictated by our elders in the family and other times we consider the possibility of which job is more in demand. Rarely have I come across people who get into the profession that they are passionate about. This got me thinking ...

For many of my friends I find our conversations are going around the same circle; 
"I can't wait to find another job."
'I'm sick and tired of the same ish everyday at my work place."
OR the classic: "Where the weekend at?"
For friends who are loving their job I find the conversation is a little different. They wake every morning eager to get to work. They actually get to work on time or before time and are always talking about how exciting their day was. They are not looking forward to the weekend but living in the moment. In the now.


I am one of those people who has worked numerous job in less then a decade of my employment history. Some of these were short contracts and some were volunteer positions while I was completing my studies. And I have had my share of "Why is it another work day" to "YAY it is another work day". Having experienced both the extremes I noticed I was a happier, healthier and productive staff when I loved my job. The minute my job become a task I become unproductive, I was falling sick more often and I was exactly the 'team spirit' person I usually am. This meant I started looking at other job options. I do understand that for many people it isn't easy to jut drop everything and move to another job but we can start looking for other options that will ensure we are happy, healthy and productive. 

Secondly, I do blame the poor careers classes we may have in our high schools. When we were in high school our careers teachers didn't help us explore our options much. If you were getting good grades in Accounting they 'suggest' (more like push you in) taking the commerce subjects then you go to Uni and become an accountant. In high school I didn't know there was a thing as 'TAX accountant'. I didn't know the possibility of becoming a tutor/lecturer at the University. I didn't know I could be the financial manager of a Non-Government organization (NGO) and I definitely didn't know I could become a researcher in the accounts field. (No I didn't take up accounting in later high school or uni but I was one of the students who teachers tried to push into the commerce class). I have an Accountant friend who has gone off to do her Masters in Community work so she can come back and work with NGO/CSO even if it is in their finance sector but she wishes to make a difference in the lives of people. 
Why don't schools/ families/ community/ society encourage us to become change makers  but rather drill in us that getting a University is utmost important!

With the internet available almost everywhere these days it is easier for us to access information and explore our options of employment opportunities. But it is also important for us to dig a little deeper and find out What it is that we want to do? Where in the community do we want to make a difference? How can we make a difference in the community? Why is it important for us to be an active citizen in our community? It is no longer 'What do you want to be when you grow up?' Instead we need to be asking 'Who do you want to be when you grow up?' And I find that Rumeet Billan explains this so well in her TEDtalk video 


[These are personal opinions on the subject. You may have different experiences and opinion and I do look forward to your comments. Also let me know what you think of Rumeet's video].

Until next blog...