I made a comment on Facebook about getting distracted on social media: “Note to self: I get more done if I stay off social media in the midst of the work day, and just skim it at night.”

And though I know it wasn’t the first time my friend Carolyn had shared that piece of wisdom with me, this time it stuck in my brain—and played on repeat—every time I got distracted:

“FlyLady would tell you to set your timer for 15 minutes. Which is what I do.”

Last year, when I wrote about trying to implement a schedule at our house, my aunt Terri shared the same advice.  She also pointed out why it was so hard for me to abide by it—I’d be the all or nothing type!

If I don’t have a to do list then I am “listless!” I gleaned a lot of my organizing and routines from the website flylady.net. Your mom got me onto that one. What I like from the FlyLady is the concept of baby steps towards goals. Also, she breaks things down into 15 minutes of time. Setting the timer for 15 minutes really helps me to get moving and not to take my sweet time doing things.

Another thing is that some of us are all or nothing types and some of us are little by little types. All or nothing types don’t attempt any project unless all time can be devoted to it—thus it doesn’t get done. Little by little types can peck away at a project and get it done, driving the all or nothings crazy because the project isn’t done yet and it is a mess in the meantime!

Enjoy implementing what you can of your schedule and don’t get too stressed by what is not implemented! Baby steps!

It doesn’t come natural for me.  But I bought myself a second timer so one would always be handy at my desk (no more excuses about having to get up to get the timer!).  And baby step by baby step, I’m remembering to set the timer and take more baby steps.