(This post is part of a #500WordsaDay writing challenge – #my500words. Please forgive any grammar issues or run-on sentences. Editing isn’t a part of the challenge!)
I’m two days late in writing this, which seems to be the norm lately. So many friends have been posting their 2017 overviews for weeks. But not me! I’ve been avoiding. And then overthinking. Which is followed by overediting. Or worse, and more likely the case, into writing then distracted and never finishing the thought.
It’s a little maddening.
A dog needs to go out. Facebook notifies me of something extremely important that my friends ate for lunch. Things need to be proofread. The news has a special alert. My husband offers up the idea of a marathon of a new Netflix series to binge. I walk in the kitchen and realize that I forgot to pull something out of the freezer to make for dinner.
It’s always something.
So I intended to write a wrap up of 2017 today – and I still may. But I think first I need to consider just how many distractions keep me from doing my work well. From getting to the gym. From deep conversations. From connecting with my family.
Can you relate?
So I’m considering this morning how to minimize those distractions. How to make being more focused and less scattered a part of my new years plans.
I need to note that I love being scattered. I really do. Having a multitude of tabs open on my computer essentially is a portrait of my brain. I multi-task. I don’t sit still. I am always thinking of the amazing fun thing that I could be doing instead of the task at hand.
But what if in 2018 this changed. I turned off the ringer and notifications on my phone. I found a place to work where I could close the door, or at least turn my back to anything that kept me from truly working hard and giving my brain and my soul to a project.
Over the holiday I read this scripture at some point – Colossians 3:23 and 24 – “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
All my work as unto the Lord? Do I ever do that? And what is my work? Does that include housekeeping? Walking our dogs? My house and dogs have been entrusted to me – and I admit that I am exceptionally good at being half-assed in my home responsibilities.
And then my occupation. When a new client is interesting, then know that I am all in when working on setting up and launching a project. But my personality leans into starting something. Not finishing it. So my natural tendency is to get a bit sloppy toward the end of a project, not completing reports, or being as good about communication.
Funny. I know that God made us all different and our personalities are unique and special and so much fun to study. What makes people tick lights me up!
But I don’t see anywhere in scripture someone getting a pass because they are an ENFP or INTJ. Or an Enneagram 4. Or a Sanguine. Just because ending things is hard for me, I don’t get a pass. I have to run the race to win – not start. Do my work at my best from start to finish. This may be a longer blog at some point.
Regardless – today I want to pinpoint distractions. See where my focus moves from what’s important to what is temporary and try to minimize those in my day. I can’t wait to see how this may change my 2018.
And maybe it will help me decide what my “One Word” or year-long focus is for 2018…by the middle of January.
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