Sometimes a “one-thing to-do list” is the only way to get the (really) Important stuff done

I’ve very nearly finished working on my new book, Sustainable Creativity. It started off as a germ of an idea a very long time ago, probably as far back at 2004 when I first started blogging and drawing, So, it’s been a long time coming.

That’s okay of course, I like the idea of slow germination and gentle growth. I like that over the last year of so I’ve worked on it in manageable chunks of time, writing short essays that have at times cross-pollinated onto this blog or my microMagazine, Getting Your Important Work Done. Now though, it feels like time to just get it into a finished enough form to get it out into the world.

Set aside some uninterrupted time – the “one-thing to-do list”

To do that, I need to set aside some uninterrupted time for working on the book and for looking after myself so I can work on the book. In short, my metaphorical to-do list is only going to have one thing on it, “finish my book.”

When energy is already limited it can feel like a selfish thing to do to channel it in only one direction, to effectively say to everything else (and everybody else), “sorry, but you’ll have to wait.” But that is what I’m going to do and I’d like to suggest just sometimes you do too.

Getting something important finished is a great confidence boost, and often be energising too. More importantly though, not giving yourself the time to get something Really Important done because of other commitments can only in the long run lead to resentment. Resentment will drag your already limited energy down, and certainly won’t help you approach your other commitments with good grace and a warm heart!

Much better then to occasionally take some time when you need to to get something Important done and then return to your more normal routine with a feeling of satisfaction (and no doubt more goodwill).

But remember to take good care of your other needs

What this doesn’t mean is that you should to be working from dawn to dusk, exhausting yourself to get this Important Work finished. That would create the sort of energy overdraft that none of us can’t afford to have. No, all it means is that you’ll going to be taking the energy you usually put into the other commitments in your life and focus it on one Really Important thing until it’s finished. In your non-working time, remember to rest and take very good care of yourself

For me, at the moment, this means working on my book until it’s safely out in the world AND resting, eating good food, taking the odd gentle walk (and drinking tea).

So things may be quiet both here and on Twitter and Facebook for a while. If you’re a real world chum then you might not see much of me for a little while (though please do pop round with tea and cake occasionally!)

So, is there something you’d like to get finished? How about adopting a “one-thing to-do list” until it’s done?

If you could take a moment to help spread the word about Sustainable Creativity via one or two of the links below it would be very much appreciated.