Comments on: Get ‘er Done!

By: Time Management « Get Out of Debt, Girl!

Time Management « Get Out of Debt, Girl! — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 03:03:39 +0000

[...] reading a great post by Gail Vaz Oxlade, I took her advice. Of my long list of things to do, I grabbed my pink [...]

By: CanadianDebtGirl

CanadianDebtGirl — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 02:48:22 +0000

Gail, this is great advice. I did it today and got so much accomplished. I am forever creating lists, but sometimes they do get overwhelming and I can’t focus. This is an easy visual way to prioritize my tasks for the day. Thank you!

By: Melaniesd

Melaniesd — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 01:25:35 +0000

I like my lists and I tend to take on way to much all the time, but I thrive on being busy. I hate sitting still.
Making time for me is such a challenge. I just recently switched to full time, and now work days, where I did work until 10pm. It’s been an adjustment to get use to my new hours and figure out a household routine. When I get home from work my 3 yr old wants my undevided attention, which is only fair.
Now I’m trying to find a balance for exercise. I need to workout and I want to workout. I’m trying really hard to learn to be a morning exerciser! Wish me luck! It needs to become a ‘MUST DO’ on my list.
~Speaking of must do – I better get to bed so I can exercise in the morning! lol!

By: Cheapado

Cheapado — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 23:55:47 +0000

Type A OCD’er here.
There is a quote, the author unknown to me, but it goes something like…

Those who say it can’t be done, are usually standing in the way of somebody doing it.

And my favorite,
If you want something done, give it to a busy person.

I get highly frustrated with people who cannot just do it! ( Nike my cheque can be mailed to….)
Stop whining. Stop making excuses. Stop planning and execute.
Deciding to do something is always harder than actually doing it!

Your show proves that in spades.

By: Andrea

Andrea — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:38:47 +0000

Thank you, Gail. This is EXACTLY what I need to hear today! : )

By: Cathy

Cathy — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:08:59 +0000

Nice post Gail!! We need to be reminded that how we use our time is one of the most important things and is the foundation of our future. I’m an admin assistant and I found that although work was organized, my life wasn’t because I felt like I was at work all the time if I continued to organize at home too. Alas, I got over that, (my life is much happier for it) and I also found a website called http://www.flylady.net. The list of “Things to Do” will never go away, but there’s always another way to approach it, get things done and make your life look like you want it to.

By: Colleen

Colleen — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:23:59 +0000

Another good post, Gail.

I have been a list maker for years. I’ve often been teased about it, but hey, nothing gets missed. Like Geeta, I just move it to the next week.

I only have my ‘off’ days to get things done. My job’s hours fluctuate from day to day, and since I never know when I’ll be done, and since it’s late when I’m done, my weekends are busy.

I know what I can reasonably get done, the rest just has to wait. Most often, it is the cleaning that has to wait. My mom used to clean every saturday. I only do it about every 3 weeks. Sorry Mom.

I can see where your friend Judy gets frustrated. Older ‘kids’ not making time for their even older parents. I see it a lot. So many people say they don’t have time. You need to make the time. And that is not just between parents and children. It is between family members, and friends, too.

By: Geeta

Geeta — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:53:09 +0000

Great post, Gail. I too make a list (weekly) and then strike out as I go along. Some weeks I don’t get thru all the chores/jobs and they r the first ones on the next week under the heading “Urgent” coz even if there is something u don’t enjoy doing &/or want to, it just sticks in yr throat every time u look at the list. So get the unpleasant job done n over with – just like eating the frog, so the rest of the day/week is productive.

By: Doreen

Doreen — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:47:32 +0000

Very good points Gail. Years ago, after my second child was born, I realized my body looked like a wet dish rag. So I started a fitness program – which I’m pleased to say I continue to this day (15 yrs later). BUT – the only way I sustain my exercise routine is to get up half an hour earlier than I used to, roll out the matt, strap on the weights and do my routine first thing in the morning (Mondays to Friday). I get that endorphine high and flat abs through this discipine. Plus I feel like I’ve already accomplished something important to me each week day.

By: Julie

Julie — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:34:28 +0000

Lovely post Gail. There’s a couple great quotes below of Mark Twain’s about ‘eating your frog’ – i.e. doing the tough thing you don’t want to do – first thing in your day. I’ve found it a helpful concept.

- “If you eat a frog first thing in the morning, the rest of your day will be wonderful.”
- “If you have to eat a frog, don’t look at it for too long.”

By: Jessie

Jessie — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:15:03 +0000

Great post Gail! Thanks for reminded us that figuring out priorities doesn’t just have to be about money – it’s about life too.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:43:25 +0000

My alone time is on Sunday. After coming home from church, I sit my self down and go through my list of things to do for the day, and for the week.

I figure my goals will not get achieved if I don’t plan the steps. So while I do some cooking and laundry, I try figuring out other things I need to do to get to my goals. I see what I did the week before and assess if everything has been done…if not they move forward to this week’s “to do”s.

Everyone knows not to call, come over or ask me out on Sundays. It has become a habit for me and it’s working great.

By: Kate

Kate — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:31:52 +0000

I’m like you, Gail (I suppose many of us are)- I plan too many things in a day, and wind up short. Or my job hijacks my day or week and I wind up pushing grocery shopping back until I get off work at 11 pm [nature of the beast].

I’ve gotten better at saying “no”, and at enlisting my hubby to help me out- just last Thursday, he bailed me out of another potential pitfall-laden weekend by reminding me “hey, we already have three things scheduled for this weekend. Let’s consider ourselves booked, k?”

Unfortunately, I haven’t yet figured on a system for spreading those “no”s around- the same people or activities seem to get the short shift. It’s not necessarily on purpose, or because I don’t like spending time with those people, but you say “no” enough times, suddenly you realize it’s six months later and you feel too guilty to actually set things up again.

Suggestions for wrangling this particular beast are welcome!