Productivity: 9am Status Update
January 28, 2008 by Greg
For the past week I’ve been keeping a video diary. Every morning I turn on my computer, open my webcam software, and record about 2 minutes of myself entailing my plans for the day and reflect upon yesterdays experiences. It’s been helpful in identifying patterns in my life that need improvement, but the most help came when I decided the pattern that needed adjusting was the video recording itself.
Instead of the usual ramblings, I am now recording a status update each morning promptly at 9am. Consider it a self policing status meeting. Diverting the focus from what I want to do, I’m now recording what I actually did get done, and in a very limited scope.
While 9am is essentially the start of my day, I rise regularly at 6:30am. That’s two and a half hours of what is arguably the most useful time of the day. Usually I mull about reading news, exercising, cooking breakfast, and not really digging in till much before 8:30am.
This morning was different. With the 9am video entry on my mind, I got on it to get as much done as possible. For a welcome change, I had a whole slew of activities to report.
- Read 3 chapters in new workout book
- Worked out
- Showered and shaved my head
- Called a friend
- Checked my ebay items
- Checked my personal email
- Unsubscribed from a few promotional lists
- Planned my food for the week
- Made a grocery list
- Reviewed my banking
- Paid a bill
- Reviewed my work email
- Made and prioritized a todo list
- Updated the settings on my video camera compression
What did you get done this morning?
Now, that’s an idea I could use. Imagine my daughter watching me list the things I WILL get accomplished today, and then I don’t. How motivational would that be? I should also set up a regular video camera documenting the things I do, so when she gets home and sneers ’so exactly WHAT did you do today, besides watch soaps…(how unfair is that anyway, given I NEVER watch those things)…I can pop the disc into the player and make her watch!! She thinks because I work from home I sit around and watch TV and eat bon-bons all day. Never mind how the bills get paid!! However, the initial webcam ‘planner’ could help me keep on track every day, no excuses.
Caroline; someday your daughter will thank you for being able to spend more time with you. I was grateful to have a work at home mom growing up myself.
Greg; why am I certain there is plenty of winking and blown kisses to the camera on these videos?