My experiment rearranging my schedule to manage the B.S. (Backlogged Stuff) sputtered out like a dud bottle rocket that doesn’t go as high as the trees. I chose a week where the second half was overloaded with things that only come up monthly and usually on different weeks. But my idea sounded like so much fun I’m trying it again.

I actually did plow into the pile of B.S. head on early in the week. I sorted the filing cabinet into files I can toss away, files I need to store but not in the cabinet, and files to keep there. I printed labels and created 2009 files for the monthly expense accounts I pay. I’d been stuffing them in 2008 files or piling them in the in-box on top of the cabinet.

That was the pattern I established – sorting, arranging, and reorganizing – but I didn’t get much further than the file cabinet. The rest I did was random, little bits in the home office and some areas of our home. I figured out that when you deal with B.S. in big steamy piles you notice progress. But when you only scoop up a little here and a little there you hardly notice.

By mid-week I was frustrated with my poor progress and reported that to my coaching group. I resolved to use more focus to stay on task and keep track of what I was doing. Then I got completely off schedule to mow the yard since it had finally been dry for over a day and the forecast was calling for rain.

That evening I talked with my individual coach and said I wasn’t getting much progress on the B.S. because I keep doing the less important but urgent things. She recommended I keep track of all the family related chores and tasks I’m doing during the day in between scheduled work tasks.

I did that a little bit Thursday, but I was gone from late morning through most of the rest of the day for volunteer work and an appointment. I started again Friday but I had a similar schedule. Sounds like a big hint, right? Maybe I need to look closely at my volunteer time and how it fills in chunks of my schedule.

But I need to stick with tracking the family related chores first. I told my coach I already know what I’m going to figure out. (She strongly encouraged me to experience the schedule instead of jumping to conclusions, so I’ll track the schedule this coming week to get the facts to build my landing pad.)

I think I’m going to figure out that I need better separation between work duties and home duties. Working from home, I schedule my morning and wind up fitting in chores and getting distracted by phone calls and animals. Just walking to the kitchen to get my second cup of coffee can get me distracted for half an hour.

I’m never fully at work and I’m never fully at home. When I take my son to soccer or Tae Kwon Do I have my work binder to sketch ideas, work on my schedule, or read things. When I’m working I’m in the spare bedroom turned office, which is the catch-all room for our house, so it reminds me of unpacked and unsorted boxes as long as I’m in there.

I’m going to track my family tasks during the day and report to my coach. And at the same time I’m going to try setting aside time for work where I can leave the house and go somewhere quiet, or maybe sit outside for a stretch of time.

I’m guessing work will get more focused and organized and family life will stay overscheduled and cluttered. That’s the way it was when I had an office to work from. Besides, neat and predictable are nowhere in the job description of parent or family manager!

Our older son graduates at the end of the month. We’ll be in an extra strong whirlwind until then, I’m guessing. Sounds like a great reason to try carving out some time and space for my business away from the chaos.

May You Know the Joy of Sharing Your Gifts,

Steve Coxsey
Authentic Life Work & Self-Employment Coach