Hi! I'm a drawing of Catherine. She does most of the writing here, including this blurb. (Does this count as writing in the third person?) Catherine believes that websites don't really run on technology, they run on emotions. If you agree, then she wants to help you rock it out and be awesome online.1. Choose one of the boring, pedestrian tasks you perform every day.
2. Do it gloriously well.
- Instead of a “Thanks Pete” response on an email, reply with something thoughtful and useful.
- Include a personalised note with the package you’re sending out.
- Find an article you like and write a good recommendation.
- Take the time to write a great comment.
- Make sure everything fits just so.
- Tidy up after yourself.
- Review your writing and make sure it’s as clear as possible.
- Call instead of emailing and be extra pleasant.
- Take the extra few minutes to polish and refine.
3. Don’t ask for recognition. Just enjoy the feeling of a job well done.
What task are you going to over-perform on today? Tell us in the comments!
Tidy up after yourself.
Insert hysterical laughter here. What is this 'tidying up' of which you speak?
Seriously though, I've spent the last three days doing 'five minute missions' on the pile of letters, forms and junk mail etc in my post box and I've nearly cleared it. What felt like an utterly overwhelming task has actually been pretty easy because I did it in small chunks.
Hot tip: physical boxes to sort the family post into seemed like such a good idea but actually they only work if EVERYONE empties them out now and again!
Fantastic work! What a great way to turn a large and horrifying argh job into a whole lot of heck-I-can-do-this-for-five-minutes chunks!
What's your strategy for making sure you're not the only one removing mail from the box next time?
“Fantastic work! What a great way to turn a large and horrifying argh job into a whole lot of heck-I-can-do-this-for-five-minutes chunks!”
Thank you. Because I've got CFS/ME, it's often the only way I get anything done. It doesn't stop the 'I must do this all at once' feelings but actually, it IS a good general strategy for getting things done. That's one reason I like your site so much – the things you propose feel doable to me.
“What's your strategy for making sure you're not the only one removing mail from the box next time?”
Erhm, let me get back to you on that one! This was just my own personal mail, so it was my responsibility but the household one is also overflowing and I see little sign of anyone else noticing or caring. Filing remains a bit of an ongoing issue in our house.