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Do you know you have 101 things you should be doing? Do you have trouble getting up and getting started, Do you even know where to start?
A whole list of things that I should be doing buzzing around in my head, I never felt like I was at peace, even when I was resting I still had the mental buzzing that I should be out doing something.
I used to have this problem all the time, things that needed to be done. Things that I should do. And things that would be amazing if I could do them.
Not anymore (well I still have the last problem)...
Years ago I was really bad, I had a heap of things I had to do and a ton of things that I would like to do. Then there were the things that would be amazing if I did them.
Since I was so far behind I got apathetic, I did not know where to start or how to go about it. On top of it all I did not want to do anything except the things I found enjoyable (gym, reading, working on my veteran car, meeting with friends).
In fact looking back now I would call myself lazy - and with good reason.
The only things I ever did manage to do where the first list - the things I HAD to do, going to work, paying bills, anything that would urgently impact on my life - and even these I left until the last day, and usually the last hour, when they absolutely had to be done no matter what. I felt like I was under continual stress... and I was.
I was a hopeless case. I remember one time my Boss pulled me aside and said "If you spent as much effort working as you did chasing girls you'd be rich." Now there was some advice I should have taken, unfortunately giving up my biggest vice was not on the cards at that time (or for a long time after)
I changed my lazy ways after I read the Book "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" by Steven Covey. I cannot remember what the book ssaid now but this is how I remember that I organised myself - and more importantly this is how I do it today.
Get a piece of paper draw three columns, like this:
Things I Have To Do Things I Should To Do Amazing Things
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Now start writing down everything going through your mind, sit there for a good half hour and write down everything that comes to mind.
This list should be a breakdown of your goals, what can you do on a daily or weekly basis to help attain your goals or dreams? Make everything you do head in this direction, stop wasting your life on unimportant things.
I even use reasoning like this to plan my off time. If I have off time is it laying about the pool getting a tan (to look good for the movie), is it shooting the breeze with a friend, quality time with my girlfriend, or just lazing about in bed all day with a good book?
For me this week my list looks like this;
Things I Have To Do
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*Gym - 3 times (4 if I want to do arms seperate)
*Work On set 5th, 10th, 11th
*Collect Pay (see about visa allowance)
*Meet With John - work on ebook (try to get 1st edit finished)
*Register domain names and upload new websites *5 (decide html or blog)
*Check out apartments in Washington Square (direct line for ADSL available? Furnished? Lease?)
*Ring Nu,ask about shoot days for Hannuman - negotiate pay, ask about Powerkids - when in cinema?
*Take girlfriend out to dinner or somewhere nice at least 1 night
*Finish the book I am reading
Things I Should Do
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*Call Victor, meet up with him for drinks (apple juice for me) at Koi
*Info from Anthony about taking Kai to Pattaya for a weekend party together
*Peter - want content written for his domains?
*Stef - Thaitaynium music video finished yet?
*Andy - just for catch up and talk about google money with websites
*Update ConanStevens.com as much as possible before the next Google PR update (about 6 weeks away)
*Find out when Bodyguard 2 is released in Cinema (go see it)
*Red - when is the gimp mask photo set going to be published & when payment?
*Modelink - stop in for them to take some updated photos of me
*Call all my model agency contacts and let them know I am still in Thaliand and looking for work
*See Marc before he goes back to Switzerland
*Ring Raine, have a chat, explain about Ice coughing up blood from the crap mats
*Chase up Baa Ram Ewe about paying me to train there
*Check websites for acting jobs in Asia
*Flesh out the fantasy movie script - write another 18 pages to finish the first edit
Amazing Things
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*Ring HBO find out the production company for a Song Of Fire And Ice. Call the production company, find out the casting company then contact them
*Call Warner Brothers find out Production company for the Conan franchise and Marvel Comics Thor, then as above
*Fly up to Chang Mai and just happen to hang out on set at Rambo IV
*Go to the Thai film board office and find out if it is possible to get a list of all the productions coming to Thailand and which local company they are working with
As you can see now I have a list of stuff to do in some order of importance. The best part I find about writing them down is that they are no longer buzzing around in my head constantly worrying me and playing on my mind. I know theat they are safe and I won't forget to do them, my mind can have peace - or focus on the present moment and solving problems rather than worrying about them.
The Amazing Things are the things that have the greatest potential impact on my life - yet these are the ones everyone - myself included tends to skip over. They are too hard, or any other excuse. Looks like I have been lazy again. Better add to the list head over to Peter's place so I can use his Ja Ja account to call the US for very cheap as I expect extended delays.
Next are the things I have to do. My daily and maintenance things like the working and going to the gym, personal relationship involvement, things that keep me headed in the right direction and improving on a daily basis.
So when do I start? Well why not now? Well in fact I am working on a thing that I'd like to do as I write this, then I am going to the gym (a thing I have to do) later tonight, then I will read some more of my book.
I know what I have to do, I know what is important. It is just a matter of picking something on the list and doing it. OK, to be honest on a lazy day I might pick one or two of the things on my Things I Should Do list, probab;y the social ones, and I do them. At least I am still moving forward.
So what are you doing right now? What jobs or responsibilities are playing on your persoanl peace of mind? Write them down and get started. Just do an easy one today, then tomorrow get an important one out of the way.
I tell you what - it feels good to be on top of things, rather than feeling snowed under all the time.
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