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- I actually plan out my life almost obsessively... but I am often late to things.
- I consistently lose things around my house or desk. (Phone, keys, glasses etc...)
- I have the ability to be very high-achieving with my tasks, but the pressure (or even the anticipation of the pressure) of being that hyper-focused on something makes me feel physically ill sometimes.
- My brain feels like it has 200+ tabs open, all the time. I am often distracted by random, irrelevant thoughts. I don't actually have a ton of control over that.
- I am very impulsive, often without really understanding why.
- I am a perfectionist with a brain that makes it very hard to be perfect at anything. It's like living in a constant state of frustration.
1. Redundancy sparks remembering.
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If someone tells me something and I don't write it down, there's a strong likelihood that I won't remember it. If it's something that I actually need to get done and I only wrote it down in one place, the likelihood is that it might not get done. Why? Because I will get distracted by something else and I will forget to do it. I will eventually remember (probably) but there is no guarantee on the time frame.
For example: My kid has a special class orientation. The teacher tells me verbally after class and hands me a flyer. That should be enough, right? Nope. If I do not immediately go put that into my Google Calendar and then write it in my paper calendar, there is a very real chance that I will not remember that this appointment is happening. Redundancy is the name of the game.
2. Give the stuff you need a permanent home.
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It's 19:15 hours and I have lost my keys approximately four times today. I have lost my phone three times. Why? Because I got distracted by everything around me and didn't put them in the designated landing spot. I am a bit of a free spirit—I crave routine and yet resent it at the same time. I am a complicated person. :-D Giving the stuff I need to function as a person, both at home and at work, a permanent "landing place" has quite literally saved me SO MANY HOURS OF FRANTIC FRUSTRATION. It's super simple. I have a decorative bowl near my entry way. My keys always, always go there. Not in my bag, not on the counter, not on the coffee table... they go in the bowl. Always. My phone, when not semi-attached to my hand goes on my end table next to the charger while at home and on the cradle while at work. Always.Important papers for work projects? They always get a folder and the folder has a specific location on my desk. It's a super simple way to inject some practical organization into your life and save some precious hours NOT spent upending your life for your keys. Again.
3. Practice meditation....or scheduled daydreaming.
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A long time ago, a therapist suggested I try meditation for my anxiety. I remember laughing my butt off at the idea. When I think of meditation, I think of tranquil Zen Gardens or Buddhist monks on a mountaintop in Bhutan, and annoyingly chipper Hot Yoga instructors. I have always held the belief that my brain didn't come with the "mute" function that is essential to meditation. Newsflash: I was wrong. Meditation is actually a part of my day-to-day life now. I meditate at work. I meditate at home. I can even meditate on the train. I am basically a meditating badass.
How?
I don't usually seek to empty my brain or hyper-focus on a single word or feeling, instead—I let my brain run free for a set amount of time. I aimlessly daydream. I let my brain free associate as much as it wants. I don't act on the thoughts, I just let them happen until my phone alarm goes off and I have to rejoin the world. Why is this helpful? Because I spend 98 percent of my waking hours trying to get my brain to work in a way that is hard for it to do in order to function in a world that doesn't understand. Think of it like you would any other major responsibility. Your dog needs to be walked every day, your brain needs to be let out to play too. I have found that on days where I schedule my daydream/meditation into my coffee break, I actually find it easier to focus on other things. Give it a shot!
4. Accept that your calendar is your guiding force in life.
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- Put things that repeat into your calendar. Things that need to get done but are easy to overlook like, "Water the plants," or "Last day to change daycare schedule," or "Carpool duty week."
- Schedule due dates for bills to be on the same days. Example: Rent is always due on the first, that's non-negotiable. But I made some calls and arranged to have all my utilities due on the same day, making it easier to not miss a deadline.
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About the Creator
Bekah D.
The written musings and thoughts of a marvelously ordinary human with extraordinary goals! 💜😁✍️
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