The ToDo List: Not a friend of multi-interested people

So, being a multi-interested person like myself means that I do a lot of figuring out if I'm working on the "right" thing at any given moment. I'll decide to update my design website and then think, "But what if I really should be making a new craft for my Etsy store?" Like there's a science behind where I should be spending my time. Like I even had a time management plan to begin with. There's really no rhyme or reason to figuring out what gets done when. But we like to think there is.

I recently realized that I have a bunch of ideas of rules and systems that seem to be embedded in my mind but when I actually think about why they are important or how they will actually help me I can't pin anything down. I have a list of rules and systems but they are arbitrary. They are things that I've picked up in my various readings and browsings of the internet. And I think I should be doing them because someone (who is presumably smarter than I am) told me to.


Then I begin to think that if I'm not doing what they tell me I should do then I'm doing something wrong or I should just stop bothering all together. Like every business is the same and needs the same tools and techniques. Like every person completes the same task in the same order.

Being a multi-interested or "Renaissance Soul" it's kind of a given that traditional time management, task management tools aren't going to be much help. We have to create our own ways of being productive. It might include some traditional methods but we should be careful that we understand exactly how they will help us.

I've put some systems in place like Sunday Pages and I use my iPad to organize my ideas and such which has helped greatly. But the thing that has most helped me in the last week or so is understanding that even if I plan out my day or week I don't have to follow it to the letter. I can go outside and read for a few minutes because it's raining and I like the rain. Or I can write this blog post instead of balancing my bank account because I was just inspired to write it.

Guess what? I wanted to write a blog post today anyway so what does it really matter if it gets done now or in a couple hours? Although I must also understand that I can't completely shirk on an important task but at least I'm not beating myself up every time I have an inkling to do something that's not on The List.