Motivation , getting things done and being productive

[Mobilesport]

It takes alot of work to build these vans , a whole lot of work and more and more work and there's always a whole lot more to do , the way I deal with it is I always have To Do lists with organized info and I always consistently update my lists and prioritize everything by most important to the next important to the next important and so on until I get so far down on the list were I just draw a line and put everything else that aint so important under that line , its kinda like having a junk drawer but just a place to put things I would like to do some day if I ever get the time but I don't stress over anything that's under that line.
Anybody else do To Do lists?
What techniques do you use to stay motivated?

 

[bigsallysmom]

To do lists rock, especially if you keep it in a notebook so you can go back and get that warm, fuzzy feeling from getting a lot done. At the start of the year I began keeping a detailed to do list. Had to learn to not get too enthusiastic -- painting the exterior of the house was not going to happen in a day. After working for 13 days in a row I had to intentionally add fun days.

 

[Yogidog]

Oh yeah I am a to do lister for me like u said the prioritizing is the important part to not overwhelm myself and make sure I am doing the important things. Like bigsallysmom said I have to write sit and enjoy also! I sticky notes everyday, they are small I like being on the road because I have to stay motivated to make to next day no slumping out on the couch!

 

[VegasVanGuy]

I have a ton of respect for do-it-yourself van conversion people. I wouldn't even know where to start. Personally, I have to-do lists that are two years old that haven't been done. lol That's why I have an RV not a house. Much less to maintain.

I'm sure there is a certain amount of satisfaction in building your own dwelling. Van, house, or otherwise.

 

[bcbullet]

Although I don't live in mine, I am rapidly learning that I have to avoid "mission creep"...suddenly I have saws and indoor- outdoor thermometers, and shelves I didn't need but added anyway, and have done the toilet 3 times, each time more elaborate than the last, and divider curtains, and re-jigged storage, and a bench changed to a convertible dinette, and 4 LED flood lamps on the roof, each switched individually from an inside 5 gang marine switch and pointing NSEW, oh and now I have an extra switch available...let's put a "bear horn" on the roof too, just for shits and giggles, and and and and....

It is important for us part timers to actually get out and use the damned rigs we spend so much time and effort on.

 

[vsession]

The way I stay motivated is to visualize the end result in my head. I usually do every task in my head before actually doing it. I’ve rebuilt many cars, build many projects and I often just sit looking at it for few hours. This can look like doing nothing for some people, but for me, it's working, visualization, planning and execution. When I get the tools in my hand, I know exactly what I have to do. This is probably why I was considered a fast worker by many of my previous employers. If an issue that was not revealed in my thinking, I'll do another task and think about it after actual work. I've made a few lists, they usually ended lost since I was never looking at it in the first place. This is my strategy that I use in pretty much everything.

 

[TrainChaser]

Just put one foot in front of the other. Do SOMETHING every day. Yes, you do have to prioritize, but some days the big things aren't going to get done. That's just how it is. So do something small, instead.

OR, you can do what a friend of mine does. She has her lists, and she gets stuff done, but sometimes none of it is on the list. So she puts it ON the list, and then crosses it off!

 

[eDJ_]

I used to work for a German Corporation with Engineers.  The Sales dept on the other side of the Lab i worked in was an aggressive well trained bunch too. 

One for the first things I was taught to do by them was to have a list ready to start with each morning.

But their idea of a list was like nothing I had seen before.  The list was to have three columns like a ledger.

The first column was like a bucket list   The evaluation technique for those items involved anything that closed early in the day or may have been close to each other.  To learn to use their listing system you started with only 10 items.

The second column was a priority listing where a number appeared by the things in the first column. 

The third column was the logistics column and letters of the alphabet were used to try to get all the list items
to were one line through the town or area would sweep the list with the least amount of travel possible.

I was a transplant and didn't know the area very well so I was started with 10 items and a "Map" of the town
given to me.  In time I would know my way around the area and what was where in the surroundings.   Once
aware of that I could expand my list to 15 and on to 20 items. 

I've used this system since it was taught to me and if anyone else tries this and masters it,  you'll be amazed at the order you can bring to your life and cope with maddening circumstances. 

In the past I worked in corporations where the other employs just sort of bounced around aimlessly ping ponging from one side of the town to the other all day getting less done while exhausting themselves and
having little to show for it.    With this you can get more done before 11am than others can by 5pm,  arrive at appointments early and be relaxed,  and go about your job with confidence and self assurance. 

Otherwise if you are working for yourself, (or retired) and it's in the hot summer months you can get things done early when it's  still cool and kick back in the heat of the day to work inside or just relax.

 

[Matlock]

Do SOMETHING every day.  Yes, you do have to prioritize, but some days the big things aren't going to get done.  

OR, you can do what a friend of mine does.   She has her lists, and she gets stuff done, but sometimes none of it is on the list.  So she puts it ON the list, and then crosses it off!

That works well especially if your retired.
I spent my career making/changing due dates and scheduling based on someone else's  priorities. I welcomed the chance to make decisions at my pace. Some days I just lay around an appreciate all I've done for myself over the years.  

 

[Mobilesport]

@ eDj ,  That was a extremely good post , thanks for sharing

 

[Mobilesport]

As a employee of a company I build my personal Todo lists at work on my down time , when it comes time to go home after my shift the minute I'm pulling out of the parking lot its like a race is on and with that list its like bam bam bam just knocking stuff out and crossin stuff off so its like my main goal for the day is to have my list ready by the time my shift is over.

 

[MrNoodly]

If someone has problems with organization, motivation and productivity while living in a building, they will still have those problems when they transition to a vehicle.

 

[eDJ_]

^^^  I agree 100%.   This is why when I was hired one of the first things I was "treated" to was an orientation
to "OP's" for that Corporation.  (operations procedures)  Where I learned list making their way.

I later took a lot of the drudge assignments the "Married types" didn't want as those were out of town short term jobs.  I was single and had my Van and econobox stationwagon which were my greatest assets.  I learned to make those vehicles work for me to get raises and to advance.  (I've spoken of this here before)

When I went to work for them I was at division HQ and there were many competitors in the Central Ohio area.

Within a few years they had literally edged their competition out of the market and found themselves in an Anti Trust Law Suit by those former competitors.  The FTC and some other Govt Agencies investigated and found no merit to the allegations.  Their firms were just run so sloppy it was a wonder that they had stayed in business as long as they had.

Understand the Govt wants a "perfect competition" in business to keep prices in line and provide surpluses to the public.   But this often tends to punish top performing companies when so many of the "Lame & Lazy" ones  won't get their butts in gear.   I lucked into my job with "good timing" working for me.   A person had just left and I was there at the right time to fill the vacancy.  But they wanted to train me to be able to be part of the team and understand the thinking of their Corporate Culture.  It's made a lasting mark on me. 

And believe me,  "Working Smart" isn't just some catchy phrase to throw around.  It is a method of thinking to be learned and used.   You don't have to have a College education to learn this stuff as it's mostly common sense and anyone can do it and begin to prosper with it.

 

[Ella1]

Your posts/suggestions here are excellent. I think many people somewhat successful people probably do this habitually.
I do, before I go shopping. Being on a limited income, I group my stores/purchases by location/area to avoid unnecessary trips or retracing steps.
I have three areas in which I generally shop. One is 5 miles east, one, 7 miles north, the third, west of that (7) by about 2 miles, but 3 miles from home. All 3 have a grocery store, so decision is based on other things.
One is 5 miles east grocery, hardware, library, gas ,
one, 7 miles north, natural grocer, bank, major hardware, fast food, walking path, road to medicals, gas
the third, west grocer, hair cuts, hardware.
I often combine 2 and 3, but the first is separate. If I go east, that's generally it.
Just for fun, I did your listing to "plan" my day today, using 10 items of home work and ordering them as close to each other and priority. I think your third column is reflected too, as all items are east side, middle, or west... in my ~60' wide yard! LOL! :angel:

 

[Ella1]

I was motivated to get several items sort of complete:
I did spread the pre-emergent where I wanted, tomorrow I may do more.
I got most of the hoses rolled and tape/tied. These are black irrigation hoses that I got several years ago when I had a handyman. They had been rolled then, but recently handled roughly, and the tapes came unglued. There's more to do later, but most are done. And I did pull weeds, all this on the east side.
As the heat of the day has settled in, I will too.
Later I will work on the patio and west side of the yard a bit.
Now for drawing and maybe a nap! All on the list, of course!
The last item, crocheting, depends on temps. I do it outside, so if
it gets cool enough later, I will do some.