Patty Mayeux Blog

A good friend has shared her task-oriented practice of writing goal categories on separate pages. I like the idea of having a stack of paper from which I can intentionally or randomly choose. Here’s the rub; too many sheets, not enough time. Some are neglected in lieu of favorites like writing, family, or music. I could crumple the others and toss them in the recycle bin, but eventually emails and dirt would pile up and perhaps create a new sheet: panic! Assigning each goal to a color-coded calendar would leave very little white space for small things like, oh, I don’t know, sleeping or preparing meals. Thankfully, I need no reminders to eat properly and move often. I regularly set aside lesser goals as I focus on top-of-the-stack, first-of-the-morning writing. Those just-for-me, just-for-fun sheets wait on the sidelines for my attention, but they are always available for a brief and restful pivot, more energizing than an afternoon nap. Such breaks prepare me for the next attack of scribbled lists I deem most important. No matter the list, it is so satisfying to swipe a pencil mark through one item then another; a cause for a tiny celebration of Sheet Yeah.