TOW: Organizational skills

It's been a really crazy week, and I lost a lot of sleep.  Part of that sleep loss was definitely because I wasn't as organized as I would have liked to be.

I can blame it on the french class that started this week, I can blame it on the president being in three days this week, I can blame it on a lot of things, but really, it just comes down to organization.

What matters, what's a priority?

The problem with prioritizing tasks is you are rarely in control of the entire process.  At work, you may want to do certain tasks in a certain order, but sometimes it's your manager or the director that reorganizes your task list for you.  And sometimes that can be really upsetting, and make it difficult to 'get back on track.'  (I now laugh a sad little laugh when I think of the phrase 'must be able to work in a fast-paced environment.)  Worse, when one priority changes, often it affects and entire chain of workloads.  Suddenly, you have a completely new schedule.  And you have to reorganize things, once again.

Though my friends often give me that narrow-eyed look when I talk about being organized, I secretly am.  I have lists upon lists that I use to organize my life.  To do lists, check boxes, that I constantly revise to update what I am doing and where I am going.

The problem is not being organized.  The problem is prioritization of tasks, and knowing how long a task will take.  I find that I often fail to take into account how long a task will take, even though I make a plan for it.  (This, my friends and family would certainly agree with....if they've ever watched me make a meal.)

I think I am trying to get my life back on a schedule that isn't simply events with friends...and |I'm starting to do more 'time-blocks' of activities, such as my French class, blocking off time to work on my game, and volunteering.  |I have a couple ideas for volunteering I'd really like to fulfill actually.  I just hope I can find the time come the new year.
 
But like all things in life, I seem to want things to happen now, and, in a bull-headed manner, charge straight towards a goal.  Once I plan something initially, sometimes I swear I think force of will propels me to success.  And sometimes it does.  But sometimes it doesn't.  And that's where the phrase 'smarter, not harder' certainly applies.

And I'm certainly trying to do things smarter.  I just hope I eventually get there.  >_>