What Patterns Do You Need to Transform?

There are patterns and there are systems.

barnesandnoble.com

A pattern is a way of doing things, typically because we've always done them that way, with no evaluation of process or outcome.

BARNES AND NOBLE

But a system takes forethought, intention and organization. A system is re-evaluated as it evolves.

Do you ever try to finish 'hospital work' projects at home? (Of course you do because there's no time for that at work right?!) While I love the freedom of working at home, sometimes I make myself bonkers. I may be sitting at my computer with the best intentions of being productive, when I begin to see ALL the things around the house that also need to be done.

Typically, my brain goes something like this: "First I'll spend an hour on this project, then I'll go throw some laundry in, then, well...maybe I'll throw laundry in first so the washer is running while I'm working on my project." As I come back upstairs from the laundry room I notice the blur of doggy nose-prints all over our front windows. Ugh.

And while I try to set those things aside as I work, they gnaw away at my spirit. It's a pattern that doesn't lend itself to centeredness or productivity.

So a few years ago, I stepped out of pattern mode and into system mode.

Here is just ONE example of what that can look like:

Sometimes, instead of trying to work at home, I go somewhere with Wi-Fi (Barnes and Noble is my favorite!). I sit at a small table with my computer. And it's amazing what happens!

I check multiple items off my list. Some items take 3 hours to complete and some only 15 minutes. Sometimes I complete conference calls from there too!

Now I know this idea is not new. We see people doing this frequently. But, these are the reasons this one particular system works for me:

1. My intention is to get a specific list of things completed in less than 5 hours. My tasks are written down and organized before I go. They include some quick things that make me feel happy and productive when I complete them = momentum.

2. I sit at a table for 2, not a big high table for 6. This is for 2 reasons. 1) I only have room for a small amount of work at a time which limits distraction. 2) So I do not throw ALL my stuff on a big table to dramatically say to the world and myself, "Look at all this work I have today!"

3. The streams of happy people that pass through energize me. (As do the books that surround me.)

4. At home, the distractions can be a built-in excuse for me not to get things accomplished. At Barnes and Noble, I am delightfully 'trapped' in an environment that doesn't allow for that. It leaves me with only my work. (And one of my favorite snacks EVER!)

Oh, and I can't hear the buzzer on my dryer from Barnes and Noble!

What patterns do you need to transform?

What Patterns Do You Need to Transform?

BARNES AND NOBLE