'Mission Control'

It's Spring, and everything is green! I've updated my calendar and blocked out next January to March with 'hibernate and naps', to remind myself not to set deadlines or take on loads of extra work. I'm solar-powered, sometimes I forget that. 

Speaking of work. I've been working for the NHS for just over two years now - it was meant to be six weeks, but I love them so, and I'm really happy to have been able to help build something wonderful. I've never met a kinder bunch of people. Everyone there is working hard, dedicated to a greater good. I recommend it: you'll develop your skills in new ways and have a wonderful time. Remember that there are huge leaps in digital technology, policy, organisational operations, change and transformation, and more going on there, so you don't need to be a doctor or nurse to find a place at the NHS. The training is very good, and your CV/Resume will thank you, especially if you're young and ambitious. They are breaking new ground in all sorts of ways. 

I'm also doing my PhD part time, and I'm SO HAPPY in PhD land. I'm just getting started, so I'll update later on with more details about that. There are also other upcoming projects in the pipeline, and I'm looking forward to another change. 

So I'm properly busy. I have to be organised to get it all done, and I have a few tricks that help. 

When I sit down to work, I'm generally focusing on one thing at a time, with specific days blocked out for work, study and down time. Colleagues can see my availability on my calendars, and it helps me to see this as well - the visual reminder that TODAY, I need to finish this task because tomorrow is for another thing, keeps me focused. 

I have an app which pings every 20 minutes to remind me to look away from my screen, roll my shoulders back and ask myself whether I need a drink of water or a quick break. If I don't take those breaks, I'm frazzled by the end of the day, and I swear I'm less productive than when I sit hunched, peering at the screen for two hours straight. 

At the end of the working day, my phone usually goes in a drawer downstairs. I don't look at it in the morning until after cups of tea and other important self-care tasks (FYI: feeding two cats is a self-care task). I've done this for years now and it's a game-changer, not getting distracted by notifications first thing. 

For the last year or so I've used a stability ball instead of a chair. It took me a few weeks to get used to it but I won't be going back to chairs in a hurry. 

But most importantly, I avoid procrastination. Having set times blocked out on the calendar helps with this. Obviously, getting up for a cup of tea is a good idea. But be warned. It's tempting to think "Oh, while the kettle boils, I'll just put a load in the washing machine." You might think that putting on a load of laundry would be a quick and sensible task, but be warned. Once you're there, you will find that you may as well sort the entire basket, stitch on a loose button, hem school trousers, tie-dye six t-shirts... and then, you sit back down at your desk and say, "Huh! Where could my glasses be?" A merry hunt ensues. Could they be in the laundry basket? Next to the kettle? By the loo? In the fridge? Oh look, leftover cake! Which leads to another cup of tea, or even coffee or it might actually be nearly lunchtime by now and the plants need watering. Do peonies need lots of water? I'll just google that, and also message my friend who would know and tell her I HAVE 8 BUDS ON MY PEONY, IT'S GOING TO BE SO BEAUTIFUL. That is when you know you have taken procrastination to a whole new level of awesomeness. At this point, give yourself a good talking to, and get back to work. Try not to blog or post on social media about all this, because that is also procrastination, and sensible people don't procrastinate.