Amid Mayhem: Finding Time for Words
Our old kitchen was falling apart; a few more ‘temporary’ repairs were needed every year. The quality of the units was never that great to begin with, considering that the kitchen has remained unchanged since before we bought the house over twenty years ago; it had to go.
Disclosure. I use an AI assistant when writing. The assistant may suggest outlines, topics, or subtleties I had not thought of. The actual writing is all human me.
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Ticking Clocks and Paint Brushes
We had been looking at new kitchens for at least two years before we found one that fitted our needs and, importantly, our budget. A bonus was that the fitting itself was free if we had the kitchen fitted in January. But it meant several busy weeks getting everything done before then. It also meant no kitchen for the holiday season, unfortunately.
The old kitchen was demolished, and the electricians and plumbers did their tasks. Next, the plastering and the new floor tiles. The last step was painting, but we had to wait a few weeks for the plaster to dry thoroughly. No problem for the professional employed to do the job.
In between, this weekly newsletter had to be written. Finding the few hours needed between the kitchen renovations hasn’t been easy, but I managed it. This week, I was looking forward to the first relaxing weekend in a month. I could take my time and enjoy the writing. Then, the painter called in sick.
So much for a leisurely few hours of writing. All hands on deck.
Why Multitasking is a Myth
It wasn’t only the weekly newsletter that was difficult to find the time for; the anticipated administration and planning normal for any business also had to be put on the back burner. But it can’t wait too long, especially for the administration; we are already a week into the new year, and nothing has been completed for the business. Such is life as a solopreneur.
I recently wrote a piece on so-called multitasking, a commonly believed myth. The best we can ever hope to achieve is to juggle several tasks, but we can never focus on multiple items simultaneously. Over the last month, I’ve been juggling so many tasks that I should be in the circus.
Switch, Shift, Repeat: The Cognitive Cost of Multitasking
The painter falling ill is just the normal unpredictability of any project, business or personal. Simply the latest of several twists that have to be dealt with as they come. It got me thinking about how unpredictable our lives really are. We may fool ourselves that we have everything under control, but we are constantly adapting to changes. Fortunately, the changes are mostly so minor we barely notice them.
Finding a Quiet Corner
In a typical week, I can take my time and let the creative muse come to me when it’s good and ready. As the newsletter deadline was rapidly approaching this week, the kitchen renovation and the conflict with my creative and business obligations inspired this week. Finding the time has not been so straightforward, though.
I usually start with the newsletter on a Friday morning for a few hours, setting an outline, researching when required, and getting my thoughts in order. On Saturday morning, I drafted the text and added any appropriate links. I do a quick read-through and leave it to ‘marinate’ overnight. Sunday morning is for editing, final draft and publishing. All very relaxed and enjoyable.
The last five weeks have been anything but relaxed, although when I do put aside a few hours for the newsletter, I appreciate the peace and quiet of my writing space. There is something regenerative about writing that non-writers may find difficult to understand. The afternoons and evenings have been dedicated to the kitchen; this division of labour seems to have worked. Tiring though.
I’m grateful that as the kitchen installation approached, I had the help of my future son-in-law with the finishing touches. Without his help, I might have had no choice but to skip the newsletter. That would have ruined my week.
Deadlines and Inspiration
Creative inspiration can be found daily and in every situation; it’s about using our real-life experiences (like the kitchen renovation and its impacts). There is always something to write about, as long as the mind is open. Writer’s block seems to only be a problem, for me anyway, when the mind is closed.
I Was in Trouble: How GPT-4 Rescued Me from Writer’s Block
I’ve learned to trust my creative instincts over the last year, especially in the previous six months. I never need to panic that I’ll run out of ideas. But if you were to ask me to make a list of ten potential newsletter ideas, I would struggle. I know that the right idea will come to me in plenty of time to get it down.
I occasionally make dictated notes, mainly for longer-term ideas, like short stories and scenes in a book. Looking back over previous newsletters, the common theme isn’t the subject matter; each piece reflects a commentary on the week. What has happened, problems encountered and resolved, interactions with colleagues, etc. If I had the time and the motivation, I could write an article four or five times a week.
Inspiration is everywhere; we only have to open our minds to it.
Commitments Conflict
There will always be conflicting commitments; the secret is to recognise and accept that life isn’t always neat and tidy. Learn to roll with change and concentrate on the highest priorities first. When we juggle too many tasks, we end up with many things that are nearly done. Nearly done is not done, though.
I try to live by the 80/20 rule; the 20% of the effort you put into any project yields 80% of the results. In terms of the kitchen renovation, everything must be completed before the installation. There is no room for negotiation there. In contrast, the business administration can be delayed, not too much, but there is some flexibility.
This newsletter could, I suppose, also be delayed. But this is the one thing I choose to commit to. I know my audience is small, but I see producing the newsletter every week without fail is my commitment to you, the reader. It’s not open for negotiation.
Is It Worth It?
Well, yes, it will be worth it. My wife has her catering business to run, which is more of a hobby than a complete business model. She has suffered with the limitations of the old kitchen for far too long. In just another two weeks, her long wait will be over. Seeing her happy has always been at the top of my priorities.
I’ll be honest: I’ll also be delighted to be able to spend the time I need building my business and, of course, writing. I have plans to finish a book that has been bumping around for a few years. I’m committed to finally getting it done this year.
We have other plans for the house. Now that I’ve been getting my hands dirty, I’m in the mood to keep it going. Next up will be repainting a large part of the house, renovating the stairs, and completely reworking the backyard. Essentially, house maintenance is a never-ending story. And I’m loving it.
Final Thoughts
So there we have it. I said there is always something to write about, even superficially dull subjects such as our kitchen renovation. I see it kind of symbolically as a life lesson about balancing sometimes conflicting priorities. Life was much simpler when I didn’t write and the day job was salaried. But now that I’m here, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I’d love to hear about your experiences. Are you a handy person? How do you manage to divide your time and attention? If you have any tips, feel free to share them. Drop me a line in the comments; I promise I’ll reply to everybody.
See more articles, posts, and discussions about business, project management, human nature, Generative AI and Creative Writing on Medium here. If you have not already, subscribe to Medium. Or follow me here on Substack. The Substack newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. I would appreciate the support; you won’t regret it. 👍
I apologise to my readers for some of the spellings you may feel are incorrect. I was born and brought up in the United Kingdom, and this is the spelling I am comfortable with (Grammarly is happy with it anyway).