Even if we won't admit it to ourselves

I am in the midst of an EXCELLENT book called Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown. It is the kind of book that resonates with the ideas I have in theory, but is compelling enough to get me to actually DO something to live those ideas.

In a way, it's a time management and productivity book, but instead of squeezing more things into your limited time, it's about choosing VERY strategically what is actually worth spending time on. I'm reading it slowly to savor it and I am thinking about how to put these concepts into practice.

To that end, I sat down today and wrote up my priority list. It hasn't changed, but I am committing to be disciplined about focusing only on these things instead of getting distracted by shiny things on the Internet.

• FAMILY - kid-wrangling, being wifely (whatever that means), doing *fun* stuff together
• HOME - finish unpacking after the remodel, laundry, dishes, keeping the filth and clutter down
• CRAFT - work on my scrapbooks, and continue making them for others via The Papercraft Lab
• SELF-CARE - exercise, eat well, cook at home, sleep enough
• WORK - yep!  Starting a part-time contract gig next week

Work was a new addition to the list and actually triggered the re-evaluation of my commitments.  I am setting up shop as an independent consultant project manager (sounds so much fancier than it is!) and have a couple of clients for a total of about 20 hours a week.

Our new business covers my PM work and TJ's motorsports mobile app development.  Here's the fancy new logo I got on Etsy.  Pretty cool, huh?  I have to say that as a papercrafter and lover of stationery, I was especially excited about choosing a logo.

Here are some of the things I am completing or quitting to "find" 20 hours a week for this work:

• Completed Coursera Creative Problem Solving class online, which completes my credits needed for renewing my PMP certification for 3 more years.
• Completed two scrapbooks for Papercraft Lab clients
• Un-enrolled from two other Coursera courses that "sounded interesting"
• Declined the role of coordinating summer playdates for our toddler group
• Stopped taking custom metal orders in my Etsy shop (still selling ready-made items!)
• Facebook (I may need to detox gradually - I've already removed it from my phone. SO hard.)
• Quit trying to be "social coordinator" and making new friends - need to focus on my existing ones!
• Buying the snack for T's preschool at Trader Joe's instead of baking it
• Stopped watching TV (no more Glee, Grey's Anatomy, The Mindy Project, etc.)
• Finishing a scrapbook layout that will be used as a "demo" in an upcoming class
• Decided not to enroll the girls in additional classes this summer other than Little Gym
• Blogging. I haven't been motivated to write much here, so I'm taking a break for a while

In addition to going through my existing activities with a fine-toothed comb, I'm trying to be VERY selective about what I take on. I have a tendency to add projects on a whim, or volunteer for stuff when asked, so this is going to be a significant mindset change.  Wish me luck! 

If you read Essentialism, I'd love to know what you thought.