Today’s Prompt: CROWD
I haven’t done a Black Friday shopping trip in years, and I never was crazed like some people get, but the crowds can get insane. If you’re having trouble conjuring an image (which you probably aren’t!), here’s help:
This is what my brain has looked like in the early mornings for a long time, as I immediately picked up my phone to check email, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and possibly a few other things the minute I was out of bed. Not to delve into TMI land, but I do mean first thing.
I was unleashing a flood of other people’s priorities, not to mention some truly superficial bits of information, into my head.
As I began my full-time job Monday, I wanted to turn over a new leaf. Although I had been working at the organization already as a freelancer, and mostly full-time hours, I have a renewed sense of the need to focus, especially since the bulk of the work is editing (as a freelancer, a portion of my responsibilities included research and writing, which to me requires a bit of a different focus approach).
I decided if I wasn’t able to live without my phone for that first few minutes (sigh), at least I could be doing something that contributes to my ability to focus and incorporates a positive, uplifting message for the day.
That’s why I put Daily Burst from AudioJoy on my phone. Each morning, the app serves up a thought-provoking or inspiring quote, an article (which I don’t usually read…but it’s there), a scale to gauge how I am feeling that day, and a brief audio reflection (3-5 minutes) with the accompanying text.
***end of five minutes***
My brain is not a loss-leader meant to be fought over by other people with their own priorities.
It is the only one I have, the resource I need to do a job I love already well, and something over which I want to take firm control.
Today’s reading included this passage, which I find much more constructive than a doorbuster.
Wife of one, Mom of two, Friend of many. My pronouns are she/her/hers.
Tara says
Love this idea! I too easily pick up my phone too. Blessed to be your neighbor at FMF this week.
Paula Kiger (@biggreenpen) says
Oh yay! (On being neighbors.) I loved today’s Daily Burst lesson: taps.io/B1Pgg .
1010parkplace says
We all like to think we’ve “got it covered.” We just get up and repeat most of what we did the day before and go about our day. I love, however, the idea of AudioJoy and planting a new seed… just the fact that we’re taking a few minutes out of our rote routine to do this is important. Thanks for the suggestion, Paula! xoxo
Paula Kiger (@biggreenpen) says
Such a small thing, in a way — yet small changes can grow into big differences. Thanks for dropping by!
Cindy says
HaHa! I have that crowd in my head too and they are very loud and busy all the time! I also need to cut back on the time I’m on my IPad. I like the idea of having something constructive to replace it with. Hoping your job continues to go well, Cindy
Paula Kiger says
So loud and busy and insistent! There has to be a better way. I am glad I have taken this one tiny step — it is already changing my outlook.