Goal Tracker

I have just set up a spreadsheet for tracking regular items and habits are done (or not) each day. It's super simple - even more simple than the Joe's Goals website. The columns are items to be achieved daily, and the rows are dates (each date being +1 from the previous date - so a new date is a quick copy/paste). The top row is frozen, so I will just keep adding new rows at the bottom. The principle is to create a Seinfeld Chain.

Something That Worked!

Normally, before I start work, I spend a lot of time reading news, forums and other stuff. This morning, because I was doing a puzzle that a friend had set, I just got straight on with it and did a solid hour's work on it. I didn't even find out that Wolves had sacked Mick McCarthy until about 13:00. When I look back, the most surprising part was how little I missed all the reading I normally do compulsively.

There is an EXCELLENT blog about the issue of distraction/multitasking here.

Power And Responsibility

I have the power to improve the life experience for my family - and therefore I have the responsibility to do so.

If I start going to bed earlier, then so will my spouse - and the end result will be a happier, healthier family.

Things Moving Along In Slightly Unexpected Ways

Things are progressing well - but not for the reasons I had expected. The lunchtime Windows popup is having very little effect - it has been a while since I stopped for lunch before 14:30 (including jogging days). I have been struggling to get out of bed despite getting to bed relatively early (though I haven't been feeling sleepy during the day).

The thing that has made me MASSIVELY more productive has been reading this blog: it's excellent writing by a consistently excellent author - and the key point is to avoid temptation rather than resisting it. This came as a surprise to me, because I've had success in the past deliberately resisting temptation: I taught myself to resist sugary snacks by putting a tempting piece of chocolate by my keyboard for several hours - and this method worked for a period of time. However - finding ways to practically avoid my being aware of temptations has been very successful indeed for me - and this has been one of my most productive weeks in a long time. This may even partially explain why I need more sleep than usual (though that may be something as simple as the fact that I am recovering from an infection).

I seem to do best when I discover certain new information about either myself or about willpower.

The best time I can remember in terms of health and energy were the times I had to work for a week in California (I am British): for the first few days, I'd be going to bed very early and getting up very early. The good weather there motivates you to get up early and start exercising - which is what I did.

Insprining Programme About Microlights

I watched a truly inspiring TV programme about microlight pilots (link). A reminder that the richest memories come from doing things with friends and family.

Reading This Blog

If I say so myself, it is well written and inspiring!

It might be simple and basic stuff - but it's written in the style and at the level of explanation that is right for me.

Having just re-read it, one thing I am going to do is to re-implement the lunchtime rules - because experience has shown that bad things happen when drifting is permitted:

• restart schedule lunch at 12:00, forfeit if not scheduled by 12:05, and forfeit if work not restarted by 14:00

I am also modifying the morning rules to state that work must be started by 09:00 on pain of STRICTLY ADMINISTERED and IMMEDIATE forfeit. The TV guide will be moved to 08:50.

Good Behaviour Popup Disabled

I have disabled the task to periodically pop up a spreadsheet to record good behaviour. In the 6 days it has been active, I have not recorded a single event. I have even struggled to remember what exactly I meant by "good behaviour". Turns out to be an unhelpful pest, so I have stopped it. It was a worthwhile experiment, though.