The power of a to-do list

We should never under estimate the power of a to-do list.

I have been described, on several occassions, as superbly organised, some have even used the phrase "anal-retentive", in fact in one of my placements I was asked to think about wieither my obsession with organisation was actually making my counter productive.

Anyway, you get the picture, the point is that as a result of this need to have things in a linear structure I can sometimes quickly lose focus, and motivation, when things go off-script. If things start to pile up, I panic, can't see the wood for the tress, and all that jazz!

However, I do have the power of self-recognition. So the other I sat and made a to-do list for the global poverty project and drew up a timeline to act on said list. So now I have a wonderful list of people to contact about the presentation, and a clear set of goals to achieve.

The result: a calmer, much happier, activist.

I shall let you know how I get on :)

lack of motivation, lack of structure, lacking all over

Its not been a positive time. Life, as they say, is giving me lemons - but people want orange juice!

Not to make excuses - but of late I have been extremely busy. Work is Mon-Friday, 9-5 (hahaha try 8-6 most days!). I run 3 nights a week, have guides one night, pole class one night, and squeeze in some me time and housework as well. My weekends are now spent back in Inverclyde, due mainly to the blossoming romance with my manfriend.

Now I am not blaming my manfriend, he is absolutely lovely and I love spending time with him. We don't see each other during the week because we live over an hour apart, and we both work during the week. Its not a chore or a hassle to see him at the weekends, plus my wonderful friends and family, who I try to spend as much time as possible with. My world revolves around the people in it, and I am finding more and more I don't want to be on my own.

However, my charity work is suffering. Saturdays were a great day to get online, read the blogs, brush up on my issues, tweet my MP and practice the presentation. I wrote my letters and sent 100s of e-mails off to schools, churches and local groups. I am finding it harder and harder to squeeze things into my life, and the last thing I want is to be half-arsed, at anything, especially the work I am doing for the Global Poverty Project.

I am in some need of motivation, a holiday, time off. I need a to-do list, structure, but find myself so wiped at night during the week I just don't have the energy to combat this. I have continued to send out e-mails, to little response. Which is becoming increasingly frustrating as time marches on. I feel restless, aggravated. I know of the violence and horror people are living in, through, in the poorest places in the world. I know, I care, and I feel guilty when yet another week passes and I have done nothing about it. I know the presentation is amazing, moving, motivating, inspiring, and yet I am struggling to sell it.

I need 8 days a week!

Severly neglectful!

Can't believe it has been so long since I updated this blog (or any of my blogs to be honest) I have been a little neglectful of late (as a certain Scot's women living in Wales forcible reminded me) and for that I do apologise!

Volunteering for a cause you are so passionate about is like another full time job, and the one I already have takes up a lot of time. Add to that a new relationship and extremely successful social life (its the summer...we may not have sun but we still party) and I am afraid I have begun to lag behind on the campaign front.

It has been difficult what with the schools etc being shut. But September is just around the corner and I want to be ready to hit the ground running. I have a feeling the Autumn/Winter seasons are going to be my best yet in terms of presentations. I am certainly going to push more, now that other aspects of my life are settling down somewhat.

So apologises but I am going to try refocus somewhat on the project. I do want to do more, but life, as it has a habit of doing, gets in the way. And to be honest the charity party really did take some wind out of my sails in terms of energy, so I have enjoyed my well rested break.