- Any day now, or at least within the next few weeks, I'm going to have a baby. As I've mentioned before, my ADHD seems to be getting worse right here at the end of pregnancy- or at any rate, I'm more forgetful and spacier, which I think many women are late in pregnancy anyway. So when I'm not too exhausted and I have time to work, I'm trying to figure out how to wind down my work and at the same time tie up loose ends. Now and then I remember what I've said here myself: leave myself a trail of breadcrumbs to come back to- both for now and for when I start working again after my break. Then I remember I have something like a list, and so forth. The thing is, the list was about stuff I wanted to do while pregnant. Now it's time to make a shift; what do I want to do so it's ready for me after I have the baby!
That might sound like a simple or obvious shift, but it took a while of thinking through the things I had wanted to get done to realize where I am in this whole pregnancy thing, and what that actually means for getting things done. It's silly to think about big projects that I want to get done at this point, because I could reasonably be in the hospital in a few hours OR in a few weeks. So whatever I get done at this point is gravy.
On the other hand, whether it's now, or in a few weeks, I can get ready for returning from the trip- because really this is the same thing I would do if I were about to go on vacation or take a trip somewhere. And then I can use the same list, or trail of breadcrumbs, until I actually stop working.
I came up with some categories for myself:
1. The most important things
2. The would-like-to things
3. The delegate (to a virtual assistant) things
4. The plan-a-date/arrangement-for things
The last category include programs or classes I want to start up in the new year (or restart), like the Declutter Action Group, Teleseminars, Group Coaching.
The first category would include making sure I'm in touch with people. Which includes projects like updating my website- which has a bunch of steps in category #3.
Category #2? A bunch of my own organizing projects that I'd like to do as soon as I am a little less forgetful! And those are great things to use to restart working- as long as I have some other work going on too!
So that's the framework for my trail of breadcrumbs. Now I have stuff to do while I'm waiting for baby: filling in the details of that list, and putting the list somewhere I'll find it, or with someone who will know where it is.
It's a little different from most breaks or trips I take because then I might write a list and notes to myself about projects I was working on and where I left them, including what the next steps would be. In this case I haven't invested myself in a lot of big projects because my focus while pregnant was my clients and continuing work. And I know I'll remember who and what those are!
What kind of breadcrumbs do you need to leave for yourself?
Blogs are so informative where we get lots of information on any topic. Nice job keep it up!!
Posted by: Geography Dissertation | October 22, 2009 at 08:50 AM
Becca, I cannot tell you what a relief it was to read your blog this early am. Of course I'm up at 0400 because my "mind won't shut off". I am a 39 year old female, recently dx with ADHD. Actually, my OB Dr. began the process because of extreme symptoms with PMS. Kudos to him. I am muddeling my way thru the information haze, trying to find what works best for me. I've been a nurse for about 17 yrs., and have learned that sometimes "ignorance is bliss". I just feel better that I'm not alone in this. Thank you!
Posted by: holly | February 12, 2011 at 05:08 AM