Eleven weeks ago I published a very optimistic post in which I told you how one way to do those tasks you never do was to tell about it in public. And that's what I did. Tell, I mean. Not do it. And why? Because there are no magic formulas to fix the world or one's productivity. Or, directly, because days have a limited number of hours and no matter how much you adjust, juggle or organize them, sometimes you have to prioritize other things.
Because that's the situation. If I had been wasting time I wouldn't be writing this post. I'd be trying to make four quick dabbles to pretend that I did make progress on projects I haven't touched. I'd say I have the sketches in my head. Or the structure set up. Or I'd upload a new landing page. But if there's one thing I've learned lately, it's to use my hours in a way that I'm happy with them. That the work that comes out is definitive (or almost) and not kicks forward and problems for the Juan of the future.
I love my side projects. I like Enlace Permanente, I like my own blog, I like to stand up for the principles I believe in and tell people about them whenever I can. I love the projects I run directly, my company, making websites for people who need those solutions. I love the things that are not projects and are directly things that I didn't think I could be doing, like organizing a meetup or the next WordCamp Pontevedra in September next year. And that's why all the things I said I wanted to do in August are still on.
But in these weeks I have also discovered how important it is to organize your projects and your work in a balanced way. In September I have been totally overwhelmed by my over-optimism. Or rather by my lack of control over the hours that certain tasks were going to take me. It's not a matter of saying no to everything, but it is a matter of knowing how far you can say yes.
And in these situations there is little else to do but sleep a little less, put in a lot of hours and try to solve the situation in the way that least harms third parties. And learn not to make those mistakes again. And that's where we are. For the first time in my life I can say that I already have projects and work for the next four months. I can't get into any more trouble even if I wanted to (which I always want to). And this is good, for my economy, for my professional career and to continue practicing in the organization and optimization of that incalculable good that we have which is our time.
This does not mean that I will not do everything I set out to do until February or March (by then I hope to still have work for the following months), but that you have to know how to adapt to changing workflows and find time for the rest of the less priority, less important and less urgent tasks.
I will be telling you news on all fronts in the coming weeks. But I felt that I had to give these explanations because what really works with everyone, and this is proven, is to go with the truth up front. Even if it's a truth that I don't think many people are interested in. Here it is written.
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