I think everyone who is addicted to their work runs into this problem of constantly feeling like there is more to do. And let’s face it, all of us that have been working with computers since about the time we learned to ride a bike are addicted to our work. We love it. However, by simply coming to grips with that feeling of never being truly finished, and being choosey about what to take on, we can lower our own anxiety about it.
Here are a few bits about being or feeling finished that have been circulating around the blogs recently. First, Shawn Blanc on The Mental Office and creating a text file at the end of the day to jot down your ideas. A brain dump, if you will.
It can be hard to call it quits for the day when there are still things which could be done. And so my text file is my way of admitting that yes the day is done and yes there is still work to do, but there is always tomorrow.
Then, the always quotable Seth Godin on Dancing on the Edge of Finished:
Now, of course, there’s always one more tweet to make, post to write, words with friends move to complete. There’s one more bit of email, one more lens you can construct, one more comment you can respond to. If you want to, you can be never finished.
To which Cameron Moll followed with:
Balance is a process, not a final resting state. I’m constantly juggling, shuffling, and re-prioritizing life’s demands. And I’m learning to be okay with that.
Back to Shawn Blanc on what finished means to him:
One thing I have done in my dance to find that balance is to set a new standard of what finished looks like for me. And that standard no longer means my inbox is empty, but rather it’s about budgeting my time and attention.
I’ve struggled with this feeling for as long as I can remember. I never feel done. I’m always thinking of what to do next. However, it takes a long time to come to grips with that. To step away from the office and think – it is OK that I’m not done – and go on living.
This is why it is so important to choose wisely what you spend your time on. The more you take on the more this feeling will build up. Believe it or not by doing less you’ll get more done.