​LauraEarnest.com​

Deliberate Living Made Simpler.

Writing Notes for My Future Self The team made an effort last month to clean out the backlog of tasks. We divided everything up with the goal of seeing if things were still a problem, and determining the impact of the issue. One of the problems is that the descriptions are so sparse that we’re not really sure why it entered the backlog at all. One of them in particular I wrote, and I clearly recall why it was entered, but there was nothing there to help us find the particular scenario to be fixed. Two of spent a couple of frustrating hours trying to figure out what the task was about. I used to do this sort of thing out of habit, telling myself that I would remember what was going on. Which may be true if it was dealt with within a month or so. But with the influx of other tasks and projects, sometimes it is over a year before we can consider it again. And I’ve learned that I never remember. To that end I am making more of an effort on all fronts to write the notes for my future self. At work that means putting the queries that turned up the issue, or shows what needs to be corrected. It means finding the specific piece of code that needs to be adjusted. At home it means putting adequate detail in my tasks. I have started using the notes section of Remember The Milk for the first time. And now when I look back at my bullet journal, I have a much better sense of how my time is passing. My question for you to consider: when you go through the effort of writing things down, do you put enough information so that your future self knows what you are talking about?

Quick Productivity Tips

1. Subscribe To Motivational Quotes: Sometimes a quick burst of motivation is all you need to get moving again. Do a quick (and I mean less than five minutes!) search to find a motivational quote of the day. Many of these will email right to you.
2. Update Your Virus Checker: Nothing will bring productivity to a grinding halt faster than an infected computer. Make sure your virus checker is up to date, and run a full scan on your computer. (Don’t have a virus checker? There are plenty of really good ones that are free out there. Get one.)
3. Purge Your Clothing: If you can’t see the forest for the trees, it may be time for a little thinning. Set aside some time to purge your clothing.

From My Experience

“Some days are like that, even in Australia.” A children’s book called “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” (aff) talks about a little boy’s day and how a series of minor events added up to make the day seem much worse than it is.

I recently had a spate of dealing with a lot of vendor stupidity. Three in one day, each of which had me face-palming and wondering where all the common sense went. And it put me in a very bad headspace for dealing with the rest of the day.

The thing is, taken by themselves, none of them would really have been extraordinary. Added together, they made for what I perceived is as a very bad day. But it was just a perception. Not reality.

So when my frustration levels are mounting, at work or at home, I have to ask myself if it is reality. Is my mental state being exacerbated by my physical state? And then I may have to back away and not let things pile together.

Articles This Month:

• ​3 Ways I Handle Interruptions Without Losing My Day: Interruptions happen, but they don’t have to derail everything. These simple strategies help me recover faster.
• ​Simple Evening Habits That Make Tomorrow Easier: A better evening can lead to a better morning. Try these simple evening habits to make tomorrow feel easier from the start.

What Patrons Saw How to Time Block Without Making Your Day Unrealistic Learn how to time block in a way that actually works in real life, with room for interruptions and transitions. My Quiet-Time Routine for Recharging Quiet time helps me reset and recharge. Here’s what my routine looks like and how it supports a calmer day. Become a Patron Supporting the blog on Patreon gets you exclusive benefits reserved for patrons. Check out the list of benefits and levels here.​

2026 Annual Readers Survey is Now Live!

My 2026 Reader Survey is open! If you take the survey and leave your email address, you will be entered into a drawing for a $25 Amazon gift card. The survey drawing closes tonight at midnight Eastern on 30 September 2026.