The Unabridged Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the word optimize as: “to make as perfect, effective, or functional as possible.” I read that definition recently and thought: I wish I could optimize my life! Seriously—who wouldn’t want to have things in his or her life as perfect, effective, or functional as possible?
So, being the OCD content-specific perfectionist that I am, I opened my calendar to find a month that would start on a Sunday (the official first day of the week). However, as I began to consider just how many missed “optimized moments” would slip through my fingers by waiting until February 2015 to “get optimized,” I decided that the time to live up to all my blah-blah-blah about how things don’t have to be perfect was now.
Once I revived from the hyperventilation that occurred after realizing that October begins on a Wednesday—I might, just might, have been able to handle a Monday (as in December 2014), but a Wednesday?—I pulled on my “big girl britches” and said, “Let’s do this.”
That’s when I sat down and thought of little ways that I could start to optimize the “mini moments”—i.e., make the most of my fifteen to twenty minutes of “down time” in between edits or projects or while waiting for someone or something.
And that’s how “O-3” came about: Operation Optimize October. And I want you to join me!
Each day this month has three things to do. Pick and choose or do all three.
OPEN and READ:
Since this is a faith-based blog, I added in a Proverb reading for each day of the month. The reason I chose this book from the Bible was because of the purpose of Proverbs, clearly stated in the first five verses:
These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel. Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise. Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair. These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young. Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance. —Proverbs 1:1-5, NLT
OMIT:
Set a timer for fifteen minutes. I’m serious. If you’re not done at the end of the fifteen minutes, it’s okay. Come back another time for fifteen minutes more. You’ll be amazed what you can get done in fifteen minutes. This is not an original idea—with anyone of this generation. In fact, I first learned this little tip many years ago while reading Emilie Barnes’s 15 Minute Home and Family Organizer
ORGANIZE:
It’s not enough to just get rid of things and clutter and time wasters. You need to replace them with good habits and good organization. Each day (except for Sundays and Wednesdays) has a quick organizational tip that you can easily implement in a short amount of time.
In fact, this week’s organization tip is to do what works best for you! For example, when you gather all your pens and pencils together this week, put them in containers or in places that are the most functional, practical, and organized for you! Your method is the only one that will truly work for you!
Subscribers: You will receive only three e-mails from me each week (sometimes less and on a rare occasion more). This is a self-structured “event!” The guidelines and schedule can be found here, but doing it is up to you! If you skip a day, it’s no big deal! Just get back on track and keep moving forward! (And did I mention that there are some really great prizes available to subscribers at the end of the month?)
So I hereby declare this the start of OPERATION OPTIMIZE OCTOBER!
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For those following my dad’s health updates as he continues his journey through end-stage Parkinsons Disease, there is also a new update posted on the Ben Strohbehn Health Updates page today.