Getting Sidetracked

I’ve always had a problem with getting sidetracked from things I need to do, and I’ve been trying to combat it for years.

I still remember one early attempt I made to overcome this tendency.

Years ago, in college, I used a designated notebook to not only keep track of class assignments but also all of my personal errands and responsibilities. But I kept listing tasks and then not getting around to them; as time passed, most of these items became more and more urgent.

One day, frustrated with myself, I planned out my schedule down to the minute in an attempt to fit in all my long-overdue responsibilities.

I no longer have it, but I remember it well (you’ll see why in a moment) and it looked something like this:

• 7:00 am — wake up
• 7:05 am — eat breakfast
• 7:20 am — finish all previous readings for English class, including extra credit assignment
• 8:20 am — shower
• 8:35 am — get dressed
• 8:45 am — leave for work (bring campus library book, paycheck and pants to return with receipt!)
• 8:55 am — stop at bank on way to train and deposit paycheck
• 9:05 am — buy more subway tokens before boarding train
• 9:35 am — get off train; stop to return pants on way to office
• 10:00 am to 12:00 pm — work my shift
• 12:05 pm — leave work for class; pick up contact lens cleaner at drugstore on way to subway
• 12:15 pm — take train to school; while walking to classroom building after, call dentist to make appointment
• 12:45 pm to 2:00 pm — English class
• 2:00 pm to 2:35 pm — lunch
• 2:40 pm to 3:55 pm — study in library for astronomy test; return late book and pay overdue fees
• 4:00 pm to 5:15 pm — astronomy class; afterwards, sign up for Thursday’s study group

You get the idea. While many people make to-do lists, I doubt many of them (especially college students) make one as detailed as mine. I laid out my day in a way that really was overkill. Even I recognize that now.

But the worst part? I had scrawled this across the top of that day’s entry:

DO NOT DEVIATE FROM SCHEDULE!

That is literally what I wrote, word for word — big, bold letters and all.

See, I knew myself and my ability to get easily sidetracked, so I wanted to make sure that my major responsibilities and the odd little chores I had been postponing for too long would get done.

My goal with this in-depth schedule and DO NOT DEVIATE command to myself was that maybe, just maybe, I could fit it all into one day — hectic though it would be — and just get it all done. Finally scratch all of those pending tasks off my list. Finally make up for all the times I’d let myself get sidetracked, leaving these things to “another day” — well, today was going to be that day!

Why do I remember all this so well? For two reasons, really. First of all, I actually don’t think I got to everything on my actual list. I don’t recall the details now, but I do remember feeling sheepish about having my militaristic plan fail just as easily as my previous, well-mannered to-do lists had.

But, most importantly, I remember this list because some time later, my best friend happened to see it in my notebook one day while we were having lunch on campus.

“What is this? Do not deviate from schedule?! Oh my God!” she roared with laughter.

And then proceeded to read it to everyone else who was eating with us in the dining hall.

“Do not deviate” was quite the hit at lunch that day, let me tell you. And no amount of explaining on my part could lessen everyone’s response.

I was embarrassed at the time, but now find it to be a funny story — and we still laugh about it whenever it comes up.

So I guess my point with all of this is…hmm, I actually think I’ve gotten a little sidetracked with my own story here! See, I told you I had a problem! My point was…OH! Yes. I got it now.

My point is, I used to try to outsmart my tendency to get easily sidetracked. Now, though, I try to accept it for what it is. Even though I’ll still feel guilty about it (but am working on that, too) I remind myself that the major stuff will get done; as for the intermediate-level things, I’ll get to it when I get to it.

Deviation allowed.

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Note: This post was based on the writing prompt “side” as part of Stream of Consciousness Saturday organized by LindaGHill. We were allowed to use the word on its own or we could add it to the start or end of a word; I liked that flexibility and when “sidetracked” came to me, I decided to go with it!