Checklist

 As I was pursuing work and a dense course load for grad school this Spring, there were a lot of “things” to do that I put on a list for later. Some of these tasks were time sensitive, like renewal courses for a project management certificate I earned as an undergraduate: I finished the current semester May 1, and the renewal was due June 1. Done. Others, like selling excess belongings on EBay, have not been done yet. I'll get to it when I have time!

Since first writing the list, I have not cancelled any task I had not completed. A bit surprising that everything retained its salience, whether it was fixing a leaking faucet or building out my college 529 plan. This list, paperclipped to an Old Dominion University-issued planner, serves me well. When something new comes up- add it to the list.

Task switching is a distraction

I automated the bill payments that I could, and the others (natural gas, for one) I resolved to handle twice a month. This "zero-minute task" did take actual time and attention. I finally figured that it was OK to leave these in the “inbox”.
General correspondence for political surveys and professional organizations would also be done twice a month.
Currently, I publish blog posts every two weeks. The best writing comes to me in waiting rooms, and in contrast to many novelists, I find no need to set a writing hour on the calendar.