
If you had told me a week ago that I could get my life together 15 minutes at a time, I wouldāve laughed, rolled my eyes, and returned to ignoring the mess.
But here we are. Project Lite-Brite is kicking butt, making lists, and taking me on a journey of self-rediscovery.
After nearly four years of overthinking, avoidance, and a touch (okay, a mountain) of stubbornness, I finally decided to shake things up.
The secret to my so-far success? 15 minutes on, 45 minutes off.
A little hustle, a little lounge. A sprinkle of perspiration, some time for inspiration. Small wins add up fast. Those short bursts of sweaty to the oldies have helped me accomplish more in a few minutes at a time than Iāve been able to make happen in years. My to-do list must wonder who the fuck itās working for.
Now, donāt get me wrongāI wasnāt suddenly possessed by the spirit of Marie Kondo.
I started small. A pile of clutter here, a dusty corner there.
Speaking of dust, Iām pretty sure Iām not sickā¦just dealing with allergies and muscle atrophy. After over a year of letting things go, spring cleaning will do that to ya.
But guess what? Despite the aches and sniffles, I kept going. Because 15 minutes? Even my most stubborn, avoidant, snack-loving self could handle that.
My variation on this relatively common productivity āhackā likely comes from two of my favorite creative writing books: Bird By Bird by Anne Lamott and How To Write A Movie In 21 Days by Viki King.
Both books break down big creative writing projects into bite-sized, non-intimidating chunks. You may not be able to write a novel or a screenplay in a single day. But you can write a page or even a paragraph. And before you know it? Youāre on your way.
This applies to everythingācleaning, writing, creating, getting your life back on track. The goal isnāt to move mountains. Itās to move something. One sock off the floor. One sentence on the page. One step forward.
So, if youāre feeling blocked, overwhelmed, or just dramatically uninterested in being productive (relatable), try this: set a timer for 15 minutes and do something. Then reward yourself with a little break, a little joy, a little celebration of the fact that you did the thing.
Who knows? You might just surprise yourself. I know I did.
Now excuse me while I bask in my small but mighty victories.
Fifteen minutes at a time, boo. Thatās the way I do it.
Have a great day!
Clint šāļø
ON THIS DAY = FEBRUARY 17
BIRTHDAYS
1854 = Friedrich Alfred Krupp = German steel manufacturer and head of Krupp š
1874 = Thomas J. Watson = American businessman
1920 = Curt Swan = American illustrator
1925 = Hal Holbrook = American actor and director
1934 = Alan Bates = English actor
1934 = Barry Humphries = Australian comedian, actor, and author
1937 = Mary Ann Mobley = American model, actor, and Miss America 1959
1945 = Brenda Fricker = Irish actor
1954 = Rene Russo = American actor
1956 = Richard Karn = American actor and game show host
1962 = Lou Diamond Phillips = American actor and director
1963 = Michael Jordan = American basketball player, executive, and businessman
1965 = Michael Bay = American director and producer
1966 = Peter Karlsson = Swedish hockey player š
1971 = Denise Richards = American model and actor
1972 = Billie Joe Armstrong = American singer-songwriter
1972 = Taylor Hawkins = American singer-songwriter and musician
1974 = Jerry O'Connell = American actor, director, and producer
1976 = Kelly Carlson = American actor and model
1980 = Jason Ritter = American actor
1981 = Joseph Gordon-Levitt, American actor, director, and producer
1981 = Paris Hilton = American media personality and socialite
1989 = Chord Overstreet = American actor and singer
1991 = Ed Sheeran = English singer-songwriter
1991 = Jeremy Allen White = American actor
EVENTS
1904 = Italian composer Giacomo Puccini's Madama Butterfly premiered at La Scala in Milan to poor reviews, forcing him to revise the opera.
1913 = The Armory Show opens in New York City, displaying works of artists who are to become some of the most influential painters of the early 20th century.
1938 = 1st public experimental demonstration of Baird color TV (London)
1984 = Footloose premieres in theaters.
1984 = Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure premieres in theateres.
HOLIDAYS + OBSERVANCES
LGBT History Month (UK)
Presidents' Day (US)
PORTRAIT + QUOTE OF THE DAY

āIn Edna, I created a satiric portrait of my hometown of Melbourne, a large provincial English city paradoxically in far Southeast Asia. She's a theatrical figure, related to vaudeville in some respects. She inhabits a world in which there are comparatively few female exponents of comedy.ā
Barry Humphries
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Ha! Love it Clint... š And interestingly, I'm finding myself in a similar 'getting organised one small step at a time' frame of mind/life. Tis most satisfying, eh ššæ
Great book rec, Clint - hadn't heard of Viki King's