Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

I find a little trick that helps me write something “for the record” each day.

I write. I tell myself that every day. Most days that is true. Most days I will write something of some substance or “for the record.”

I have worked from home for the past six months (almost seven by now). I am fortunate to be able to do so. I am fortunate to be paid while doing that.

I am not very good at working from home in that I tend to work 45 to 50 hours a week from home. There just seems to be something that applies to work every evening. Maybe I will learn—maybe not.

Therefore, if I don’t pay attention, I have days when I don’t write something that qualifies as substance or for the record.

Along comes a new trick. In my paper journal—journal writing is one of the few practices I recommend for everyone—I make a note at the bottom of each page: WDYWT? That is short for, “What Did You Write Today?”

The following morning, I write a note next to WDYWT? Tomorrow morning I will note that I wrote this blog post—for what it is worth, that counts as something of substance or for the record.

It is a little trick. I’ve only used it the past couple of weeks. Perhaps in a few more weeks we shall “return to normal,” and this little trick will no longer be useful.

Lessons? Pay attention. Find little tricks or whatever that keep us on track. Use them as long as they are useful, but no longer.