Sometimes no matter what you do, your focus is just blown. Could be phone calls, emails, work stuff, family stuff... life stuff.
Yesterday I found myself bombarded with all kinds of distractions - mostly NOT positive - and ended up making very little progress on my work. Being someone who can usually get 200 or more pages a day edited with good time management, I struggled to get 40 pages done. I even took a "sanity break" in the middle of the day to disengage. Still couldn't get myself to the place where I would be fully engaged.
So I stopped. Sometimes you just have to get away from it - let your brain do what it obviously is distracted by - and come back fresh. As long as it's not going to wreck a deadline, you're most likely better off just moving away from the assignment for the short term. You owe a duty not just to yourself, but also your clients and the record. Whenever you're working, it's best to be fully engrossed in the matter at hand.
Take the step away for your mental health and come back renewed. That's my plan for this morning - armed with a fresh cup of coffee and the www.marinaratimer.com site prepped and ready, I'll get the 200 pages done today.
You all know I love giving back... and I've been speaking at the local law school for many years now, sharing with the students who will be future litigators how they can work WITH court reporters to create a truly excellent record.
I love doing this - and if you have the chance, please consider doing it in your area. The "baby" lawyers appreciated it and the next generation of court reporters will too!
We all love rituals - girls nights, massages, regular workouts... but what about our working rituals?
Do you have any that ease you into your productivity? Perhaps alleviate any anxiety?
Our job as a stenographer (or captioners) is filled with stressors and if we can develop rituals for ourselves to help limit those stresses, think how healthy, happy, and productive we can become?!
I love this profession... and I love sharing it. Wherever you are, in whatever period in your career you find yourself, be an amazing advocate! Introduce people to this incredible opportunity for someone who loves English, the law, computers, learning... Be the little pebble that creates the ripple in the pond!
