Damn, Chas, looks like you and I are MORE ALIKE than I thought (LOL).
I'm big-time into time management. I don't watch sports, don't do any home maintenance, cut grass or anything like that. I do the things I really like, and get paid to do them. Then, I pay someone else to do the things I'd just screw up anyway. Meeting deadlines is an essential part of my business and lifestyle.
Even when I learn a tune, I go over it once or twice and then perfect it on the job. If I get into trouble, I do a medley, using that rythem pattern. I adjust my playlist by adding a new selection to my top 100 every day, and eliminating an exiasting one.
The thing to me is to set a schedule and meet it. he resulting sense of accomplishment is awesome.
I plan to slow down a little, but don't see reducing my playing, writing or teaching anytime soon. I have been eligible to draw a retirement from a former employer for almost 10 years (at a 5% penalty per year for starting before age 65), and never considered it. My day starts at 6:00 AM at a local University and ends at 1:00 PM after the last job. Thing is, I could never choose between music, film production, communications research and teaching and copywriting/photography. Probably never got as good at anything as I could have if I just made some choices. But, I enjoy my schedule now and will continue as long as I'm enjoying things.
That's the way I like it!
Russ