Things just move too quickly and I just want things to slow down.
Just when I think things are settled at work, things change – some good and some not so good.
It’s mid-November and before I know it Christmas will be here and it freaks me out every year about what to get people for presents. I’ve organised my son’s, but that’s it.
I’ve been doing a course for the last ten weeks or so which has taken up much more of my time than I ever envisaged. At least it’s shown me that there’s no way I want to go and do further university study at this stage. I have an exam for this course early next week and then that’s over and I can concentrate more on this website again. There’s a few things I want to do with it and I know I’ve been neglecting it.
I don’t know if the time flying by thing is just because I’m getting older and that’s what happens? How is it that I’m doing much much more now than I was in my 20s and this isn’t including being a mum. How can I not do the things I’m doing?
I sometimes think about what I can cut out of my life. Work’s gotta stay. House maintenance has gotta stay. My son’s gotta stay. I’ve got to spend some time with my friends. I’ve got to spend time with my hobbies, like this blog, ukulele playing and the odd bit of photography. It’s hard to find time for those extra projects, like doing extra stuff around the house, and washing the car etc.
I find that when things have been frantic for a while that if I don’t take some time just to sit back and relax that I get sick which then forces me to relax, but I feel crap so what’s the point of that?
So I’ve established that time’s going too quickly and that I don’t want to cut things out of my life so I guess all that’s left is managing what time I have better. That sounds like hard work.
Maybe I should look at websites like Time Management from Mind Tools or this from Personal time management guide, but I haven’t got the time just yet.
What’s your best time management tip/s?
Jen
First, yes, time does go faster (or, to be more accurate we move more slowly in thought, word and deed) as we get older – just wait until you get to be an old, old lady like me!
Second, time management is something that you want to do or you don’t. I don’t. I’m quite happy managing at work allocating x amount of time to different projects and so on but just try allocating guitar practice and it feels too contrived and that makes it WORK. And then I go and do some painting instead.
The answer is that you have to sort it for yourself which is a matter of setting priorities (says she using business language but I’m sure you know what I mean). Could be something like this:
The most important thing in my life is my son.
The second most important thing in my life is earning enough money to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table.
Setting it down like that helped me to realise that 1/2″ of dust on the shelves in the sitting room was not a disaster (unless my mother was descending on us) but a dirty bathroom was.
And with four kids and only one bathroom keeping it tidy was essential! But so was going to the beach after school if the weather was nice regardless of the housework!
Good luck with trying to sort it out.
I wish I had some good tips for you Jen. I guess you just have to prioritize when you can. I have the same problem…even though I don’t have anywhere near the busy schedule I use to when I had ALL my kids home like it use to be. There are just some times when some of it won’t get addressed. JJ will always be a priority of course…and work too. Hobbies, blogging, spending time with friends will always have to come in second, but I think you’ve managed to do justice by them very nicely. There aren’t enough hours in a day…or even a week sometimes.
Don’t worry about it sweetie….it all works out…even as you get older.
BTW…I love JJ’s missing tooth. The tooth fairy was a very frequent visitor in our house. In fact, for a while we wore her little fairy wings out.
Joy, maybe I’m just a control freak and get anxious when things aren’t done as I think they should be. Yes you’re right, JJ is the absolute priority and he’s been taking up more of my time lately – and rightly so. Yes, I love his missing tooth too.
I’m in the same boat! I can’t suggest anything helpful. I often wonder how I have brilliant time management at work, but it doesn’t seem to overflow into my life. 3 more hours in the day might help???
I figure if I sit like a rock on the seashore the tide going out will eventually wash back over me again and I won’t have to rush,rush,rush 😉
Jayne, I like the sound of that.
Time; my husband refers to it as “supermom’s Kryptonite.” There’s never enough of it.
I have no idea – however, I know I get more done if I have a list.
Lists are good and I think that’s what I need to do in my online life. Sometimes I sit at home in front of my computer just going around in circles and achieving absolutely nothing.
I’m still trying to work out time management. Some days I feel like I am running just to stand still, that is, I’m belting around in a mad rush just to complete what needs to be completed, but nothing extra.
I know a web designer who has a three days a week design job, runs his own busy home based design business, and is part of several active industry groups. Oh, and he has two young kids. I was wondering how on Earth he keeps on top of it all when I recently learned he only sleeps four hours a night!
I’m thinking though that outcome may not be quite the time management solution that I’m looking for! 😉
John, I’m with you. Four hours sleep a night just wouldn’t do for me or for anyone around me. I don’t think it’s healthy.