In general I am a hyper- organized person. In the mental
way. In the physical space less so, although I probably fall somewhere around the
average.
However although I am super organized in terms of time management,
I have realized that there is an element I really need to improve on and have realized
that many around me have more success than I do in this area.
It is the discipline to on a constant basis protect time.
To know what your limits are, to know what you can take on and what you cannot,
to allow space before and after projects and events to prepare and clean up. To
make space to ensure that you are not running around like a chicken without a head
from one activity to another.
To
ensure that there is always pleasure in pleasurable experiences.
And I do this very, very often. I thought I was really
good at it…but I realize others around me are better. And I want to get that
way too.
Everyone around me seems to have it down pat . We host
many events at our cottage and they all seem to say “We need to leave early
afternoon in order to get organized for the week and get our laundry done” or “we
will stay in a hotel on the way up to break up our trip because arriving late
at night the kids are too tired” Or we did not have time to prepare a meal to contribute to the potluck so will be buying
dinner for all it has been a hectic week”
This I admire and I often can’t get our acts together to
do the same. We do it all. We get it all done. We fit in everything for leisure
for work. Always. But we are starting to realize that we are paying the
personal cost and it is hurting.
Arriving at cottage at midnight and often having guests
arrive shortly after. Not anymore! Enjoying the lake until 8pm on a Sunday and
then rushing through dinner and driving and arriving back home exhausted and
spent the house a disaster. No more! We are setting some clear limits in 2013
and sticking to them.
My husband approached me this week as he is feeling the
stress and we had a big talk about what is working and what is not in last few
weeks. We have barely had a chance to see each other or speak and no quality
time for our kids. We have to get back on track. So we sat down and made a
whole bunch of rules that we all are going to stick to without exception long
term and a whole lot of things that we looked at and cut out.
Example
of cutting out:
We cancelled our professional photo shoot next week
We decided no Christmas cards being sent
We cancelled a friend weekend at the cottage we had
planned for the winter
We decided to show up at ski competition practice 1-2 hrs
late every time (considering it is every Sat and Sun all day and every day of Christmas
break this is reasonable)
We decided that we are Christmas baking this year but not
giving it out and delivering it to family and friends as we usually do
(sorry!!)
We decided that most nights we will hide an elf but if we
are too tired then so what
Examples
of longer term simplification:
When we have friends and family at cottage we are not giving
out the bigger kids rooms to sleep in as means to much switching around
clothing, beds changing etc…
We are committing to a certain time to leave the cottage
at night and sticking to it
We are never having guests arrive late at night at home
or cottage
We are skipping ski team practices if we feel us or the
kids need a break
We are never planning more than 1 night out socially per
week Mon-Thursday
We are getting a second pull out couch for the basement at
cottage to accommodate more people on the lower level so everyone is in one space
We are still having the same amount of leisure be we love
it in our lives but ensuring that there is always appropriate time to set up,
clean up and enjoy it to the fullest
We are sitting by the fire and doing just absolutely nothing
or at least a few hours every weekend
We are hiring more help for the next 6 yrs. to help with
season transitions at cottage until all kids through majority of high school.
So just a few examples and I am excited to stick to them
and many more. I see so many others around this getting this right for them and
their families around me and they seemed to be lately anyways more relaxed than
I am and in control of their time. It’s hard for me to say no sometimes..especially
when there are things we love doing, but I am realizing that while others have
that extra time to do laundry and planning for it, I am doing mine at 1am and being exhausted for the rest
of their week because of it.
I need to set my limits. To protect my time and family
time. I need to be less tempted by the things and people I love. I need to grow
up and provide my kids a good example. I mean who starts an evening at 11pm?
That is just plain silly. With pleasure comes responsibility and it’s time to start
fitting that into our pleasurable times.
It’s time to take time management to a new level. And
although I think I have mastered it on many levels; it’s now time to perfect
it.
If you any ideas for me
please let me know?
