Jul 10

Time. Does anyone have it?

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Why does it seem that we are all working triple overtime in life? Seriously, I am trying my best to simplify, to slow down and get myself more time. It seems lately that I’ve been doing the opposite.

i get excited about projects, I say ‘yes’ to everything because I genuinely want to do it. But when?

Even writing simple blog posts sometimes seems like a chore. It’s scary when the things you love doing feel that way.

Sometimes I even feel like that about my darling puppy, Spanky 2.0. She just takes up so much of my time and energy that occasionally (i will sheepishly admit) I wonder what my life would be like without her. Of course, then she does something that makes me burst a gut laughing and I realize that my life would be without a lot of joy. But I would have time.

I need to cut back on something. Something big, and not something I enjoy doing. What could it be? I really need to sit down, make a list of the big things in my life and call those people up and say “Sorry. That’s just not getting done. You’ll have to find someone else who is qualified.”

I can’t keep living my life like this. Feeling like I have no room for error. It makes me feel old and like I’m missing out on the important things.

  • John
    How about us poor saps who don't live 1 minute from our jobs, but live for 3-4 hours a day in our cars?

    There is ALWAYS something that needs to be done.

    Just a short list (close to) but not actually, in order...

    baby time
    wife time
    parents/sibling time
    in-laws time
    getting ready for work
    work time
    dinner time and/or making dinner time
    cleaning time
    mowing or shoveling time
    sports time
    personal time
    oh, and sleep time...not enough.

    and when the kids get older, their extra curricular stuff

    and on and on...

    I say if they can expand a case of beer from 24 to 28, then they should add 4 hours to the day.

    Then Jack Bauer will have more time left to save the world too.
  • I am not sure its possible. Not just because you can't do it, but because that is human nature. Striving to do new or innovative things. In fact, by looking for ways to remove these "things" from your life in order to give you more time you have actually just added another "thing". I truly remember feeling this way several years ago and trying to figure out a way to do it. Eventually I came to the conclusion that I only really did the things that mattered to me and that made me happy (and not in a selfish way it usually involved lots of other people and projects). The rest of it just kinda fell by the wayside. I did learn how to say "no" to people and that was hard. If you enjoy doing something then it shouldn't be a chore and you shouldn't be looking for ways to not do it so that you can do something (or nothing) else.
  • I too think you've struck a chord here Zoe. I think we all wish that we can regain some amount of time back. I think the best thing to do is start saying 'No'. Just like you said there. Make sure you have at least one day for you.

    I find what works for me is to keep work at work, and home at home. Personally, I like to cram everything into the Monday to Friday, then when it comes to the weekend I would like to be a vegetable. Not always do-able, but that's how I would like to work.

    As always, if there is anything I can do to help, just let me know!
  • Hey Zoe,

    I think you tapped into something here... there's a little irony to the fact that my personal mantra is 'My day has 25 hours.' when many days I look up at the clock and think "What?? It's 4:40 p.m.? How did that happen?!!"

    I'm working on a method of stopping time, but so far that hasn't panned out ;-)

    Family, work, blogs, colleagues, friends, pets - they're all amazing and necessary! It's just figuring out how to juggle that's really difficult.

    I'm a chronic list-maker... and nothing is as satisfying as looking down a long list of chores that have a triumphant line through them. But some days, it's just not possible.

    As Kerri says, if you figure out an easy solution - let us know!
  • easy? HA. but i swear it can be done. i'll make it my lifelong quest. lol

    looks like we got our puppies around the same time. mine is inching close to 6 months. and i can totally relate with what you are saying. :)

    what kind of dog do you have?

    z
  • Hi Zoe,

    If you figure out an easy solution - let us know!

    I can relate to the puppy thing too...we have a 6 month old (got her when she was 8 weeks) and it's difficult but now that she's starting to settle down a bit, we're really starting to just enjoy her. Hang in there!

    -K
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