Hey Buster, whatcha up to?

I'm having time management/motivation issues. I feel kind of overwhelmed, yet bored by the things I should be doing pretty much everyday (you know the ones: exercise, scriptures, dishes, laundry, reading good books, helping kids with homework, reading the paper, taking a shower) and the things that should be done recurringly (plan cub scouts, organize my house, grocery shop, the {darn} PTA things, wash the car), and the things that if I even did once this year, it would be fantastic (organize photo albums, call the house painter, get the swamp cooler and A/C checked out [holy zamboni, it's going to be almost 100 degrees this week!], family history).

So instead, I do (almost) none of it.

I read blogs. I feed Norah lots and lots of times. I go to Sonic. I pick up Legos. I read Sunset. I play Scrabble with that Scrabble vixen Diana. I play Elliot's songs on the piano. I check my email about 400 times. (Will somebody email me, already?)

And I'll probably do it all again tomorrow, unless someone wants to teach me how to be a wise steward over my time. Thanks.

Comments

Eliza said…
Can I just tell you how nice it is to hear someone's in my same boat?

OK not same, similar.

I have SO much to do each and every day. And it piles up and becomes overwhelming. Yet...often I choose to spend my day like I did today, which included: nursing, taking a nap, not showering, watching snippets of Uncle Buck whilst nursing, reading snippets of InStyle whilst nursing, and eating pudding. Oh and I did get exercise in the form of going on a walk to 711 to get a Slurpee.

Thought I'd share that with you. Maybe it will make you feel better about the way you spend your time!
Courtney said…
This sounds eerily similar to my own life.
Anonymous said…
I have someone here in my house who is VERY GOOD at managing time. His name is Mark. He's really quite amazing, and yet, I have not managed to gleen any of his skills. We are sooo related, you and I.
amyegodfrey said…
It's all about staying sane, isn't it? When I'm home at night with "free" time, I have to play a game to get the cleaning done. I say to myself (during a commercial) that I need to pick up 20 things. I race through that, then race back to the couch to watch "Larry King" or "Letterman".
Carina said…
I think your standards are too high. Lower them and achieving proper time management will be so much easier. That's my one cent.
I read you LOUD and CLEAR. Just got my third e-mail from my dear editor asking nicely for my second draft.
Oh yes, the second draft, it's well...hey look at that I just broke my Tetris record...yum cinnamon bears...checking Yahoo's front page...begging Chup for a shoulder rub...
I hear you Sistah!
abby said…
I appreciate this post. I must be related to you too...
Anonymous said…
This rings so humorously true to my life! Sheesh! I derive subtle pride from the fact that I don't watch TV, but I'm a professional time waster on the internet -- many e.mail checks, many blogs to read, many more e.mail checks and blog updates. If you find a sage time manager...please, share the love.
Anonymous said…
Funny you should mention it. I was just trying to think of an exuse for not getting back to reading the banking report when it occured to me that I hadn't checked your blog yet today.

Billable hours are great time management motivators. (They also really stink.) So just be glad you don't have to fill out a time sheet at the end of each day, declaring how many tenths of hours you spent on the things you were supposed to be doing. Thus you don't have to face the dilema I'm facing now: Do I bill the time for commenting on Emily's blog? Of course I don't. But that's why sometimes I get to the end of a day and can only bill two-thirds of the hours I spent here.
AliceK[i]ND said…
Ditto. Ditto. Ditto. And, Ditto.
Jord said…
I've got no motivational advice and can only say that one of the few, and I mean few, advantages of being pregnant is that it frees you (for at least a few days at a time) from the guilt of not being productive. So here's one for the prego excuse for laziness!
everydayjami said…
Even if you did ALL of these th exercise, scriptures, dishes, laundry, reading good books, helping kids with homework, reading the paper, taking a shower) and the things that should be done recurringly (plan cub scouts, organize my house, grocery shop, the {darn} PTA things, wash the car), and the things that if I even did once this year, it would be fantastic (organize photo albums, call the house painter, get the swamp cooler and A/C checked out [holy zamboni, it's going to be almost 100 degrees this week!], family history).
ings:
You still wouldn't be finished. There is always something else to do. That's what I've figured out. I think you do a terrific job in all the important areas. Just appreciate who you are. I appreciate you. You do sooooo much.
Kelly(M&M) said…
I LOVE how honest this post is. Time management is definitely one of my many weaknesses. :-) That is one of the reasons for TV turnoff week. I decided it was time to reevaluate. I still think downtime is important for sanity, but just how much downtime is where I struggle. I definitely understand exactly what you are talking about! Thanks for letting me know I am not alone.
Christen Noelle said…
Em...I can totally relate, although I think you beat with your 4 kids and all, I'm catchin' up there.
kelly said…
Yea!!! I'm not the only one. I was starting to think I was. Every day I feel so overwhelmed by everything, that I often find myself doing nothing. And yet, no ever seems to appreciate my problem. I feel like I am surrounded by over-achieving, perfect women (or at least they are very good liars.) And then there is me... crappy mom. And yet, I don't think I'm crappy. I actually believe I'm a great MOM...I'm just crappy at all the other stuff. Maybe would could start a club.
Nancy said…
I concur (sp.?). I'm glad I'm not the only one because most of my friends just say, oh, I don't have time to be on the computer, or watch TV, or do anything idle. I don't believe them, either that or they really are just obsessive compulsive organizers, cleaners, shoppers. Actually I think they are, but I'm glad they are in the minority.

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