I have now been home with my kids for almost three years. I am amazed at how fast time has flown, yet how slow some days still seem to tick by.
So I bet you think I’ve got it down – this staying at home thing.
That would be a negative Ghost Rider.
See I’ve got this problem. It’s called time management and even after three years, I still can’t seem to get it together. Right now my children are at camp. It’s a half day thing so I have a few hours to myself – to get a little writing done, to run errands and clean up the house a bit.
I’ve written out a to-do list; I have a calendar. But it’s futile. I feel like I never check everything off. There’s always one thing that laughs in my face, taunting my inability to get my s-h-i-t together.
I thought (way back when) that when the kids were at preschool/camp, I’d be able to get my work done. Then when they got home, we’d be able to spend the afternoon doing activities, going places and general goofing off. How naive of me. If I work in the mornings, then the afternoons are for cleaning and running errands. If I clean while the kids are at school, then I end up needing to write when they are home.
I’ve never considered not working at all. I need the outlet. It keeps me sane and in all reality, makes me a better mother. Quitting my full time marketing job was the right move for me and my family, but maintaining my career even on an extreme part-time basis is a necessity.
But it does put a crimp in my daily schedule.
For camp weeks, I am trying to keep a semi-schedule that looks vaguely like this:
9-9:30 – Camp Drop-off
9:30-11 – Gym/Shower
11-1 – Write, Work, Emails, Etc
1-2 – Errands or Clean
2-3 – Pick up kids
3-4 – Quiet time for kids (I work or clean)
4-5 – Activities
5-6 – Make dinner
If I don’t get to the gym (which is more often than I’d prefer) then I have a little bit more time for work/house stuff. But then I have this list of house projects I want to get done – paint Miss E’s room, clean out guest room, organize my closet.
When is that stuff going to get done?
#$@)(*@$#&@&)@(!!!
It all boils down to time management and priorities.
When I worked in an office, I always got my work done. I prided myself on my organization and ability to multi-task and GET. IT. DONE. Where did that girl go? Has anyone heard from her? I need to track her down.
Now that I’m home, I still get my work done…my paid work. But the kitchen sink, full of dishes, is currently staring me down and the pile of laundry on the couch is taking bets on whether it gets put away today.
I think I’ll go take a shower.
Sigh. You list looks a lot like mine. And I too have such a hard time checking those things off each day. And I’m so task-oriented that not getting those things done creates more anxiety than it should. I mean, if I leave clothes unfolded in the basket overnight, who will really care?! Me, that’s who. But in the scheme of things, it really isn’t important I suppose.
Either way, I still make the list. It helps (me) to have a goal each day. And each day I’m reminded that I must forgive myself if EVERYTHING doesn’t get done.
Shower FTW!
Fist bump in solidarity! I felt a little silly at first…writing this post…but I figured many of us can relate. My closet may NEVER get organized. 🙂
Are we sharing a life? I swear I could’ve written this.
It amazes me how way back when I worked in an office, my checklist was always checked. (Highlighted, actually, as I completed everything.) Each morning, I’d create a new list and things got DONE. Now? I’m constantly being reminded of more things to do. It’ll be 7:40 am and I’ll think “I need to empty the dishwasher. Suddenly, it’s 4:55 pm and I’m still thinking “I need to empty the dishwasher.”
So, no advice. But total sympathy.
I completely KNOW. It’s so danged hard. I hate dishes in the sink or laundry piling up and then I’m like, wait, what about THIS! GAH!
But yes, I know. I get it, too.
Working from home is SO hard. It’s actually good to know I am not the only one who feels like this! I have to put in at LEAST 25 hours a week, more if I need too… I have been doing it for 5.5 years and I still can’t figure it out… its SO Hard! Keep on Keepin’ on b/c you are rocking it out – your kiddos are so sweet that you are obviously doing something right !
List what is the most import things are (to you) and then schedule those task so that they can get done, unless an emergency gets in the way. Leave room to do the secondary things only if you complete what is important to you, then have one day that you list everything opposite of your most important list. The final thing (and most important) is too lower your media controlled expectations of yourself and thank GOD that you could be as wonderfully productive as you are and still be the best mom that (you) can be. Forget perfection, you are a perfect human being and that means you are anything but perfect. Learn to love learning from your mistakes. Make sure your husband and children know you love them unconditionally, and your task will begin too take care of themselves while you enjoy every second of the gifts that GOD has blessed you with.
It boggles my mind how at work, or when I’m working, I can be so Type-A and organized but most of the time at home I feel like I’m living in complete chaos. You know, the only thing that seems to help is doing one full load of laundry a day. I mean- fold and put it away too. When I’m doing that- lots of other things seem to fall into place too.